Conducting research or working on another hands-on academic project alongside a faculty member is a great resume-builder for college students.
At Longwood, these mind-expanding, confidence-boosting opportunities aren’t just for science students. They’re accessible to every student, regardless of their rank (freshman, sophomore, etc.) and regardless of their department or discipline. Likewise, every student is eligible to apply for financial support from Longwood to help cover the expenses of their projects.
The Office of Student Research is currently accepting grant applications for this semester. The deadline for the first round of funding is 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29. Your student can find the application on the Office of Student Research website under Student Research Funding.
Awards range from as much as $500 for individual projects up to $1,500 for team projects undertaken by three students.
Take a look at the latest issue of Longwood’s journal of undergraduate scholarship, INCITE, and you’ll likely be surprised by the diversity of the work taking place on campus with the encouragement and guidance of faculty. It includes an analysis of a Mozart piano sonata; a student’s photography exploring his life with cerebral palsy; and research aimed at developing quick and simple methods for detecting counterfeit anti-malarial drugs.
Benefits for students who participate in this type of work are far-reaching. For starters, it facilitates active learning and spurs more creativity, better problem solving and stronger written and oral communication.
Grants from the Office of Student Research can be used to cover expenses such as laboratory, media and field equipment; art supplies; software; photocopying, printing and film processing; communication costs (postage, phone, etc.); travel to support the investigative phase of the student’s work (such as travel to field sites, museums, archives or libraries); and travel expenses related to presenting their work at a scholarly conference or the equivalent* (including transportation, mileage, lodging, registration, meals and other related expenses).
If you have a chance, ask your student if they’ve thought about doing a project this semester. If they have, encourage them to apply for a grant!
—Sabrina Brown
*Please note that during the 2020-21 academic year, support for student travel will be limited to virtual conferences and in-state travel only. The Office of Student Research encourages students to apply to present their research and creative inquiry projects at virtual conferences and symposia during the 2020-21 academic year.