Application Preview

Mentor Application

Below are the questions that are asked on the mentor portion of the application:

Page 1

  • The first section will ask you for the name of the project and your basic contact and department information.
  • Approval of Hours: As mentor, you are responsible for approving your student’s hours. Please provide first and last name of a person who will serve as backup for approving student hours. This may be someone in your department office, such as a department manager.
  • Backup Approver’s Email: Please Provide the backup approver’s UWM email address.
  • Request for Funds: Please select if you are applying for just Student Hourly Salary or if you are also applying for Supplies and Expenditures
  • Proposed Period of Support: Select the period of support you are applying for. Fall, Spring, or Summer.
  • How many hours a week will your student work? This will be a drop down menu.
  • How long is the period of support in weeks? This will also be a drop down menu.
  • If you are applying for Supplies and Expenditures you will fill out the budget section.
    • A detailed itemized list of S&E that directly applies to the student’s research project should be included in order to be considered for funding. 
    • Note: The committee only approves S&E for a maximum of $500/PI and only for research expendables/consumables. These funds are not for travel. This amount would be in addition to the max student salary. 
  • The hourly rate is $14 per hour. In the past, the mentor could select the amount, but at this time all students are set at $14 per hour. The question remains on the application so that it can calculate the amount you are requesting. (Hours per week) x (weeks of support) x (hourly rate) = Request total.

Page 2

  • Describe the objectives and methodology of this research (200 word limit).
  • Describe the student tasks and responsibilities (200 word limit).
  • Describe the proposed outcomes for both your research and for the student participating in the research (200 word limit).
  • Have you received SURF funding from the UWM Office of Undergraduate Research for this project in the past? Yes or No
    • If yes, Please provide a brief description of recent outcomes for this project (200 word limit).
  • Why is this research opportunity a particularly good choice for the student, given the student’s background or prior experiences? (200 word limit)
  • Is this a position of trust? Options are: No, Yes Property/Financial responsibility, Yes Vulnerable Populations.
  • How would you characterize the nature of the proposed tasks? Options are: introductory, for experienced undergraduate students, for advanced undergraduate students
  • Would you like to add this project to the OUR searchable database? Yes or No
    • Your name and contact information are not included, but the database helps students identify projects on campus and helps us in our efforts to guide students in making connections to research opportunities on campus.
    • If you select yes, we ask you to edit the description and tasks so that it reads as a general description that a freshman could understand and that does not include names or specific dates.
  • I understand that I am responsible for making certain that the hours my student enters in the payroll system are accurate and approved in time for the bi-weekly payroll. Yes or no

Student Application

Please note: several of the following requests for information are similar to questions asked of your research mentor. It is extremely important to the review committee that you respond to the requests below in your own words. Do not simply restate or copy responses prepared by your mentor.

  • Student Information: Name, email address, School/College/Department of your major.
  • Describe your reasons for wanting to participate in this research project and how the project fits into your larger academic and career goals. (200 words)
  • In your own words, describe the tasks that you will be performing. (200 words)
  • In what ways do your educational, work, or other background and experiences make you a particularly good choice for this opportunity. (200 words)
  • If you have previously been active in this research project, did you: Receive Credit, Receive Pay, Participate as a Volunteer?
    • Please provide details of your past involvement with this project (200 words).
  • Beyond this project, have you previously received any of the following kinds of support for the Office of Undergraduate Research? A list will be provided.
    • Please provide details regarding the support you have received above.
  • I have read and accept the OUR SURF Terms and Conditions. Yes or No
  • I understand that I must not exceed 25 hours of work at UWM in any single week during the academic school year and 40 hours during the summer term. Yes or No
  • I understand that I am expected to present some of the results of my research at the Annual UWM Undergraduate Research Symposium. Yes or No.
  • I understand that I am responsible for correctly entering my hours in the student hourly payroll system and that should I miss a punch, I must promptly alert my research mentor that my punches need to be corrected. Yes or No.