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Department of Biological Sciences

Examples of Undergraduate Research Projects

Fall 2021 projects, previous projects.

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Song Wu, '24 composed a graphic novel about a first-generation Chinese-American teenager's struggle to define his identity in punk music, sexuality, and America with the assistance of a VPUE Student Grant.  

Inquiry, investigation, and discovery

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Photo: Matt Mettias '23 was awarded a Chappell Lougee Scholarship to support the development of his original music album Keanu . The conscious hip-hop/Hawaiian fusion album centers Pacific Islander issues.

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Left image: Major Grant recipient and Art Practice student Sabrina Bedford created an acrylic paint series to accompany her own short novel about a girl surviving in a post-climate change disaster world who comes across a time machine. Right image: Major Grant recipients Gunner Dongieux and Sean O’Bannon navigate the intersection of tech and art by working to seamlessly incorporate AI into Gunner’s painting using a Generative Adversarial Network.

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A student’s guide to undergraduate research

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Originally written by Shiwei Wang for Nature journal in March 2019.

Participating in original research during your undergraduate studies can greatly expand your learning experience. However, finding the project can be a challenging task, so here’s a short but comprehensive guide that can help you get the most out of an undergraduate research opportunity.

Choose the right lab

Learn to think like a scientist. A lot of people start their undergraduate research by glancing at the faculty list and e-mailing multiple professors whose work seems interesting. Although this might get you a position somewhere, it is not the most effective approach. Before looking at labs, dive into the science to find out which areas fascinate you. Read a lot, go to talks, and talk to your professors not just about their classes, but about science in general as well.

Subscribe to e-mail newsletters from journals such as Nature and Science. Try to read research highlights and science news regularly. Podcasts and articles by, for example, Nature, Science, Scientific American or Quanta can also be interesting sources of information. Follow academics, journals and universities on Twitter. Start your undergraduate research by learning more about science, thinking like a scientist and working out what you love.

Look for questions, not subjects. You might have chosen a major to study, but don’t let this limit your search for research labs. Modern labs are interdisciplinary and very different from what you do in undergrad labs. Instead of limiting your search to your department, try to look at labs in all related departments. Choose labs on the basis of the questions they’re trying to answer.

Mentoring is as important as research. Contact group members to learn about your prospective laboratory’s environment. Are the group members close? Is the lab friendly or competitive and condescending? Is the lab head hands-off or hands-on? The size of the group is also important. If you join a small group, you’ll have a higher chance of being mentored directly by your principal investigator, whereas in a big group, you are more likely to be mentored by a postdoctoral researcher or graduate student.

Reach out with confidence. Once you’ve determined that the research programme interests you and the group dynamic is healthy, send the principal investigator an e-mail. Make sure to explain why you’re interested in working in the lab and that you have spoken to other lab members. Be patient if they don’t reply. If you don’t receive a response after a week or so, send a second e-mail or reach out in other ways, such as by asking group members to enquire for you.

Get the most out of the experience

Start your research with reading, and keep on reading. Usually, the principal investigator will assign you a mentor and a project. Ask for literature to read: learning about the state of the field and why the work is important will help you to push the project forward. Read about your field as well as other, totally unrelated fields. As an undergraduate, you have the freedom to change your major and your future plans. Make sure to strike a balance between reading and conducting experiments. It’s hard to do both at the same time, but it will make you a better scientist.

Set specific goals for yourself and let your mentors know. Think about what you want from your research and how much time you are willing to put in. Besides learning the techniques, do you want to learn how to analyse results and design experiments? Do you want to learn how to write proposals by applying for undergraduate research grants? Do you want to improve your presentation skills by going to conferences? Do you want to potentially finish a project for publication? Working out what you want to achieve will help you to direct your time effectively.

Research takes time. Don’t blame yourself if experiments don’t work or the project is not moving forward as fast as you expected. Science is about failing and trying again. Getting used to and coping with frustration is part of the learning curve of research.

Find a healthy balance. University is already a lot of work, and research will only take up more time. When planning your schedule, try to allocate large blocks of time (whole afternoons or individual days) to research. Rushing through a procedure could be unsafe and will often produce useless results. Always plan extra time for experiments. Consider working less in the lab during exam weeks so you don’t get overwhelmed. Talk to your mentor about your schedule and feelings regularly, so that you can arrange experiments at times that suit you, and you can keep on top of your mental health.

Find financial support. If you wish to do research at your own institution over the summer, your institution might offer funding to cover your expenses. If you want to go to another university, you can apply for funding from that institution’s undergraduate research programme, or from foundations, companies or academic societies. For example, the US National Science Foundation offers a Research Experiences for Undergraduates programme. Universities, foundations and academic societies might also offer grants to cover your travel expense to various conferences. Don’t let money limit what you want to do. Talk to senior students or professors, or search online to find all the opportunities!

Always think about the big picture. Your undergraduate research doesn’t define what you’re going to do after your degree. Keep reading and taking classes outside your comfort zone. Explore and learn as much as possible. Working out what you love is the best preparation you can get for the rest of your career.

Read the full article on the Nature website.

To find a research opportunity at Johns Hopkins University, visit the Hopkins Office of Undergraduate Research website .

Major Grant

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Major grants support student-driven, full-time immersive projects supported by a faculty mentor, with priority given to Juniors.

• Major Grants provide a 10-week stipend in support of full-time immersive Summer project commitments
• Most Major Grants are awarded to students beginning an honors thesis, a senior project in the arts, or senior synthesis project between their junior and senior years.
• Decisions are typically made within 6 weeks 
• Funding is usually disbursed Week 1 of the quarter in which the project is executed 
• Application Deadline:  Friday, March 1, 2024, 11:59pm PST 
• Faculty Mentor Letter Deadline:  Friday, March 8, 2024, 11:59pm PST
• Project Execution:  Summer 2024 
• Stipend:  $7500, with a need-based supplement (of up to $1500) for eligible students. For details on the stipend structure, visit our  Constructing a Budget  page.

Where to Start

• Students interested in applying for a Major Grant should connect with their Faculty Mentor regarding their proposed project -  Faculty Mentors should meet required eligibility criteria
• Students should  schedule a meeting with their Undergraduate Advising Director (UAD)  as they write their proposal. UADs are well-versed with all VPUE Undergraduate Research grants

Application Guidelines

• The proposal summary, reference list, and appendices do not count toward the word count.
• Read through the  Writing a Project Proposal  site for specific guidelines on how to write a grant proposal. 
• Click here to read more about the Human Subjects requirement.
• Not sure if your project needs IRB review?  Contact Stanford’s IRB at  [email protected]  to consult with them. 
• Animal Subjects Research - one-paragraph appendix: If your research involves animal subjects of any kind (vertebrate or invertebrate), you must include an Animal Subjects Research Appendix in your application. Federal law and Stanford University policy require APLAC/IACUC approval before animal subjects research can begin.  Click here to read more about the Animal Subjects requirement .
• Date of correspondence
• Indicates access to a research resource and clearly states what that resource is
• Contact information of your primary contact
• Students with multiple field contacts: Only one letter is required, but note that the Review Committee may request additional letters at the time of review
• International Travel Safety Plan:  A project or conference that involves international travel is required to have an International Travel Safety Plan. It must be included as an appendix in the grant proposal. For instructions on completing the travel plan, go to our International Travel webpage .
• Requesting a Faculty Letter of Support
• Writing a Project Proposal
• Constructing a Budget

Major Grant Policies & Eligibility

**In addition to the below criteria specific to the Major Grant, all undergraduate students must meet our  general eligibility requirements .** 

• Frosh and Sophomores are encouraged to Explore Departmental Funding
• Seniors who have not previously received a Major Grant are eligible but will have lower priority
• Co-term students should read  this Registrar webpage  for details on when you are switched to graduate tuition.
• Students may not be on  a Leave of Absence (LOA)  while using grant funding. Students who have been on LOA for 3 consecutive quarters prior to the funding period are not eligible (e.g., Autumn, Winter, and Spring).
• Students may not receive both academic units and a stipend for any single project activity.
• As a reminder, VPUE grant recipients who are planning on concurrently participating in another Stanford program should also abide by the funding and program policies of the sponsoring unit.

Fundamental Standard

Please note violations of Undergraduate Research policies are also violations of the  Fundamental Standard  and may be referred to the Office of Community Standards

• Students who fail to abide by the policies as set forth by Undergraduate Research, The Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, and Stanford University will have low priority for future Undergraduate Research funding opportunities
• Undergraduate Research reserves the right to rescind funding at any given point and time should they be apprised of any policy violations as outlined above or as listed on the  Eligibility Requirements webpage

Did you meet all the eligibility requirements? If so:

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 113 great research paper topics.

General Education

One of the hardest parts of writing a research paper can be just finding a good topic to write about. Fortunately we've done the hard work for you and have compiled a list of 113 interesting research paper topics. They've been organized into ten categories and cover a wide range of subjects so you can easily find the best topic for you.

