The Office of Research and Sponsored Projects Operations (ORSPO) administers funding opportunities for main campus students to conduct, present, and be involved in research. For detailed information on award guidelines, eligibility, and the application checklist, view the electronic award guides.

Funding for students depends on the amount of applications submitted and the available budget. Preference is given to applicants who have not yet been awarded within the academic year. Only applications submitted online using the appropriate link will be reviewed.

Student Travel Award | Student Research Awards | Graduate Student Assistantships

Student Travel Award

The Student Travel Award supports both graduate and undergraduate students that have been accepted to meetings or events sponsored by professional organizations for the purpose of reporting the results of research, exhibiting or performing creative works, or otherwise disseminating results of their scholarly activity.

Students Eligible: Main campus degree seeking undergraduate and graduate students

Award: Up to $800

Guidelines

Templates

Submission Process

Only applications submitted online via submittable will be accepted for review. You will need receipts and or invoices. This includes registration fees, lodging, mileage, etc.)

Close Out Process

If you are awarded, you will be sent an additional form via Submittable for any remaining information needed to process reimbursement.

 

Student Research Awards

Undergraduate Research Award

The Undergraduate Research Award supports and encourages mentored scholarly research, scientific inquiry, inventive technology, and artistic/creative activity. This award is for undergraduate students who are conducting research projects and need financial assistance for necessary materials to begin, collect data, and share completed research. Costs for projects include subscriptions to software for data collection and/or data analysis; publication costs; materials such as lab supplies; or other costs for research related materials that are not available at the university and are necessary to complete the research project.

Students Eligible: Main campus degree seeking undergraduate students

Award: Up to $1,800, distributed as follows:

  • up to $600 for research funding
  • up to $600 for dissemination of findings
  • $600 faculty member stipend

Guidelines

Templates

Submission Process

Only applications submitted online via Submittable will be accepted for review.

Graduate Research Award

The Graduate Research Award supports students engaged in independent scholarly research, scientific inquiry, inventive technology, and artistic/ creative activity and is intended to help students pay extraordinary or unusual costs incurred in research projects. Costs for projects include subscriptions to software for data collection and/or data analysis; publication costs; materials such as lab supplies; travel for data collection; or other costs for research related materials that are not available at the university and are necessary to complete the research project.

Students Eligible: Main campus degree seeking graduate students

Award: Up to $1,000

Guidelines

Templates

Submission Process

Only applications submitted online via Submittable will be accepted for review.

Student Research Award Recipients Guide

The information below is if you received the Undergraduate Research Award or the Graduate Student Research Award. 

  • Use of Research Funds

    Use of Research funds

    1. These funds are to be used only for the purposes stated in proposal and budget. It is understood that these funds will be used for such purposes substantially in accordance with the approved budget. It is also understood that no substantial variances, including the timing of expenditures, will be made from the approved budget without the ORSPO's prior approval in writing.

    Unused funds

    1. Any funds not expended or committed for the purpose of your approved project by May 31 will not roll over to the next fiscal year. All purchase and check requisitions will cease on April 30. Anything submitted after the April 30th deadline must have prior approval.

    Additional Funding Sources

    1. If you received additional funds from other sources for the same project, this includes departmental funds, please notify the ORSPO.

    Re-Budgeting

    1. In general, student recipients are allowed a certain degree of latitude to re-budget within and between budget categories to meet unanticipated needs and to make other types of post-award changes. Written approval is required for budget modifications. Recipients shall immediately notify the ORSPO of developments that have a significant impact on the award-supported activities. Also, notification shall be given in the case of problems, delays, or adverse conditions which materially impair the ability to meet the objectives of the award. This notification shall include a statement of the action taken or contemplated, and any assistance needed to resolve the situation.

    Tax Status

    1. The University of the Incarnate Word is a tax exempt organization. For any purchases that will require reimbursement, please use the tax exempt form.

  • Regulatory Compliance 

    Before any funds can be dispersed, projects requiring regulatory compliance must have an approval letter from the appropriate review board.

    Please visit our Research Compliance website for more information.

