Student Project Awards

Undergraduate students planning to pursue creative projects or conduct research are invited to apply for Student Project Funding.

  • Fall & Spring Terms: Up to $3,000 for individuals and up to $6,000 for group applicants.
  • Summer Term: Up to $6,000 for individual and group applicants.

2024-2025  Application Schedule

  • APR15

    2024 Fall Projects Award

    Up to $3,000 for an individual and $6,000 for a group.
    APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED

     

     

  • SEPT 30

    2025 Spring Projects Award

    Up to $3,000 for an individual and $6,000 for a group.
    Accepting Applications September 30 - November 3, 2024.


     

  • JAN20

    2025 Summer Projects Award

    Up to $6,000 for groups AND  individuals.
    Accepting Applications January 20 - March 2, 2025.

     



  • APR14

    2025 Fall Projects Award

    Up to $3,000 for an individual and $6,000 for a group.
    Accepting Applications April 15 - June 8, 2025.

     

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Spring 2025 Projects

Undergraduate students planning to pursue creative projects or conduct research during the Spring 2025 semester are invited to apply for funding.

  • The limit for requests for individuals is $3,000 and groups (2 or more students) is $6,000.
  • Funds may be used for a fellowship, tuition (up to 4 credits for a course related to your project), travel to fieldwork location, consumable supplies, and/or services.
  • All funds must be spent by April 27, 2024 (end of award term).
Accepting applications September 30 - November 3, 2024.

 

Collage of two images: one of a student painting and a field photo of a sketch and art supplies in the grass,

Tehya McLeod, Fall 2022 Awardee
Interdisciplinary Studies: Drafting and Design

Mentor: Mary Beth Leigh

"This project was an opportunity for collaboration between art and science and for engaging the community. I  worked to creatively share information about the landscape around us through my artwork in the form of an exhibit. I believe it is important to the ongoing relationship between people and the environment that our understanding of our landscapes continues to grow."

Santos Poster Presentation

Barbosa Santos presenting at the 2024 RCA Day. Santos received the CLA Dean's Choice Award for their project. (Photo credit: Leif Van Cise)

Marina Barbosa Santos, Fall 2023 Awardee
Interdisciplinary Studies

Mentor: Ken Tape & Justin Cramb

This project utilizes repeat photography to support archeological efforts at the Chena Townsite, and to understand how the landscape has evolved since the town was abandoned. The project endeavors to contribute to the preservation of history, public education, and our understanding of land use changes.

"The URSA project helped open doors in my academic and professional endeavors. It allowed me to network and work with individuals that possess the skill sets I wish to develop and utilize in my academic journey. The URSA funding also enabled me to dedicate more time to developing these skill sets, and the flexibility of my research allowed me to explore creative opportunities within the project."

CEM Group Project, Fall 2022 Awardees
Seth Thomas, Ethan Hoover, Micah Vanderhart, Casey Lambries
Mechanical Engineering

Mentor: Michael Hatfield

"Working on this project has helped club members gain experience working on a hands-on engineering project. It’s a good way to provide engineering experience outside of the classroom, where students have control of all aspects of the project, such as design, manufacturing, writing proposals, and reports. "

 

Entrikin project photos

Left: Rafting along the Arctic coastal plain. Right: Entrikin deploying eDNA sampling equipment in the Hulahula River, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (Photos courtesy of Entrikin)

Emilie Entrikin, Spring 2024 Awardee
Interdisciplinary Studies

Mentor: Jessica Glass

Entrikin has guided raft trips on the ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñn Arctic rivers for over 15 years. These experiences which contributed to a curiosity about the natural environment. In summer 2023, Entrikin collected 132 eDNA samples along three Arctic rivers: the Hula Hula, Kongakut and Firth rivers. Through this URSA award, Entrikin was able to  analyze the samples using DNA extraction techniques and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to find out if there are populations of Chum salmon in any of or all of the three rivers.

"The URSA program was the encouragement I needed to pursue my desire to do an independent research project. I enjoyed the long process of collections, research, writing, processing and such. This project has opened up a new world of opportunities that are possible for me to pursue. "

A student standing in a field of peony buds.

Luke Martin, Summer 2022 Awardee
Mathematics
Mentor: Patricia Holloway

[Peonies] are a successful domestic and export product for ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ. A problem with harvesting peonies as cut flowers is predicting precise harvest times for each bud. Each plant yields tens of flowers that must be individually tested to harvest. A well-trained grower can put their thumb on the top of the bud, press down, and tell by the firmness of the bud if it is ready to be harvested. This test is inefficient, requires a lot of training, and isn’t always accurate. The cost to growers in time, especially training seasonal workers, and rejected buds, can be substantial.

Luke collected data on peonies and their growing process. In this data Luke observed data points such as the color of a peony flower, density, and rate of bloom. With the new  data gathered  Luke created several regression models that can help farmers know when to harvest their peonies.

Student in a red coat kneeling next to a sled dog in a harness.

Abigail Jensen, Fall 2022 Project Awardee
Biological Sciences
Mentor: Kriya Dunlap

Title: Boosted Anti-Inflammatory Profile of ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñn Sled Dogs After Consumption of Acute Doses of Wild ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñn Blueberries

"[This project gave me] the opportunity to pursue structured research outside a traditional laboratory setting. I recently applied to several different Veterinary Medicine programs, and research time is highly recommended. The award I received helped me financially create my own project that counted towards my required Biology Capstone project and also gave me the opportunity to connect more with ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñn culture. ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ would not be ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ without sled dogs and the connection they have with people."