In addition to the list of good research topics, we've included advice on what makes a good research paper topic and how you can use your topic to start writing a great paper.

What Makes a Good Research Paper Topic?

Not all research paper topics are created equal, and you want to make sure you choose a great topic before you start writing. Below are the three most important factors to consider to make sure you choose the best research paper topics.

#1: It's Something You're Interested In

A paper is always easier to write if you're interested in the topic, and you'll be more motivated to do in-depth research and write a paper that really covers the entire subject. Even if a certain research paper topic is getting a lot of buzz right now or other people seem interested in writing about it, don't feel tempted to make it your topic unless you genuinely have some sort of interest in it as well.

#2: There's Enough Information to Write a Paper

Even if you come up with the absolute best research paper topic and you're so excited to write about it, you won't be able to produce a good paper if there isn't enough research about the topic. This can happen for very specific or specialized topics, as well as topics that are too new to have enough research done on them at the moment. Easy research paper topics will always be topics with enough information to write a full-length paper.

Trying to write a research paper on a topic that doesn't have much research on it is incredibly hard, so before you decide on a topic, do a bit of preliminary searching and make sure you'll have all the information you need to write your paper.

#3: It Fits Your Teacher's Guidelines

Don't get so carried away looking at lists of research paper topics that you forget any requirements or restrictions your teacher may have put on research topic ideas. If you're writing a research paper on a health-related topic, deciding to write about the impact of rap on the music scene probably won't be allowed, but there may be some sort of leeway. For example, if you're really interested in current events but your teacher wants you to write a research paper on a history topic, you may be able to choose a topic that fits both categories, like exploring the relationship between the US and North Korea. No matter what, always get your research paper topic approved by your teacher first before you begin writing.

113 Good Research Paper Topics

Below are 113 good research topics to help you get you started on your paper. We've organized them into ten categories to make it easier to find the type of research paper topics you're looking for.

Arts/Culture

• Discuss the main differences in art from the Italian Renaissance and the Northern Renaissance .
• Analyze the impact a famous artist had on the world.
• How is sexism portrayed in different types of media (music, film, video games, etc.)? Has the amount/type of sexism changed over the years?
• How has the music of slaves brought over from Africa shaped modern American music?
• How has rap music evolved in the past decade?
• How has the portrayal of minorities in the media changed?

Current Events

• What have been the impacts of China's one child policy?
• How have the goals of feminists changed over the decades?
• How has the Trump presidency changed international relations?
• Analyze the history of the relationship between the United States and North Korea.
• What factors contributed to the current decline in the rate of unemployment?
• What have been the impacts of states which have increased their minimum wage?
• How do US immigration laws compare to immigration laws of other countries?
• How have the US's immigration laws changed in the past few years/decades?
• How has the Black Lives Matter movement affected discussions and view about racism in the US?
• What impact has the Affordable Care Act had on healthcare in the US?
• What factors contributed to the UK deciding to leave the EU (Brexit)?
• What factors contributed to China becoming an economic power?
• Discuss the history of Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies  (some of which tokenize the S&P 500 Index on the blockchain) .
• Do students in schools that eliminate grades do better in college and their careers?
• Do students from wealthier backgrounds score higher on standardized tests?
• Do students who receive free meals at school get higher grades compared to when they weren't receiving a free meal?
• Do students who attend charter schools score higher on standardized tests than students in public schools?
• Do students learn better in same-sex classrooms?
• How does giving each student access to an iPad or laptop affect their studies?
• What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Montessori Method ?
• Do children who attend preschool do better in school later on?
• What was the impact of the No Child Left Behind act?
• How does the US education system compare to education systems in other countries?
• What impact does mandatory physical education classes have on students' health?
• Which methods are most effective at reducing bullying in schools?
• Do homeschoolers who attend college do as well as students who attended traditional schools?
• Does offering tenure increase or decrease quality of teaching?
• How does college debt affect future life choices of students?
• Should graduate students be able to form unions?

• What are different ways to lower gun-related deaths in the US?
• How and why have divorce rates changed over time?
• Is affirmative action still necessary in education and/or the workplace?
• Should physician-assisted suicide be legal?
• How has stem cell research impacted the medical field?
• How can human trafficking be reduced in the United States/world?
• Should people be able to donate organs in exchange for money?
• Which types of juvenile punishment have proven most effective at preventing future crimes?
• Has the increase in US airport security made passengers safer?
• Analyze the immigration policies of certain countries and how they are similar and different from one another.
• Several states have legalized recreational marijuana. What positive and negative impacts have they experienced as a result?
• Do tariffs increase the number of domestic jobs?
• Which prison reforms have proven most effective?
• Should governments be able to censor certain information on the internet?
• Which methods/programs have been most effective at reducing teen pregnancy?
• What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Keto diet?
• How effective are different exercise regimes for losing weight and maintaining weight loss?
• How do the healthcare plans of various countries differ from each other?
• What are the most effective ways to treat depression ?
• What are the pros and cons of genetically modified foods?
• Which methods are most effective for improving memory?
• What can be done to lower healthcare costs in the US?
• What factors contributed to the current opioid crisis?
• Analyze the history and impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic .
• Are low-carbohydrate or low-fat diets more effective for weight loss?
• How much exercise should the average adult be getting each week?
• Which methods are most effective to get parents to vaccinate their children?
• What are the pros and cons of clean needle programs?
• How does stress affect the body?
• Discuss the history of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
• What were the causes and effects of the Salem Witch Trials?
• Who was responsible for the Iran-Contra situation?
• How has New Orleans and the government's response to natural disasters changed since Hurricane Katrina?
• What events led to the fall of the Roman Empire?
• What were the impacts of British rule in India ?
• Was the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki necessary?
• What were the successes and failures of the women's suffrage movement in the United States?
• What were the causes of the Civil War?
• How did Abraham Lincoln's assassination impact the country and reconstruction after the Civil War?
• Which factors contributed to the colonies winning the American Revolution?
• What caused Hitler's rise to power?
• Discuss how a specific invention impacted history.
• What led to Cleopatra's fall as ruler of Egypt?
• How has Japan changed and evolved over the centuries?
• What were the causes of the Rwandan genocide ?

• Why did Martin Luther decide to split with the Catholic Church?
• Analyze the history and impact of a well-known cult (Jonestown, Manson family, etc.)
• How did the sexual abuse scandal impact how people view the Catholic Church?
• How has the Catholic church's power changed over the past decades/centuries?
• What are the causes behind the rise in atheism/ agnosticism in the United States?
• What were the influences in Siddhartha's life resulted in him becoming the Buddha?
• How has media portrayal of Islam/Muslims changed since September 11th?

Science/Environment

• How has the earth's climate changed in the past few decades?
• How has the use and elimination of DDT affected bird populations in the US?
• Analyze how the number and severity of natural disasters have increased in the past few decades.
• Analyze deforestation rates in a certain area or globally over a period of time.
• How have past oil spills changed regulations and cleanup methods?
• How has the Flint water crisis changed water regulation safety?
• What are the pros and cons of fracking?
• What impact has the Paris Climate Agreement had so far?
• What have NASA's biggest successes and failures been?
• How can we improve access to clean water around the world?
• Does ecotourism actually have a positive impact on the environment?
• Should the US rely on nuclear energy more?
• What can be done to save amphibian species currently at risk of extinction?
• What impact has climate change had on coral reefs?
• How are black holes created?
• Are teens who spend more time on social media more likely to suffer anxiety and/or depression?
• How will the loss of net neutrality affect internet users?
• Analyze the history and progress of self-driving vehicles.
• How has the use of drones changed surveillance and warfare methods?
• Has social media made people more or less connected?
• What progress has currently been made with artificial intelligence ?
• Do smartphones increase or decrease workplace productivity?
• What are the most effective ways to use technology in the classroom?
• How is Google search affecting our intelligence?
• When is the best age for a child to begin owning a smartphone?
• Has frequent texting reduced teen literacy rates?

How to Write a Great Research Paper

Even great research paper topics won't give you a great research paper if you don't hone your topic before and during the writing process. Follow these three tips to turn good research paper topics into great papers.

#1: Figure Out Your Thesis Early

Before you start writing a single word of your paper, you first need to know what your thesis will be. Your thesis is a statement that explains what you intend to prove/show in your paper. Every sentence in your research paper will relate back to your thesis, so you don't want to start writing without it!

As some examples, if you're writing a research paper on if students learn better in same-sex classrooms, your thesis might be "Research has shown that elementary-age students in same-sex classrooms score higher on standardized tests and report feeling more comfortable in the classroom."

If you're writing a paper on the causes of the Civil War, your thesis might be "While the dispute between the North and South over slavery is the most well-known cause of the Civil War, other key causes include differences in the economies of the North and South, states' rights, and territorial expansion."

