The Undergraduate Research Program encompasses independent scholarly activity by students
in the arts, humanities, and sciences. Driven by the many opportunities for interaction
between students and faculty, undergraduate research at MCLA has expanded dramatically
in recent years. The program supports students with independent study opportunities
in many disciplines, small Research and Travel MiniGrants, and a dynamic campus-wide Undergraduate Research Conference (URC) for presenting their work.
Beyond the campus, MCLA is a proud member of COPLAC, the Council of Public Liberal
Arts Colleges. Each fall MCLA students join with peers from other schools in the Northeast
to present at the regional COPLAC Undergraduate Research Conference.
In addition to these opportunities, MCLA students also participate in the Massachusetts Statewide Undergraduate Research Conference, held each year in Amherst and the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR).
Northeast Undergraduate Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity (NEURSCA) Virtual Conference, sponsored by the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC), which will be hosted by Eastern Connecticut on November 7th, 2020.
For more information, click on the links on this page or contact Dr. Jenna Sciuto, Chair of Undergraduate Research or Dr. Anna Jaysane-Darr, Associate Chair of Undergraduate Research.
IRB/IACUC for MiniGrants
Any student or group of students working with human (IRB) or vertebrate animal (IACUC)
research subjects must obtain IRB/IACUC approval in advance of submitting a proposal
for an Undergraduate Research MiniGrant. IRB/IACUC applications must be submitted
by the faculty sponsor of the research to the appropriate group at least 1 month prior
to the MiniGrant deadline to ensure enough time for IRB/IACUC to read and make their
decision on the proposed research. Applications and submission instructions can be
obtained for their groups through the Chairperson or Academic Affairs. Upon approval
the submitting faculty mentor will receive a 6-digit approved proposal number. This
number should be provided to students so it may be included on the MiniGrant proposal
form.
IRB/IACUC for URC
Any student or group of students working with human (IRB) or vertebrate animal (IACUC)
research subjects must obtain IRB/IACUC approval in advance of submitting an abstract
to the Undergraduate Research Conference. IRB/IACUC applications must be submitted
by the faculty sponsor of the research to the appropriate group at least 1 month prior
to the URC abstract submission deadline. Applications and submission instructions
can be obtained for their groups through the Chairperson or Academic Affairs. Upon
approval the submitting faculty mentor will receive a 6-digit approved proposal number.
This number should be provided to students so it may be included on the MiniGrant
proposal form.
Faculty/Student Conference Awards
Faculty that wish to take students to a discipline specific conference may apply for
a Faculty/Student Undergraduate Research Travel Grant. This grant would provide up
to $1500 for a faculty member to travel with two students to a conference or alternatively
up to $1000 for travel with one student. Students are expected to participate in the
conference (presentation, exhibit, or invited discussion). To apply faculty should
submit a written proposal including: 1) the name of the conference, 2) dates of the
conference, 3) the name of the students attending and presenting, 4) types of presentations
the students will be making, including titles, and 5) a proposed budget for the faculty
and students (including travel, accommodations, registration, and food; a travel request
form can be used for the budget). Applications should be submitted to the Chair or
Associate Chair of Undergraduate Research.
