Project Grants

Research and Creative project support grants are available for undergraduate projects to be presented at the Undergraduate Research Symposium at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

The three types of funding sources are outlined below. Students may apply for multiple types of grants; however, only one grant will be awarded per project. Scholarships are competitive and based upon specific criteria. Please read the criteria carefully to determine your eligibility before completing your application. If you are not eligible for a funding opportunity, DO NOT request it on your application. Funding sources are subject to change.

1. Minnesota State Foundation Student Research Awards: up to $2,000. 

A Foundation grant is a $1000 stipend and up to $1000 for supplies. Stipends are issued once in the fall and once in the spring ($500 each) contingent upon presentation at the URC. These grants are funded by the MSU Foundation. Foundation Grant Awardees are encouraged to report back to the Foundation upon completion of the project with a summary of his/her experience participating in the research process and the URC.

2. NorthStar STEM Alliance Awards: up to $1,300

A NorthStar STEM Alliance Award is a $1000 stipend and up to $300 for supplies. These awards are available to students from underrepresented ethnicities enrolled in specific STEM discipline majors. In order to be eligible for the NorthStar STEM Alliance Research Grant, students must meet the following criteria:

• U.S. Citizen or permanent resident.
• Declared major in one of the following departments; Automotive & Manufacturing Engineering Technology, Electrical & Computer Engineering & Technology, Mechanical & Civil Engineering, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Information Science, or Mathematics.
• Member of one of the following ethnic groups: African/African-America, Hispanic/Latino, or Native-American.

NorthStar STEM Alliance Research Grants are primarily intended for students doing individual research. Groups may apply, but ONLY group members that meet the above criteria will be eligible to receive the stipend.  For a complete list of all those who qualify, please see the third page of the URC Grant Application or go to cset.mnsu.edu/sacc/nssa/.

3. Undergraduate Research Center Awards

• Stipend & Supply Grant: $500 student stipend and up to $500 in supplies, including consumable items and other necessary materials that are unavailable at the University.
• Supply Grant: up to $500 in supplies, including consumable items and other necessary materials that are unavailable at the University.

Please see Managing your Grant Awards for more details.

If you have any questions, please contact the URC Graduate Assistant, Natasha Olson, at urc@mnsu.edu