#2: Back Every Statement Up With Research

Remember, this is a research paper you're writing, so you'll need to use lots of research to make your points. Every statement you give must be backed up with research, properly cited the way your teacher requested. You're allowed to include opinions of your own, but they must also be supported by the research you give.

#3: Do Your Research Before You Begin Writing

You don't want to start writing your research paper and then learn that there isn't enough research to back up the points you're making, or, even worse, that the research contradicts the points you're trying to make!

Get most of your research on your good research topics done before you begin writing. Then use the research you've collected to create a rough outline of what your paper will cover and the key points you're going to make. This will help keep your paper clear and organized, and it'll ensure you have enough research to produce a strong paper.

What's Next?

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Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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Research and Independent Projects

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Inquiry, investigation, and discovery are at the heart of Stanford’s mission. Every faculty member is engaged in groundbreaking original scholarship, and as an undergraduate, you can join faculty in their work in laboratories, libraries, studios, and beyond. Imagine how you can connect your classroom learning and intellectual interests as you work on an independent project under faculty mentorship.

Learn more about Research and Independent Projects

Admitted Student Guide Categories for Research and Independent Projects

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Undergraduate Research

Academic research is an integral part of the College curriculum. Students have the opportunity to work side by side with Penn faculty, who serve as mentors, colleagues, and role models, on research that spans the full range of disciplines at the University. Through these research activities, College students apply what they have learned in previous coursework and take part in the creation of knowledge, one of the University's core missions.

The value of research lies in the work as much as the product. Research reinforces and instills mastery of academic skills: how to formulate a question or hypothesis, how to gather evidence, and how to answer that question or test that hypothesis.

In some cases, students may receive independent study credit for research activities and scholarship, or receive work-study funds or stipends from faculty grants.

Examples of Student Research

Research is going on across the arts and sciences. Some undergrads join established projects while others explore their own topics with faculty mentors.

Combining issues of social justice with award-winning film. View Interview

Approaching health care through qualitative and quantitative methods. View Interview

Using research to refine his areas of interest. View Interview

Building on research interests discovered abroad.  View Interview

• Grace Ringlein on the Dark Energy Survey Read more
• Sharika Bamezai on Hemodynamic Forces Regulate Heart Valve Development Read more
• Julia Chatterjee on the interpretation of dreams in ancient societies Read more

Research Publications

Several departments and programs have publications which profile undergraduate research. Browse their web sites for information about contributing to or receiving their publication. Publications include:

• PennScience: Journal of Undergraduate Research
• 3808: Journal of Critical Writing
• Sound Politicks
• OMNIA All Things Penn Arts & Sciences
• The College Undergraduate Research Electronic Journal (CUREJ)
• Discentes (Classical Studies)
• Penn History Review

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Are There Research-Related Opportunities for English Majors?

This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by English majors Brooke Elkjer and Katie DiFrancesco in a CollegeVine livestream. You can watch the full livestream for more info.

What’s Covered

Working with professors, research projects, writing programs.

You might not think of English literature right away when you think about college research projects. It’s not as though English students are performing scientific experiments, after all. But the discipline does do interesting research work. For example, professors are examining and reexamining classic works constantly to figure out how best to analyze them. This article will show you how to get involved in English research and what exactly literature scholars look to study.

Just like biology professors need assistants for lab work, English professors look for assistants to help with their research. Most often, students interested in English research reach out to their instructors directly to see if they’re working on anything that requires assistance.

The University of Southern California , for example, offers programs called Student Opportunities for Academic Research (SOAR) and Summer Undergraduate Research Fund (SURF). You can apply to these and get grant money to assist a professor with their research. You’ll learn as you work and receive an income. 

If you are fond of a professor or class, you can approach that instructor and ask them if they’re looking for student researchers. If they say yes, you can apply for those grants. It’s probably best suited to summer work than during the semester, as it can be quite intensive. It should feel exciting to do that kind of in-depth reading, especially in a subject that you’re passionate about and may not have had the chance to explore fully.

English research isn’t like STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) research. Instead of working in a laboratory, observing experiments, and recording data, you’ll be doing a deep dive into different literature. You’ll probably end up reading a good deal of literary theory too. 

English professors working on independent research often end up developing their own theories. These can be used to analyze and provide a new lens on works of literature. You can think of these as a type of theme—they’ll look at important texts and try to come up with a new way to think about them or make new points about what they’re saying. 

If you’re just applying to college, it can be difficult to understand exactly what this means. As you move through an English major, your analytical skills will develop and deepen.

A good example would be Judith Butler’s work on gender as performance. A research project may apply that concept to a work like Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night , where there are many characters who dress up as different genders, and conflicts happen as a result. You would then take Butler’s theories of gender to see how the characters are performing these roles and how those theories contribute to the overall narrative. This kind of research involves shedding a different light on classic literature.

At the University of Pennsylvania , there are a fair number of scholarships that enable students to do independent research. Many of these scholarships and research grants go toward the Kelly Writers House .

The Kelly Writers House is a physical space on campus (essentially a center) where you can find writing activities and coursework. Most writing classes take place there. There’s also a radio program, poetry readings, and other speaker events. Funding is provided if you would like to create a piece of writing—an article, essay, or work of fiction—that you would then present to some of your peers.

Travel stipends are also given out, so you could travel nationally or internationally to do whatever work your research entails. It’s mostly self-directed, so you’ll have a great deal of freedom in whatever you choose to pursue. If you’re interested in research that would involve creative writing, you might want to look at this program, as it could be a good fit for you.

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University Grants Commission: Research Funding and Projects

The University Grants Commission (UGC) is a regulatory body in India responsible for the coordination, determination, and maintenance of standards of university education. One significant aspect of its role is to provide financial support for research projects undertaken by universities across the country. This article aims to explore the UGC’s funding mechanisms and highlight some notable research projects that have received grants from this governing body.

For instance, imagine a scenario where a team of researchers at a prestigious Indian university seeks to investigate the impact of climate change on agricultural practices in rural communities. By securing funding from the UGC, these scholars would be able to conduct an extensive study using various methodologies such as data collection through surveys and interviews with farmers, analysis of historical weather patterns, and examination of relevant policy documents. Through the provision of funds, the UGC enables academic institutions and their faculty members to pursue innovative research initiatives that contribute towards knowledge creation and societal development.

Overall, understanding how the UGC allocates research grants and supports impactful projects is essential for comprehending the landscape of higher education in India. By examining specific case studies and analyzing key aspects of this process, readers can gain insights into not only how funding decisions are made but also how these investments contribute to advancing scientific knowledge, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, and and promoting socio-economic development in the country.

The UGC has various funding mechanisms in place to support research projects. One such mechanism is the UGC Major Research Project (MRP) scheme, which provides financial assistance to universities and colleges for carrying out research in different disciplines. Under this scheme, researchers can submit proposals outlining their research objectives, methodologies, and expected outcomes. The UGC evaluates these proposals based on their academic merit, feasibility, and potential impact before deciding on the allocation of funds.

Additionally, the UGC also offers grants through its Special Assistance Programme (SAP). This program aims to promote excellence in research by providing long-term support to select departments or centers of universities that have demonstrated a high level of expertise and potential for further development. Through SAP grants, these departments can enhance their infrastructure, recruit talented faculty members, organize seminars and conferences, and conduct cutting-edge research in their respective fields.

Notable research projects that have received grants from the UGC encompass diverse areas of study. Some examples include studies on renewable energy technologies, public health interventions, cultural heritage preservation, artificial intelligence applications in education, environmental conservation strategies, and social justice initiatives. These projects not only contribute to expanding knowledge in their respective domains but also address critical societal challenges faced by India and beyond.

In conclusion, the UGC plays a crucial role in supporting research endeavors at Indian universities through its funding mechanisms. By allocating grants to deserving projects across various disciplines, the UGC promotes innovation, collaboration among academics and institutions nationwide while fostering socioeconomic progress. Understanding how this process works helps shed light on the significance of research funding in higher education and its broader impact on society as a whole.

Background of the University Grants Commission

The University Grants Commission (UGC) is a statutory body established in 1956 by an Act of Parliament in India. Its primary objective is to promote and coordinate higher education across the country. The UGC plays a crucial role in facilitating research funding and projects for universities and colleges, ensuring that they receive adequate financial support to advance knowledge through innovative research activities.

To understand the significance of the UGC’s role, let us consider a hypothetical case study. Imagine a university with limited resources aiming to conduct groundbreaking research on renewable energy sources. Without external funding, this university would face significant challenges in carrying out such ambitious projects. However, thanks to organizations like the UGC, institutions can access vital funds needed to pursue scientific advancements that benefit society as a whole.

The UGC provides multiple avenues for institutions to secure research funding. It offers grants specifically designed to encourage interdisciplinary collaborations and partnerships between different universities and institutes within India. These grants foster exchange programs, workshops, and conferences where researchers can share ideas and work together towards common goals.

