Quad Undergraduate Research Scholars Program

Quad Undergraduate Research Grants are competitive, open-discipline awards intended to enhance the educational experience of University of Chicago College students by supporting scholarly undergraduate research and creative inquiry experiences through active participation in faculty-driven research. These awards are designed to support the student in securing vital undergraduate research experiences with faculty by reducing their financial burden during the academic year

These awards are explicitly for students who have identified or are already pursuing research with a faculty member, faculty research cluster, or other faculty-driven research initiative.  Students may undertake research with other senior scholars with University arts and research institutes; they must be formally appointed (paid) by the University of Chicago. This includes but is not limited to the Smart Museum, Court Theatre, Hannah Holburn Gray Special Collections Research Center, Franke Institute, the Neubauer Collegium, etc.

Students who receive a Quad grant will be recognized as Quad Undergraduate Research Scholars. Scholars will be supported by annual CCRF programming designed to enhance the scholars' experience and build a cross-disciplinary research community. 

Applications are accepted two times per year – once in early October and once in early January. Candidates must apply by the stated deadline; these are not reviewed or awarded on a rolling basis. The grants are for $5,000 in total and disbursed in installments of $2,500 each over two, sequential quarters. Graduating seniors may request to receive a one-quarter award totaling $2,500 during their final two quarters. Awards will not be made to recent graduates or for use the summer after graduation.

Eligibility:

• Applicants must be matriculated College students in good standing and registered full-time during the award period. This grant program is open to U.S. citizens, international students, and undocumented students.
• Applicants may be rising 2^nd, 3^rd, or 4^th-year undergraduate students at the University of Chicago. Recent graduates are not eligible, nor can funding be used the summer following graduation.
• Open to all majors.
• Students must be working on faculty-driven research projects at the University of Chicago; Quad does not fund BA thesis projects, or self-directed or independent research projects (see below), or international research.
• Students must apply during the application cycle that most closely corresponds with the first quarter they will begin (or continue) their research. 
• Applicants do not need to be already engaged in research with faculty to be eligible to apply. Students who have recently secured an opportunity with a faculty-driven research enterprise are eligible to apply. They will be expected to effectively articulate their research plan and what they will contribute to the broader faculty-driven research project. The faculty mentor overseeing the undergraduate will be required to submit a letter of support.
• Students proposing research that involves human subjects must provide proof that they have secured IRB approval or have completed the application and are awaiting results.
• GPAs will be reviewed at the time of application and strong academic performance is expected.
• Applicants must be pursuing undergraduate research during the academic year. Please apply for a Quad Summer Undergraduate Research grant if you are pursuing research during the summer only.
• Grants are not made for research experiences that are less than 10 hours per week; the average committment for a grant of this amount is 10-13 hours per week during the academic quarter.

Expectations:

• All Quad scholars and mentors may be asked to complete a quarterly research-assessment form reporting on their experience.
• All Quad scholars will be required to present their research at the annual University of Chicago Undergraduate Research Symposium (May, 2022, and every May thereafter); if unable to present at the first symposium, they will be required to do so before graduation.
• For the duration of the award period, students must continue to be actively engaged as an undergraduate researcher, and remain a full-time undergraduate student in good standing with the University. Quad Scholars must spend an average of 10-13 hours per week on their research during their funded academic quarters.
• All Quad scholars will be expected to complete a post-award survey and will be invited to submit annual alumni surveys.