  • Ordering Supplies with your Award

    Purchase Order (PO) or Check Request Process

    Obtain a quote or invoice from the vendor for the items that you would like to purchase. The quote or invoice should provide:

    1. The vendor’s name
    2. The item and the description
    3. The quantity requesting
    4. The total cost including shipping and freight charges
      *If the item is from Amazon, you may send a screen shot of your cart and submit it in pdf format with the ASIN numbers of the product.
    5. Submit the electronic Purchase Order or Check Request Form

    Process After Request

    1. The ORSPO will review the quote and ensure it is within the parameters of your award (if it is an allowable cost). The ORSPO also ensures that the vendor is within the UIW system. If not a W9 from the company must be obtained.
    2. The request then gets entered into Banner and is reviewed and approved by the Director of the ORSPO.
    3. Once approved, Purchasing reviews it and generates a purchase order (PO).
    4. Once the purchase order is received, the ORSPO follows up with the vendor to submit the order.

    Receiving the Purchased Items

    Purchased items are delivered to the ORSPO office, unless they are chemicals which are sent to the laboratory. Please provide a good contact number to ensure that once items arrive, a pick up or delivery time can be arranged.

    To order supplies with your award, use the following request form:

    Purchase Order (PO) or Check Request Form

 

Graduate Student Assistantships

Graduate Research Assistant (GRA)

The purpose of this program is to provide institutional financial support to graduate students within the context of a mentored research experience, the award is restricted to graduate students who are:

  • Regularly enrolled in either a master’s or doctoral program
  • In good academic standing with the University
  • Enrolled in at least six hours in the semester or session in which that the appointment occurs (doctoral students in dissertation writing who have completed their minimum dissertation enrollment and are on “continuous enrollment” status may meet this requirement with one hour of enrollment)

This award may not be combined with other tuition discounts.

Award:  $2,820 to student account per semester (Fall and/or Spring)

Current GRA Opening

Dr. Vallor
Department: Biology
Supervisor: Dr. Ana Vallor
Supervisor E-mail: vallor@uiwtx.edu

General Job Description / Qualifications:

At least one year of biological / chemistry laboratory experience, knowledge of microbiological techniques. 9 hours of graduate work completed.

Project will involve the study of the biotransformation of prospective antiparasitic drugs which have undergone fungalmetabolism. One in particular, Cunninghamellaelegans Lendner (ATCC®9245™) is a fungus well known as a model for mimicking the metabolic transformation of drugs in mammalian cells. The metabolism of several natural compounds have been studied using C. elegans and this project will address the study of the metabolism of two isoflavones, osajin and pomiferin, extracted from Osageorange (Maclurapomifera (Raf.) Schneid). Isoflavones are plant secondary metabolites and some have estrogenic properties.

Essential duties and responsibilities:

  1. Make and maintain biological media and other experimental reagents.
  2. Maintain fungal cultures and conduct experiments weekly.
  3. Conduct experiments.
  4. Maintain laboratory reagents, and routinely stock supplies.
  5. Present at laboratory meetings.
  6. Record keeping and maintenance of notebook by the student and other undergraduate students.

The successful candidate must demonstrate the following abilities:

  1. Organizational and managerial skills.
  2. Microbiological and Organic Chemistry knowledge.
  3. Time management skills.
  4. Critical thinking skills/ scientific writing (will be expected to assist in abstracts and manuscripts).

Specific Skills Required

  1. Knowledge of microbiological techniques and safety in the laboratory setting.
  2. Knowledge of basic organic chemistry techniques.

The position is restricted to graduate students who are:

  1. Regularly enrolled in either a master’s or doctoral program
  2. In good academic standing with the University
  3. Enrolled in at least six hours in the semester or session in which the appointment occurs (doctoral students in dissertation writing who have completed their minimum dissertation enrollment and are on "continuous enrollment" status may meet this requirement with one hour enrollment)

 

Submission Process

To apply for a GA or GRA position, please submit the application below and include your resume and cover letter as attachments.

 

For more information contact:

Ana Hagendorf, PhD
E-mail: wandless@uiwtx.edu
Phone: (210) 805-3036