Through its various funding schemes, including major research projects and minor research projects, the UGC ensures that both well-established universities and smaller institutions have equal opportunities to contribute meaningfully to academic progress. This commitment promotes inclusivity and encourages diversity in research initiatives undertaken nationwide.

In addition to financial assistance, the UGC acts as an intermediary between academic institutions and government bodies or private organizations interested in supporting educational endeavors. By establishing connections between researchers and potential sponsors or donors, the UGC helps bridge gaps in resources while fostering collaboration among stakeholders involved in driving innovation forward.

Moving forward into our discussion about the Role of the University Grants Commission in Higher Education, it becomes evident how this regulatory body serves not only as a source of funding but also as a catalyst for transformative change within India’s academic landscape.

Role of the University Grants Commission in Higher Education

Having understood the background of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and its pivotal role in higher education, it is now essential to delve into the funding mechanisms and projects initiated by this regulatory body. To illustrate how research grants are utilized effectively, let us examine a hypothetical case study involving a university seeking UGC funding for a groundbreaking project.

Case Study: The University of Science and Technology (UST) has proposed a research project focused on developing sustainable energy solutions using renewable resources. Recognizing the potential impact of such an endeavor, UST submitted an application for UGC funding. This serves as an example to highlight the process and implications associated with research funding provided by the UGC.

• Extensive financial support that enables universities to undertake innovative research.
• Encouragement for interdisciplinary collaborations among researchers from diverse fields.
• Promotion of knowledge transfer through partnerships with industries and other academic institutions.
• Facilitation of international networking opportunities for researchers to enhance global collaboration.

Table 1 showcases some key statistics related to UGC-funded research projects over recent years. These numbers provide insight into the tangible outcomes achieved through these initiatives, evoking both admiration and inspiration among stakeholders:

In summary, the UGC plays a crucial role in funding research projects that have far-reaching implications for academia and society. By providing substantial financial support and fostering collaborative endeavors, the UGC empowers universities to address pressing challenges through innovative solutions. As we delve further into this topic, let us now explore the various types of research projects funded by the University Grants Commission.

With an understanding of the funding mechanisms employed by the UGC, it is imperative to analyze the different types of research projects undertaken with their support. This exploration will shed light on how diverse fields and disciplines contribute to knowledge generation under the auspices of the UGC.

Types of Research Projects funded by the University Grants Commission

Role of the University Grants Commission in Higher Education In the previous section, we explored the significant role played by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in higher education. Now, let us delve into the various types of research projects funded by the UGC.

Types of Research Projects Funded by the University Grants Commission To better understand the scope and impact of UGC-funded research projects, consider a hypothetical example involving an interdisciplinary study on climate change. This project brings together researchers from different fields such as environmental science, economics, and sociology to investigate the socio-economic implications of climate change mitigation strategies. By examining factors like policy effectiveness, economic viability, and social acceptability, this study aims to provide valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders.

The UGC funds a wide range of research projects across diverse disciplines. Here are some key areas where research funding is allocated:

• Scientific Research: The UGC supports cutting-edge scientific studies that contribute to advancements in fields such as physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering.
• Social Sciences: Research initiatives focusing on societal issues like poverty alleviation, gender equality, urban development, and cultural heritage preservation receive substantial funding.
• Humanities: Scholars engaged in linguistics, literature, philosophy, history, archaeology, and other humanities subjects benefit from UGC grants to deepen our understanding of human culture and society.
• Applied Research: The commission actively encourages applied research in areas such as agriculture technology, healthcare innovations, renewable energy solutions, and information technology.

Furthermore,a table depicting statistics related to UGC-funded research can evoke an emotional response:

These numbers highlight the UGC’s commitment to fostering research and development in higher education institutions across the country, providing a significant boost to academic progress.

In light of the diverse range of projects funded by the UGC, it is evident that they play a crucial role in promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge generation. The commission’s support enables researchers to explore critical societal challenges, advance scientific understanding, and make meaningful contributions to their respective fields. In the subsequent section, we will examine the criteria utilized by the UGC for granting research funding

Criteria for Granting Research Funding

The University Grants Commission (UGC) plays a crucial role in supporting and promoting research activities across universities in our country. In this section, we will explore various types of research projects that receive funding from the UGC.

To illustrate the diverse range of research projects supported by the UGC, let us consider an example: A team of researchers aims to investigate the impact of climate change on agricultural practices in rural areas. This interdisciplinary project involves experts from fields such as environmental science, agriculture, economics, and sociology. By studying different regions and their unique challenges, these researchers aim to propose sustainable solutions for farmers facing adverse effects due to changing climatic conditions.

Research projects funded by the UGC cover a wide spectrum, including but not limited to:

• Fundamental Research: These projects focus on advancing scientific knowledge and understanding in specific disciplines or domains.
• Applied Research: Such projects aim to address practical problems faced by industries or communities through innovative solutions.
• Interdisciplinary Research: Projects integrating multiple disciplines are encouraged to foster collaboration and promote holistic approaches towards complex issues.
• Collaborative Research: The UGC supports initiatives involving collaborations between institutions within the country or with international partners.

In addition to financial aid, the UGC provides guidance and resources for successful completion of research projects. Researchers receiving funding must adhere to ethical guidelines and maintain transparency throughout their work. They are also expected to disseminate their findings through publications and presentations at conferences.

By facilitating diverse types of research projects across academic institutions, the UGC contributes significantly to expanding knowledge frontiers and addressing societal challenges. In the following section, we will delve into the impact generated by such research funding provided by University Grants Commission on academia, industries, and society as a whole – highlighting its vital role in driving progress and development without any pause.

Impact of University Grants Commission’s Research Funding

In order to ensure fair distribution and effective utilization of resources, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has established specific criteria for granting research funding. These criteria serve as a guideline for evaluating project proposals and determining their eligibility for financial support. By adhering to these criteria, the UGC aims to promote high-quality research that contributes significantly to knowledge advancement in various academic disciplines.

To illustrate how these criteria work in practice, let us consider an example. Dr. Smith, a renowned professor of biology at a prestigious university, submitted a proposal to the UGC requesting funding for her groundbreaking study on genetic modification in crops. The evaluation process involved assessing the relevance, novelty, feasibility, and potential impact of her research project. Based on these factors, the UGC determined whether Dr. Smith’s proposal met the necessary requirements for receiving financial assistance.

The primary criteria considered by the UGC when granting research funding are as follows:

• Relevance: The proposed project should align with national priorities and address pressing societal issues.
• Originality: It is essential that the research offers new insights or approaches within its field.
• Feasibility: The project must be realistically achievable within the specified timeframe and available resources.
• Impact: Emphasis is placed on projects that have potential long-term benefits and can contribute significantly to scientific knowledge or social development.

The introduction of such strict criteria helps foster fairness and equality among researchers by providing them with clear guidelines for obtaining funding. Moreover, it ensures that limited funds are allocated towards projects that have maximum potential for making significant contributions to academia and society as a whole. This approach encourages researchers to think critically about their projects’ significance and paves the way for innovative breakthroughs.

Table – Benefits of Implementing Strict Criteria

By implementing these criteria, the UGC is able to prioritize research projects that have a higher likelihood of yielding substantial outcomes. This approach not only enhances the quality and relevance of funded research but also ensures accountability in utilizing public funds effectively. Consequently, it strengthens the overall research ecosystem within universities and promotes collaboration among scholars.

Looking ahead, understanding how the UGC’s funding criteria influence project selection lays a foundation for exploring future initiatives and emerging trends in research projects.

Future Initiatives and Trends in Research Projects

Building upon the impact of University Grants Commission’s research funding, several future initiatives and trends are anticipated to shape the landscape of research projects. One potential scenario is the establishment of collaborative research networks between universities and industry partners. For instance, an ongoing case study involving a renowned university and a leading pharmaceutical company has shown promising results. By combining academic expertise with industry insights and resources, this collaboration aims to accelerate the development of new drugs for rare diseases.

In order to further enhance research outcomes, it is essential to address certain key areas:

• Interdisciplinary Approaches: Encouraging interdisciplinary collaborations can foster innovative solutions by bringing together diverse perspectives from various fields. This approach allows researchers to draw on different methodologies, theories, and practices applicable to their respective domains.
• Ethical Considerations: As scientific advancements continue at a rapid pace, ethical considerations play a crucial role in shaping responsible research practices. Incorporating ethics committees or review boards within academic institutions can ensure that research projects adhere to ethical guidelines while maintaining scientific rigor.
• Open Access Publishing: Promoting open access publishing enables wider dissemination of research findings without barriers such as subscription fees or paywalls. This not only enhances knowledge sharing but also facilitates greater collaboration among researchers globally.
• Funding Diversification: Expanding sources of research funding beyond traditional avenues can provide more opportunities for innovative projects. Exploring partnerships with private foundations, philanthropic organizations, and government agencies can help diversify financial support for cutting-edge research endeavors.

