Engineering Learning Initiatives aims to fund as many quality proposals as possible. However, levels of available funding fluctuate along with corporate and alumni donations. The competition for research awards varies from term to term, depending on numbers of applicants and available funding.
Your application will be reviewed and rated by a faculty committee according to the selection criteria below. Award decisions are based on committee ratings of how well your application fulfills the selection criteria. Please read the selection criteria and application instructions thoroughly and prepare your application carefully.
Please be aware that undergraduate research funds are available only for undergraduate students currently enrolled in the College of Engineering.
Reminder: Because CPRS students are funded through the Cornell Commitment Office, CPRS students are ineligible for undergraduate research funding through this program. Student Project Teams are also ineligible for this program as they have the opportunity to be considered for College funding through a separate process each Fall.
From student’s research proposal:
- Technical merit of the project
- Student understanding of project goals and specific tasks required
- Student understanding of practical, "real-world" purpose and application of research
- Clarity and quality of written project description
From student’s stipend request statement (if applicable):
- Justification of value of stipend support in relation to educational goals. Note: Students may not receive both academic credit and stipend funds for the same research project in a given term.
From student’s personal statement:
- Demonstration of self-motivation and commitment required to successfully accomplish project goals
- Adequacy of preparation and experience
- Demonstration of passion and dedication to the research endeavor
From faculty application:
- Appropriateness of project for an undergraduate researcher
- Demonstration of commitment to mentoring and supervision of undergraduate researcher
From faculty budget specification (if applicable):
- Justification of project support expenses requested
Engineering Learning Initiatives staff rely on review committee ratings and program philosophy considerations when making final selection decisions.
Students and faculty mentors are notified of competition outcomes by e-mail. Award funds are transferred to a department account, through which the student receives the agreed-upon research stipend.
