Individual Grants
UROP Individual Grants allow students to take ownership of part or all of a project with an original proposal.
Award Amounts
- Summer: $3,000
- Academic Year: $1,500
Back to Student Grant Types
Notices
UROP applications are closed and will reopen in Fall 2022 with a deadline on February 17, 2023—for proposals planned in Summer 2023 and/or Academic Year 2023-24.
Individual Grant Proposal
Introduction
Your proposal explains the “what,” “why,” “how,” and “when” of the research or creative work you plan in partnership with your faculty mentor—and argues its' importance.
Summary
- Context and Objectives
- Methodology and Strategy
- Learning Objectives
- Resources and Materials (Individual Grants Only)
- Timeline
University Compliance
In addition to the project proposal, you might need to complete additional steps to comply with university policy—if your project involves any of the following. Check out the compliance tab for details.
- Human Subjects
- Animal Subjects
- Work funded by the NSF and/or NIH
- Domestic and/or International Travel
UROP Prioritizes Learning Outcomes
You will also explain your “learning objectives,” or what you expect to learn—beyond project outcomes. UROP prioritizes student learning objectives over project outcomes even in Individual Grant proposals, so you should also clearly state what you will learn beyond the results of the project.
Context and Objectives
Like an Assistantship proposal, this is the first part reviewers will see and serves as an introduction to the project. Your goal is also to capture your reviewer’s attention and get them excited about your work.
Student Prompts
100 word maximum: State the specific objectives/purpose of your project and, if applicable, of the larger project within which yours is embedded. Explain the project's relevance and who stands to benefit.
Creative/Performance Projects: Tell us the objectives, points of curiosity from which you're starting, hypothesis or question you're exploring and the guiding principles of the work. Discuss where and when the final project will be exhibited, displayed or performed.
100 word maximum: Situate your project within other work in the field by providing a summary of the work done and discuss the theoretical traditions influencing your project. Note what is original about your project and what contribution it makes to the field.
Creative/Performance Projects: Discuss what theoretical, aesthetic, and/or creative traditions influence your project. Include what contributions you're making to the field. Include your own creative/performance history and talk about how it's prepared you for this project.
Mentor Endorsement Prompt
100 words maximum: Comment on the development of this proposal, noting the origin of the idea and its potential impact in the field.
Advice
Unlike an Assistantship proposal, Individual Grants have two prompts for the “context and objectives” section. You have more space for background information, but still avoid spending too much time introducing the topic. Focus the first prompt on the project’s goals and fill in the context in the second prompt. If your project is part of a bigger project, be sure to highlight your contribution.
Methodology and Strategy
Like an Assistantship proposal, this section follows the introduction provided in the “context and objections” portion and serves to explain what you will do to achieve the project goals.
Student Prompts
200 word maximum: Explain the method(s)/strategy used in this project, including justification for your approach. Also justify international travel, if your project requires it.
50 word maximum: Note any experience, training and/or coursework required to complete this project, and explain how you have prepared.
Mentor Endorsement Prompt
100 words maximum: Comment on your mentee's ability to perform this project, highlighting relevant coursework, experience with methods and/or materials, and other relevant certifications and qualifications.
Advice
Unlike an Assistantship proposal, Individual Grants have two prompts for the “methodology and strategy” section. You have more space to explain, but still avoid overly detailed and technical descriptions of methods. Be sure to explain how you have the training and skills needed for the project or how you will learn them. You might still have limited experience when applying for an Individual Grant, but reviewers need to see how you will gain the skills needed.
Learning Objectives
Like an Assistantship proposal, this section follows the “methodology and strategy” portion of the proposal and serves to highlight how participation in the project will help you achieve your professional goals.
Student Prompt
100 word maximum: Describe how this project advances your personal, academic and/or professional goals, including how it fits within your degree plan.
Mentor Endorsement Prompt
100 words maximum: Respond to your mentee's learning goals, commenting on 1) how you and/or an additional supervisor will support these objectives and 2) how this project will advance their academic and/or professional goals?
Advice
UROP prioritizes student learning objectives over project outcomes even in Individual Grant proposals, so you should also clearly state what you will learn beyond the results of the project.
Resources and Materials
This is an additional element to the Individual Grant proposal not included in Assistantships and serves to explain how you will get everything you need for your project.
Student Prompt
75 word maximum: Indicate the resources and materials needed for your project, and explain how you plan to acquire and make use of them.
Mentor Endorsement Prompt
Should some of this grant be disbursed to a faculty/departmental account?
Yes: (100 words maximum) Explain the need to transfer funds to a faculty/departmental account.
Advice
You are not required to spend any portion of your UROP funding on supplies or other expenses for your project, though you may do so. Even if your mentor is providing all the resources, you will need to explain (as best you can) what resources and materials are required for the project. You are not required to provide an itemized budget of project expenses.