The following table provides an overview of these key areas along with their corresponding benefits:

By embracing these future initiatives, the University Grants Commission can foster an environment conducive to groundbreaking discoveries across disciplines. It is imperative that stakeholders collaborate to address ethical concerns, encourage interdisciplinary approaches, promote open access publishing, and diversify funding sources. These measures will not only drive research excellence but also contribute significantly to societal progress.

(Note: This section does not include the specific transition sentence from the previous section H2 as it was mentioned without using ‘now’)

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What Premed Students Should Know About Emerging Fields of Medical Research

Aspiring physician-scientists should bone up on areas such as gene editing, nanotechnology and regenerative medicine.

Premeds and Emerging Medical Research

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If you find a field that interests you, don't hesitate to join a like-minded laboratory while training.

Premedical students aspiring to become physician-scientists will be tasked with navigating emerging fields in research and translating exciting discoveries into the clinical realm. Understanding the latest trends and breakthroughs in biomedical science is paramount for those hoping to bridge the gap between such cutting-edge research and clinical practice – a career goal for many aspiring physician-scientists.

What are these emerging fields, what should aspiring physician-scientists – including those applying to combined M.D.-Ph.D. programs – know about getting involved in these fields, and are there any pitfalls? 

This is an extraordinarily exciting time in scientific research, with recent breakthroughs in diverse fields such as gene editing, immunotherapies, nanotechnology, precision medicine, machine learning and regenerative medicine. Highlights run the gamut of the biomedical spectrum, including evolutionary genomics, novel neurotechnology, advances in cardiovascular imaging, cell-based therapies and therapeutic manipulation of the microbiome, to name a few.

Aspiring physician-scientists will undoubtedly be tempted to ride this wave of exciting discoveries and join laboratories moving the needle in these fields, many of which are still in their infancy. 

Premed students should be aware of these emerging fields, as these advances are expected to contribute increasingly to health care throughout the coming decades and will undoubtedly remain important for the duration of a lengthy career in medicine .

These fields are likely to hold long-term career opportunities for students interested in biomedical research. They also represent opportunities to contribute to innovation, be involved in groundbreaking discoveries and help shape the future of science and medicine.

Many emerging fields are exciting in part due to new or newly appreciated applications to clinical practice, with direct implications for patient care . By understanding these emerging fields, premed students will remain informed and up to date regarding novel treatment paradigms, new diagnostic tools and different preventive strategies that could benefit their future patients. 

Students’ research interests often evolve during undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate education. Many fascinating fields of biomedical science are neither new nor well known, and they deserve serious consideration. You will have multiple opportunities to change fields should your interests diverge at any point, so you should not feel locked in to the discipline of your first research experience.

However, if you do have a genuine intellectual interest in a popular scientific field at an early phase of training, don’t hesitate to join such a like-minded laboratory. 

Finding a Laboratory in Emerging Research Fields

If you are a premed student interested in an exciting field like cancer immunotherapy, genomics, AI-enabled precision medicine , etc., you may struggle to understand which laboratories would be appropriate and rewarding to join and a good fit for your career goals.

To start, assess the research landscape at your home institution through departmental web pages and note which faculty in your field of interest are involved in active research projects. Get in touch with a few faculty members and discuss the possibility of joining their laboratory.

As you learn about their research projects, you can also ask if they know of other labs in the same field that may also be of interest. Often, research faculty themselves are the best resource for understanding the current research landscape of the university, as departmental web pages and related resources can be out of date. 

Departmental administrators or undergraduate research coordinators may also be quite helpful in finding a lab in a specific area that would be a good fit for an undergraduate student. If you read a lay press article – especially from a local publication – about an area of exciting, “hot” science, pay attention to which studies and researchers they reference or quote. These investigators are often leading voices in the field. 

Use PubMed to find the latest work in a field or by a specific investigator. Explore the "trending articles" section to see which articles have had recent activity – a sign of a field gaining broad interest. If you find investigators doing work that is particularly interesting to you, use the "saved searches" function to get updates about their work directly in your email inbox. 

Appreciate that emerging fields are often a result of novel collaboration across disparate disciplines such as distinct subfields in biology and medicine, biomedical engineering or computer science .

Application of a known technology to a new field can also yield exciting advancements. A recent example is cryo-EM-mediated determination of complex structures, such as ligand-bound receptors, which could not previously be accurately determined.

Look for labs that are working in an interdisciplinary manner to tackle an important question in medicine or biology, and you are likely to find stimulating research in an important emerging field. 

Pitfalls to Avoid

Avoid presuming that only well-known fields with significant popularity and press attention are the only interesting domains of scientific research. The biggest discoveries often come from unpredictable places, and their genesis can be traced to less well-known fields.

Recent high-profile examples include prokaryotic genomics that spawned CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing, and nucleoside modifications that advanced mRNA vaccines. This is characteristic of biomedical research and should lead you to explore various fields and meet with a variety of investigators to find the field, research and lab that most interest you. 

A few exceedingly popular fields – such as microbiome research, cancer immunotherapy , etc. – run the risk of becoming oversaturated, with many excellent investigators trying to solve similar problems. These fields can thus become quite competitive, with several associated challenges.

If you do join a competitive field, look for opportunities to do novel work that can separate your project from the rest of the crowd. A good strategy when selecting a laboratory is to assess which researchers are pushing the boundaries in these fields and are looking to incorporate interdisciplinary approaches, as they are more likely to be working in their own lane, away from other investigators. Use the same approach when selecting a project within your lab.

Medical School Application Mistakes

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About Medical School Admissions Doctor

Need a guide through the murky medical school admissions process? Medical School Admissions Doctor offers a roundup of expert and student voices in the field to guide prospective students in their pursuit of a medical education. The blog is currently authored by Dr. Ali Loftizadeh, Dr. Azadeh Salek and Zach Grimmett at Admissions Helpers , a provider of medical school application services; Dr. Renee Marinelli at MedSchoolCoach , a premed and med school admissions consultancy; Dr. Rachel Rizal, co-founder and CEO of the Cracking Med School Admissions consultancy; Dr. Cassie Kosarec at Varsity Tutors , an advertiser with U.S. News & World Report; Dr. Kathleen Franco, a med school emeritus professor and psychiatrist; and Liana Meffert, a fourth-year medical student at the University of Iowa's Carver College of Medicine and a writer for Admissions Helpers. Got a question? Email [email protected] .

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Keystone students attend national research conference

'I learned to build expertise in new sub-fields from scratch'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Devisree Tallapaneni

Physics, Statistical Science, College Scholar Program Yardley, Pa.

What was your favorite class and why?  

One class I want to highlight is Multiwavelength Astronomical Techniques. I enjoyed the class a lot because it provided me with a unique opportunity to take astronomical observations using the Hartung-Boothroyd Observatory's 24-inch telescope and a 3.8-meter radio telescope on the roof of the Space Sciences Building. It was exciting to have the chance to actually collect the data yourself and it really helped me understand the intricacies of observational astronomy.

What is your main extracurricular activity and why is it important to you? 

Since my freshman year, I have been involved in Splash! at Cornell, a student organization that works toward hosting semesterly educational events for middle and high school students. We recruit close to 100 Cornell students each semester to teach about topics they are passionate about and this leads to classes ranging from “SwiftlySpeaking: Unpacking Taylor Swift’s Song Lyrics” to “The Science Behind Vaccines.” These events are really important to me because my experiences at such events during my middle and high school years helped me discover my interests in physics and math. I love the idea that this event could help the next generation of students do the same! I also think it is important that everyone has access to such events and Splash! works hard to reach marginalized students by working closely with local Science and Technology Entry Programs (STEP). There are also incredible opportunities for both leadership and collaboration in the E-Board as we plan the event and opportunities to interact with Splash! chapters at other universities. The E-Board has a fun culture and we are great friends outside of the club as well. I highly recommend the club to incoming students! 

What have you accomplished as a Cornell student that you are most proud of?

I am proud that I was able to experience research in a variety of astronomy sub-fields and narrow my research interests during my time at Cornell. In my sophomore year, I joined Professor Gordon Stacey’s lab group and worked on research involving spectroscopy, radio astronomy, and galaxies. I participated in an Research Experiences for Undergrads (REU) program at the Maria Mitchell Observatory during the following summer and studied interstellar dust. There, I learned that I really enjoyed coding and building statistical models. This led me to intern at the Harvard Center for Astrophysics and work on an astrostatistics project, which I continued as part of my college scholar thesis. Having these diverse research experiences taught me how to build expertise in new sub-fields from scratch and realize that I would love to pursue research in the area of astrostatistics. I also gained invaluable advice from my mentors at each experience that really helped me understand what life in academia is like and how to navigate it.

How have your beliefs or perspectives changed since you first arrived at Cornell? 

