University at Buffalo - The State University of New York

Published: October 18, 2007

By MARY COCHRANE
Contributing Editor

Tim Tryjankowski is so excited about awarding the new grants he has for undergraduate research at UB that he's even willing to pay the piper.

The bagpiper, that is.

That was the subject of one of several phone calls to Tryjankowski, director of the Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (CURCA), asking about the grants. One such call came from a theatre and dance student who needs to complete a required creative dance project.

"The student needs to hire a musician for a creative dance project. I don't know if it's a bagpiper or what, but the student wanted to know if she can apply for the grant, then take the money and turn around and pay the musician. Absolutely," said Tryjankowski.

CURCA is announcing this week that it will bestow annual awards of up to $500 to eligible undergraduate students who wish to offset costs incurred for research and creative activity projects. Students may apply for the funds to help pay for a variety of project expenses—from supplies to travel expenses to attend conferences. Students may apply for the funds in the fall, spring and summer sessions, using the application form that is posted.

Michael E. Ryan, vice provost and dean of undergraduate education, arranged for $50,000 in funding for the grants as a way to "break down the barriers to research for undergraduate students," according to Tryjankowski.

"As long as the student can do that, prove that we're breaking down the barrier to undergraduate research with this money, we'll fund it," Tryjankowski said. "This is a way to offer what are typically 'honors' experiences to the entire student population."

CURCA's timing couldn't be better. This fall, UB welcomed "the highest achieving group of entering students in the university's history, based on standardized test scores and high school averages," he noted. Many of these talented new students came "with the desire to get as much from their undergraduate experience as possible," he said.

Grants will be awarded to a variety of projects, provided students have a UB faculty or staff member sign off on the application and monitor their progress.

Tryjankowski just mailed out center magnet clips with "to-do lists" attached to UB faculty and staff to introduce the program and encourage their participation. Faculty members are in an especially good position to find those special students with the motivation to succeed in research and creative activities, he added.

"We are looking for independent thinkers who maybe not only will get involved in a research opportunity, but then swing back around and be undergraduate mentors for incoming freshmen," he said.

In addition to providing funding for project expenses, Tryjankowski said he also will consider awarding grants that would offer pay to students in lieu of part-time jobs.

"We're going to be flexible to begin with," Tryjankowski said. "What if a student who is delivering pizza says, 'I can't be doing research because I have to work to pay for school.' If the faculty member can make a case that the student is valuable to the research project, we're going to look at that."

In all cases, the funds will be directed at paying for items or other things not already covered in the faculty/staff member's budget.

Non-honors students will be given first consideration for the funds "since honors students have a grant program similar to this one already," Tryjankowski said, adding that he hopes to encourage students already involved in UB's Undergraduate Academies to apply.

"There were more than 60 students who expressed interest and we have two academies that began this year—Civic Engagement and Research Exploration. Those students who participate in the academies receive two years of classroom instruction and should be a bit more versed in areas in their disciplines," he said.

Faculty fellows for the Undergraduate Academies—Tracy Gregg, Diane Christian, Peter Nickerson, Albert Titus and Tryjankowski—will serve as judges for the undergraduate research grant applications.

"Students are encouraged to apply early. It's just like scholarship money. Until the money runs out, we're going to keep awarding it," he said.

To help students and mentors understand how to qualify for the grants, CURCA will offer a workshop about the program, "Funding Your Undergraduate Research," from 3-4 p.m. Oct. 25, in 210 Student Union, North Campus. For more information, contact Tryjankowski at 645-7778 or at tat@buffalo.edu.