Timeline
Like an Assistantship proposal, this is the last section and serves to highlight when you will do the activities outlined in the “methodology and strategy” portion.
Student Prompt
150 word maximum: Outline the major phases of your project, providing a timeline of activities.
Mentor Endorsement Prompt
Optional: Provide additional information about this project timeline.
Advice
Avoid overcrowding the timeline with details more suitable for other portions of the proposal. Be sure your timeline aligns to the grant term to which you are applying (summer or academic year). Students submitting proposals for projects continuing into the academic year might have similar proposals in their applications, but the timelines should be distinct.
Compliance
Human Subjects
Projects involving human subjects may require approval by the IRB and involve additional steps in the application and award process.
Students: Talk to you mentor as soon as possible and review the resources and guidelines on the IRB website.
Additional Prompts
Have you completed training in human subject research (IRB)?
- Yes: Attach your IRB training completion certificate.
- No: 100 words maximum: Explain your plan to complete the IRB training requirements for human subject testing.
Have you completed training in human subject research (IRB)?
- Yes: Attach your IRB training completion certificate.
- No: 100 words maximum: Explain your plan to complete the IRB training requirements for human subject testing.
Has your project been approved by the IRB?
- Yes: Attach your IRB approval.
- No: 100 words maximum: Explain your plan to receive IRB approval for your project, noting how you will identify and protect subjects during and after the project.
Has your project been approved by the IRB?
- Yes: Attach your IRB approval.
- No: 100 words maximum: Explain your plan to ensure all students complete the IRB training requirements for human subject testing and the project receives IRB approval, noting how you will identify and protect subjects during and after the project.
Animal Subjects
Projects involving animal subjects may require approval by the IACUC and involve additional steps in the application and award process.
Students: Talk to your mentor as soon as possible and review the resources and guidelines on the IACUC website.
Additional Prompts
Have you completed training the care and use of animals (IACUC)?
- Yes: Attach your IACUC training completion certificate.
- No: 100 words maximum: Explain your plan to complete the IACUC training requirements for non-human animal subject testing.
Have you completed training the care and use of animals (IACUC)?
- Yes: Attach your IACUC training completion certificate.
- No: 100 words maximum: Explain your plan to complete the IACUC training requirements for non-human animal subject testing.
Has your project been approved by the IACUC?
- Yes: Attach your IACUC approval.
- No: 100 words maximum: Explain your plan to receive IACUC approval for your project, noting how you will identify and protect subjects during and after the project.
Has your project been approved by the IACUC?
- Yes: Attach your IACUC approval.
- No: 100 words maximum: Explain your plan to ensure all students complete the IACUC training requirements for non-human animal subject testing and the project receives IACUC approval, noting how you will identify and protect subjects during and after the project.
NSF and NIH Projects
Students participating in projects with NSF or NIH funding must complete appropriate training in the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR).
Students: Talk to you mentor as soon as possible and review the resources and guidelines on the RCR website.
Additional Prompts
Have you completed training in the responsible conduct of research (RCR)?
- Yes: Attach your RCR training completion certificate.
- No: 100 words maximum: Explain your plan to complete the RCR training requirements for working on NSF and/or NIH-funded research.
100 words maximum: Explain your plan to ensure all students complete the RCR training requirements for working on NSF and/or NIH-funded research.
Travel
Students planning domestic and/or international travel as part of their UROP project must complete additional steps in the application and award process.
Students: University policy restricts travel to students who are 18 years of age or older, so you will need to certify your age.
Additional Prompts
- Will you be at least 18 years of age by the time you intend to travel?
- Destination(s): State/Province/Region, City, Zip/Postal Code
- Lodging(s): Name, Street Address, Phone
- Emergency Contact: Name, Phone, Email and Relationship
- Hospital or Medical Facility: Name, Street Address, and Phone
- Will you be at least 18 years of age by the time you intend to travel?
- Destination(s): Country, State/Province/Region, City, Zip/Postal Code
- Lodging(s): Name, Street Address, Phone
- Emergency Contact: Name, Phone, Email and Relationship
- Hospital or Medical Facility: Name, Street Address, and Phone
Have you completed the international travel registration process?
- Yes: Attach your approval email.
- No: 100 words maximum: Explain your plan to complete the international travel registration process.
Check out the next tab for details on the international travel registration process.
General Advice
State your “thesis” first
Start with the purpose of your work to get reviewers’ attention.
Frame the “bigger picture”
Place your project in the context of the field of study.
Highlight broader impacts
Be clear about the benefits of your project beyond impact in the field of study.
Answer the “so what?” question
Be sure reviewers understand why the project is needed.
Communicate urgency
Explain why the project is not only needed—but needed now.
Avoid jargon/technical language
Use language accessible to reviewers who might not be familiar with the topic.
Leave out citation references
UROP accepts the mentor endorsement as verification of sources without citation.
Consult with the Writing Center
Consider consulting with the CU Boulder Writing Center as you draft your proposal.