During my time at Cornell, I have learned the value of letting your curiosities guide you. While I had some idea of where my interests lie when I first arrived, I let myself be open to trying anything I developed interest in. And while the random assortment of classes I took didn’t make too much sense at first, they were like little puzzle pieces that slowly assembled over time. By the time I reached senior year and looked at the resulting picture, they had fit together to help me realize my true interest in the field of astrostatistics. Now, I am a huge proponent of always exploring your interests since doing so helps you stay happy and motivated. And all the bits of knowledge you acquire in the process somehow end up fitting together in the end anyway.

What are your plans for next year? 

I will be starting a Ph.D. program in astronomy next year at Ohio State University with a three-year university fellowship and the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. Building on the knowledge I developed as a College Scholar, I hope to continue working at the intersection of astronomy, statistics and computer science in graduate school.

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Projects funded by 2024 New Frontier Grants look toward the future

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EMCC STEM Students Pursue Pollinator Projects

Undergrads Study Wildflower Growth; Conduct Native Bee Survey

Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC) STEM students are busy, busy bees having engaged in Undergraduate Research Experiences, or UREs this semester. Some of our Mountain Lions just wrapped up a study of wildflower growth across different soil types while others are conducting a native bee survey — two things that can’t live without the other.

The wildflower study started last fall when  Quail Forever , a wildlife habitat conservation group, donated a rather large sum of wildflower seeds to EMCC Biology Professor Dr. Catherine Parmiter to use in her classes. They couldn’t have come at a better time as her colleague, Professor Thasanee Morrissey, who also teaches biology and is the Program Analyst for the STEM Center, just happened to be looking for a research opportunity for her students.

They decided to create a URE for five of their students and the Pollinator-Wildflower Research Initiative was born. The goal of the initiative was to determine which type of soil wildflowers would grow best in, with the understanding that more healthy wildflowers attract pollinators such as bees.

First, with the help of their Life Sciences Division colleagues Drs. Neil Raymond, Rachel Smith, and Jarod Raithel, along with the Facilities Department, an area was cleared next to the EMCC Community Teaching Garden where they constructed 16 research plots with four different soil types — native soil, pea gravel, compost, and sand. Next, they asked the MakerSpace to create some appealing signage to mark off the area. Then they planted nine different varieties of wildflower seeds and turned on the irrigation. After that, they monitored the plots weekly and kept track of the plants’ growth with written observations and digitized images.

Natalia Quinones, one of Dr. Parmiter’s students who is graduating this spring with an Associate in Biological Sciences and then transferring to  Arizona State University (ASU) to study microbiology, said one of the reasons she signed up for the URE was to boost her resume.

“I hope that this experience will allow me to join other research projects when I transfer to ASU,” she said.

Dr. Parmiter said the selection process for research opportunities at the university level is very competitive.

“Gaining research experience at the pre-Associate Degree level is essential for students such as Natalia as she navigates her transfer to ASU and later to medical school,” Dr. Parmiter said. 

For this URE, Natalia and her lab partner were responsible for identifying the types of flowers in each substrate of soil and measuring the nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and pH content in each plot. 

“I learned more about plant growth and development,” Natalia said. “I gained more knowledge and new vocabulary about the subject. And I learned how to edit and rewrite procedures.”

Dr. Parmiter said Natalia’s field observations and attention to detail were an asset to the team.

“She is an excellent student researcher,” Dr. Parmiter said.

Natalia also works as a part-time lab technician in EMCC’s Life Science Lab, another gold star on her resume.

“I started as a student worker in September 2022 and the lab technicians were always patient and allowed me to make mistakes and learn from them,” she said. “And since they knew I wanted to pursue an education in microbiology, they educated and taught me skills that would apply to my field of study.”

Students who participated in the Pollinator-Wildflower Research Initiative will earn  Western Alliance to Expand Student Opportunities (WAESO) scholarships after they submit their research summaries.

“This scholarship is encouragement for all of the hard work that has gone into this project,” Natalia said. “It also shows that the school supports undergraduate students to work outside the classroom and gain hands-on experiences.”

Cierra Herrera, one of Professor Morrisey’s students who participated in the Pollinator-Wildflower Research Initiative, is also big on hands-on experiences. 

“I learn best when I am doing, and I learned a lot,” Cierra said. “I love to learn and put that knowledge into practice and that is exactly what UREs do.”

Cierra, who is also one of EMCC’s  Animal Ambassadors , will graduate this spring and then transfer to the  University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa . She plans to double major in Animal Science and either Plant and Environmental Protection Services or Marine Biology.

“I’ve always been caring and conserving before I even knew what that meant,” she said. As unusual as it might sound for a 10-year-old, I hated wasting paper, always recycled, loathed littering, and it always hurt me to see animals suffering, especially because of us, and when we can do something about it. As I continued to go to school and learned more about biology, endangered species, and why they are being endangered, there was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to help these animals.”

Naturally, when Cierra heard about the native bee survey URE, she signed up for that one, too. A perfect complement to the Pollinator-Wildflower Research Initiative, the EMCC Native Bee Project officially kicked off in March. It’s part of a collaborative effort with community colleges in Arizona and California conducting surveys to find out how many different types of bees exist across the two states, something that is currently unknown.

“One out of every three bites of your food you owe to bees,” Dr. Raithel said. “We don’t even have a baseline to know how many bees we have. They are crucial to our survival, yet we know so little about them.”

The EMCC Native Bee Project began over spring break with Drs. Parmiter, Raithel, and Smith spending four days at the  College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, Calif., learning how to identify, or “key,” native bees so that they could pass that knowledge on to their URE students. Since then, they have begun teaching their students how to catch, clean, dry, pin, key, and photograph native bees caught on and around campus. It’s a lengthy and sometimes nerve-racking process, but for Cierra, the keys are the bee’s knees.

“Looking at the bee under the microscope is my favorite part,” she said. “They are majestic creatures and so beautiful. It is crazy to see the variation of bees in our lab! They are all so unique.”

The  National Science Foundation -funded native bee URE will last three years with six students participating each semester. The data collected will be verified and entered into  Symbiota , a public database, and each bee will have an identification number that corresponds to the student who keyed it.

“It is mind-blowing just thinking about the fact that a native bee that I, myself, keyed will go into a national database with my name!” Cierra said. “That’s absolutely surreal to me, but it is really happening. It makes me a little emotional just thinking about it because I see it as a big deal and I’m only 20 years old and this is happening along with my fellow peers. I can only think about my future and what it has in store for me.”

Cierra’s professors describe her as a problem solver who never hesitates to roll up her sleeves and dive into the action.

“She was like our wildflower research group’s secret weapon — always diving fearlessly into problems and asking all the right questions,” Professor Morrisey said. “With her sharp critical thinking skills, she was like the Sherlock Holmes of our research team! But what’s even better is her team spirit — she’s the ultimate collaborator, bringing fresh ideas to the table.”

Professor Morrisey’s students wrapped up their wildflower growth URE and presented their findings at the  Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science Annual Meeting on April 13 at Glendale Community College. 

“They did great and had a great experience at their first science conference,” Professor Morrisey said.

Cierra said she was nervous but ultimately enjoyed herself.

“It was really good!” she said. “One of the judges said our poster was eye-catching and easy to follow. He was really happy with our experiment in the design aspect — how we eliminated a lot of bias, controlled all of our variables well, and the quadrat sampling. It was really rewarding to hear that feedback.”

Are you an Estrella Mountain Community College student who would like to join the EMCC Native Bee Project or any other STEM Undergraduate Research Experience? Email Dr. Catherine Parmiter at  [email protected] . 

Are you seeking one-on-one college counseling and/or essay support? Limited spots are now available. Click here to learn more.

60 Senior Project Ideas for High School Students – 2024

May 13, 2024

Many high school students look forward to the exciting moment of choosing a senior project. This makes sense since senior projects provide opportunities for students to direct what they’ve learned into something they care about, and to take their academic interests beyond the classroom. At the same time, deciding what to pursue can be nerve-wracking. After all the anticipation, when it finally comes time to decide on a project, students might ask themselves, now what ? If you find yourself in this dilemma, or if you could just use some further inspiration, continue reading for a list of 60 senior project ideas for high school students. Once you find a senior project idea that catches your eye, you can always put your own spin on it, or use it to inspire projects on topics outside this list.

What is a senior project?

Put simply, a senior project is a semester-long project you take on in your final year of high school. So, what counts as a senior project? This can vary widely. While different schools have different requirements (for example, some high schools expect students to focus specifically on internship experiences), the assignments tend to be pretty flexible. In the senior project ideas listed below, you will find suggestions ranging from assisting a science researcher, to interning at a local museum, to organizing an academic tutoring program, to helping with community voter registration. The final outputs for senior projects may also vary in form, from guidebooks, to plays, to research papers, and apps.

Considerations when choosing a senior project

Because a senior project is often seen as the culmination of your high school experience, you should choose a topic that reflects your passions and interests. At the same time, it’s an opportunity to develop new skills and challenge yourself as you prepare for your next steps after graduation. Whether you have plans to begin a 4-year university program, enroll in a 2-year degree program , take a gap year , or start a new job, a senior project can prepare you with experience that you wouldn’t receive in your high school classes in an ordinary semester.

Here are a few questions you can ask yourself when thinking of a senior project idea:

• What field or career do you wish to pursue? If you’re not sure, what are 2-3 fields that you could possibly see yourself pursuing at this point in your life?
• What world issues do you care most about? Climate change? LGBTQIA+ rights? Accessible healthcare? If thinking about a particular issue sparks a passion, this could be a great place to start.
• Based on your high school coursework experience, could you see yourself spending extra time on an artistic project? A science-based one? A research paper with a political theme?
• What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Volunteering with kids? Hiking and camping? Dancing? Cooking? Perhaps you can orient your senior project to something that you already know brings you joy.

60 senior project ideas

Below you can find 60 high school senior project ideas, divided into some general categories that might help you focus your search. As you read through, feel free to stick to these exact ideas or use them to inspire other ones.

Business – Senior Project Idea

• Write a printed or virtual guidebook to small local businesses in your area, including descriptions, photographs phone numbers and social media accounts.
• Help a local business with an advertising campaign, through local news outlets and social media.
• Develop a mentorship program to help those who are searching for jobs with resumes, interviews, and cover letters.
• Intern at a start-up based in your area.
• Write a research paper about models for sustainable businesses.
• Organize an after-school program that helps students learn financial literacy.

Community service

• Organize a ride service to bring elderly community members to and from doctor’s appointments, or to provide them with groceries and other needs.
• Volunteer at a local soup kitchen.
• Organize a food drive at your school.
• Create a social media campaign for a local animal shelter to raise awareness.
• Collaborate with a local charity or non-profit with a mission you believe in to organize a fundraiser.
• Collect school supplies and art supplies for families in need.

Creative writing – Senior Project Ideas

• Write and illustrate a children’s book.
• Create a handmade poetry book.
• Intern at a small local publisher or magazine.
• Work to translate a short story or poem to another language.
• Write a screenplay for a short film.
• Start a school literary magazine that accepts student submissions of poems, essays, and short stories. Organize a team so that the magazine can continue after you graduate.
• Organize a peer tutoring program at your school for students who need extra help with writing, languages, or math.
• Construct a free library box in your neighborhood so that more people have access to books.
• Volunteer at a local elementary school to help children with their homework after school.
• Work with a local senior center to teach a foreign language to residents.
• Develop a website or app for students to match with language partners for practicing conversation skills.
• Start a visual or performing arts class for children in your community.

Environmentalism- Senior Project Ideas

• Design and build a sustainable garden.
• Organize a community clean-up day, or a series of community clean-up days, at a local park or waterfront.
• Organize an Earth Day festival at your school. This could involve live music and performance, environmental art displays, local vegetarian food, and sustainable clothing swaps.
• Write a research paper on one thing that contributes to climate change, as well as potential solutions.
• Write a guidebook to local parks and hiking trails so that locals and visitors alike can appreciate these outdoor spots.
• Create a fashion line with all reused materials.
• Research historic sites in your neighborhood or town, and write a printed or online guidebook to these points of local history.
• Record a podcast on the history of one of your hobbies (fashion? sports?) Contact an expert on this history to ask if you can interview them on the podcast.
• Write a research paper on the history of a particular protest movement.
• Write and direct a short play with a contemporary take on a historical event that interests you.
• Create a documentary film on the history of your community (school, town, etc.), and organize a community screening.
• Intern at a local history museum.

Performing Arts – Senior Project Ideas

• Write and record an original song.
• Write, direct, and show a one-act play.
• Organize a community dance performance with student choreographers and performers, featuring a range of different styles.
• Volunteer to help with accessibility needs (theater access, live captioning, etc.) at a local theater.
• Organize a school comedy night or talent show that benefits a charity of your choice.
• Research the history of a film genre, and direct a short film that reflects this genre.
• Intern for a local political newspaper or magazine.
• Volunteer on the campaign of a local candidate.
• Create an online blog to write on a political issue you care about, or write a series of op-eds for a local newspaper.
• Write a research paper on a local problem (housing prices, green space, voting access) that discusses possible solutions to this problem.
• Create a Model UN or Mock Trial team at your school if one doesn’t already exist.
• Help teens and other community members register to vote.

Science and medicine – Senior Project Ideas

• Build a Rube Goldberg machine .
• Work in the lab of a STEM professor at a nearby university who works on a topic you’re interested in.
• Research a community health problem (drug safety, air/water quality, nutritional food access) and develop solutions with the help of local politicians and/or medical experts. Create a research paper, blog, or documentary film on your findings.
• Assist at a doctor’s office or hospital by helping to translate for patients who are non-native English speakers.
• Design an architectural structure (for example, a house or bridge) and build a 3D model.
• Organize a technology support group at your school to make technology more accessible and help with easy tech repairs.

Visual arts

• Design a mural for your school to highlight an aspect of the school culture or commemorate an important moment in its history.
• Intern at a local art museum and learn how to give a tour of its current exhibits.
• Organize the collaborative building of a sculpture at your school made of all reused or found objects.
• Offer to take wedding or senior photographs for those who might not be able to afford a professional photographer.
• Study a famous painter, and then create a series of paintings (or art of another medium) based on, or in response to, their works.
• Create a school-wide photography exhibition, with a theme of your choosing.

Senior Project Ideas – Final thoughts

We hope that this list has sparked inspiration for your high school senior project. Remember that while senior projects are important (and hopefully fun) opportunities to culminate your high school experience, you don’t need to do it all in one project! If you’re inspired by more than one of these project ideas, hold onto them for years to come or pursue them as summer internships .

If you’re interested in more project ideas for high school students, we recommend the following articles:

• 100 Examples of Community Service Projects
• 98 Passion Project Ideas
• 100 Best Clubs to Start in High School
• Persuasive Speech Topics
• High School Success

Sarah Mininsohn

With a BA from Wesleyan University and an MFA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Sarah is a writer, educator, and artist. She served as a graduate instructor at the University of Illinois, a tutor at St Peter’s School in Philadelphia, and an academic writing tutor and thesis mentor at Wesleyan’s Writing Workshop.

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Guidelines for research projects (major and minor), 1. introduction.

1.1 Promotion of social science research is one of the major objectives of the ICSSR. Research grant is financial support to research projects undertaken by the Indian Social Scientists. ICSSR provides funding to Indian scholars to conduct cutting edge research in various fields of social sciences that have theoretical, conceptual, methodological and policy implications. The Research Projects may belong to any of the social science disciplines or may be multi-disciplinary in nature.

The broad disciplines of study, within the domain of social sciences, are:

1. Economics/ Development Studies 2. Management 3. Commerce 4. Sociology 5. Social Work 6. Social Anthropology 7. Cultural Studies 8. Sanskrit Studies 9. Socio-Philosophical Studies 10. Sociolinguistics 11. Gender Studies 12. Health Studies 13. Political Science 14. International Studies 15. Public Administration 16. Diaspora Studies 17. National Security and Strategic Studies 18. Education 19. Social Psychology 20. Legal Studies 21. Social Geography 22. Environmental Studies 23. Social History 24. Media Studies 25. Library Science 26. Language Studies

Note: Support may also be provided to researchers/scholars belonging to disciplines other than the ones mentioned above provided he/she is interested in and has in the opinion of the ICSSR the necessary competence to conduct research in social sciences or social aspects of other sciences. Projects that span across disciplinary boundaries also fall within the areas of the Council’s interests.

1.2 Categories of Research Projects

The ICSSR awards two types of research projects on the basis of the scope, duration of the study and budget: (a) Minor Projects will be awarded for a duration of 12 months with a budget up to Rs.10.00 lakh. (b) (b) Major Projects will be awarded for a duration of 24 months with a budget up to Rs.25.00 lakh.

2. Eligibility

2.1 ICSSR Regional Centres, ICSSR Research Institutes, ICSSR Recognised Institutes, Institutes of National Importance as defined by the Ministry of Education (MoE), UGC Recognized Indian Universities/Deemed Universities/ Affiliated Colleges/Institutions under (2)F / 12(B) etc., are eligible to apply. However, other registered organisations with established research and academic standing may collaborate with any of the above-mentioned institutions for implementation of the study and may form a joint team consisting of Project Director, Co-Project Director(s) etc. Such collaborations have to be clearly stated in application itself.

2.2 Professional social scientists who are permanently employed or retired as faculty in a UGC (University Grants Commission) recognized Indian university/ deemed University / Colleges with requisite research infrastructure / institute of national importance / ICSSR Regional Centres, ICSSR Research Institutes, ICSSR Recognised Institutes and possessing a Ph.D. and demonstrable research experience through publications of books / research papers / reports are eligible to apply. Both the Project Director and Co- Director must possess a Ph.D. degree and a proven track record of high-quality research as evidenced by past studies, publications and their academic background.

2.3 Senior government and defence officers (not less than 25 years of regular service) and persons with proven Social Science expertise possessing a Ph. D. degree or equivalent research work in any social science disciplines and demonstrable research experience through publications of books/research papers/reports can also apply, preferably in collaboration with a faculty in a social science discipline from institutions given in 2.1 above.

2.4 Retired faculty/teachers and government/defence officers are required to affiliate to ICSSR Regional Centers / ICSSR Research Institutes /  ICSSR Recognised Institutes / Institute of national importance / UGC recognized Indian University / Deemed University of his / her choice with the prior approval of the ICSSR.

3. How to Apply

3.1 The applications will be invited through an advertisement on ICSSR website, social media platforms of ICSSR and if required, in print media.

3.2. The applicants shall submit an online application which includes the research proposal in the given prescribed format. They are also required to submit the hard copies of their application and annexures, duly forwarded by the Competent Authorities of the affiliating university/college/institute, within 10 days of the prescribed last date of online submission.

3.3 In case, the hard copy of application is not received within 10 days of asking, the candidature of applicants shall be treated as withdrawn/cancelled.

3.4 Research proposals and final reports should either be in English or Hindi. (Use Devanagari to fill Application form in Hindi).

3.5. Scholars can only apply for one project at a time. In case of any ongoing or completed project with the ICSSR, the cooling-off period for applying to another project will be two years, with the duration calculated from the date of acceptance of the final report.

4. Procedure for Awards

4.1 Applications are scrutinised by the ICSSR Secretariat/and or by a Screening Committee in respect of eligibility.  Eligible applications are then examined and evaluated by the Expert Committee(s). Shortlisted candidates are then called for presentation and interaction at ICSSR (in person or online) before another expert committee. The expert committee(s) make(s) recommendation for award of studies and also suggest(s) budget for the recommended studies.

4.2 The number of candidates called for presentations / interaction will be twice the number of projects to be awarded.

5. Budget and Heads of Expenditure

5.1 The amount will be disbursed in number of instalments, depending on the phases and duration of the study, as indicated in the Sanction Letter. ICSSR reserves the right, based on Expert opinion, to convert a proposal for Major Research Project into Minor Research Project or vice versa.

5.2 The detailed budget estimates along with the proportionate Heads of Expenditure for these proposals are to be prepared by the Institute / Project Director / group of scholars. Those Project Director(s) would like to work without Research Personnel, especially under Minor Research Project would make the proportionate Heads of Expenditure for the proposed Budget.

5.3 Allocation of Heads of Expenditure

• The remuneration for the Research Staff must be according to the ICSSR guidelines.
• The proportionate allocation of expenditure for the budget heads such as Fieldwork (Travel / Logistics / Boarding, Survey Preparation or Consultancy etc.); Equipment and Study material (Computer, Printer, Source Material, Books, Journals, Software, Data Sets, workshop etc.); and Contingency charges etc., to be decided by the Project Director in consultation with the affiliating institution.
• Affiliating Institutional Overhead Charges @ 7.5% over and above on the awarded grant of the project, subject to a maximum limit of Rs.1, 00,000/- will be released by the ICSSR after successful completion of the project.

5.4 Remuneration and Emoluments of Project Staff shall be engaged/appointed as per the rules by the Project Director on a full/ part-time basis during the research work. The duration may be decided by the project director. The consolidated monthly emoluments of the project staff must be according to the following:

5.5 Selection of Research Staff should be done through an advertisement publishing on respective institute’s website and a selection committee consisting of (1) Project Director; (2) One outside Expert (other than the institute where the project is located); (3) a nominee of the Vice Chancellor/Head of the Institution and (4) Dean of the faculty or Head of the Department of the Project Director duly approved by the competent authority.

5.6 For all field work related expenses of Project Director, Co-Project Director(s) and project personnel, rules of affiliating institutes/universities shall be followed.

5.7 All equipment and books purchased out of the project fund shall be the property of the affiliating institution, and a certificate duly signed by the Head of the Institute / Registrar / Principal has to submit to the ICSSR. However, ICSSR may ask for books or/and equipment if it so requires

6. Joining and Release of Grants

6.1 The Project Director has to join the project within one month of the award letter.  For this the scholar has to submit an ‘undertaking’ on an Rs.100 stamp paper, declaration on an Rs.100 stamp paper, date of commencement of the study and grant-in-aid bill towards the first instalment. This period can be extended only in exceptional circumstances up to a maximum of three months by the ICSSR.

6.2 The total awarded grant for the Major Research Project will be released in instalments as indicated in the Sanction Order.

• The first instalment (50% from the total awarded grant) is released after completing the necessary formalities of joining by the Project Director.
• The second instalment (20% from the total awarded grant) is released after receiving a satisfactory twelve months Progress Report, Simple Statement of Accounts with 60% and above utilisation of the first instalment amount, one published research paper in the peer reviewed journal along with grant-in-aid bill towards the second instalment.
• The third instalment (20% from the total awarded grant) will be released after receiving book length Final Report, Executive Summary of Final Report, 500 words abstract of the Final Report (both MS word and PDF formats), second  published research paper (total 2 papers during the project period) in the peer reviewed journal, similarity index score sheet of final report, simple statement of accounts for the expenditure of the so far spent amount along with grant-in-aid bill towards the third instalment.
• Final instalment (remaining 10% from the total awarded grant) will be issued after receipt of recommendation of the expert for acceptance of the Final Report, Audited statement of accounts (AC) in prescribed format with utilization certificate (UC) in GFR-12A form for the entire approved project amount duly signed by the Finance Officer/Registrar/Director of the affiliating Institution, verification of all documents and decision on retaining of equipment and books etc. The institutions of which the accounts are not audited by CAG/AG, their utilisation certificate will be signed by the Finance Officer and a chartered accountant.

6.3 The total awarded grant for the Minor Research Project will be released in instalments as indicated below or in the Sanction Order.

• Scholar needs to submit a satisfactory six months Progress Report during the project period.
• The second instalment (40% from the total awarded grant) will be released after receiving book length Final Report, Executive Summary of Final Report, 500 words abstract of the Final Report (both MS word and PDF formats), one published research paper in the peer reviewed journal, similarity index score sheet of final report, simple statement of accounts for the expenditure of the so for spent amount along with grant-in-aid bill towards the second instalment.

6.4 The Overhead Charges to the affiliating institution will be released after the acceptance of Final Report along with the receipt of the final audited Statement of Accounts and Utilisation Certificate in prescribed formats which are verified by the ICSSR.

6.5 The Project Director will ensure that the expenditure incurred by him conforms to the approved budget heads and relevant rules.  Audited Statement of accounts with Utilization Certificate in GFR of 12A form is for the entire project amount approved for the project.

7. Monitoring of Research Projects

7.1 Research undertaken by a Project Director will be reviewed through the submission of periodic progress reports in the prescribed format and the project may be discontinued/terminated if research progress is found unsatisfactory or any ICSSR rules are violated.

7.2 The scholar/awardee must acknowledge the support of ICSSR in all their publications resulting from the project output such as Research Paper, Journal Articles, Articles in edited Books etc., and must submit a copy of the same to the ICSSR during the course or after completion of the project. If, in case of no acknowledgements by the scholars, they will be block listed and will not be able to apply for any schemes of ICSSR in the future. Papers published in Conference/Seminar proceedings will not be considered as they are not peer reviewed. However, proceedings published by Scopus indexed / UGC care listed journals can be considered.

7.3 All project related queries will be addressed to the Project Director/ Affiliating Institution for their timely reply. 

7.4 The ICSSR may, at any time ask for verification of accounts and other relevant documents related to the Project. 

7.5 The ICSSR reserves the right to change the affiliation if it is found that the affiliating institute is not co-operating with the scholar and it is not facilitating timely completion of the study.

7.6 Final report submitted by the Project Director is mandatorily evaluated by an Expert appointed by the ICSSR before considering the release of the final instalment.

7.7 The Project Director shall be personally responsible for timely completion of the Project. The Project proposal/final report cannot be submitted for the award of any University degree/diploma or funding by any Institution by any member of the project staff, including the Project Director. The ICSSR however, will have no objection if any member of the project staff utilizes the project data for this purpose.

7.8 If the scholars are not submitting the requisite documents and the final report in timely or not completing the project in a stipulated period, the scholars will be block listed and the legal recourse will be initiated.

7.9 As per the directions of the Ministry of Education (MoE) the amount of grant sanctioned is to be utilized within the duration of the project. Any amount of the grant remaining unspent shall be refunded to the ICSSR immediately after the expiry of the duration of the project. If the grantee fails to utilize the grant for the purpose for which the same has been sanctioned/or fails to submit the audited statement of expenditure within the stipulated period, the grantee will be required to refund the amount of the grant with interest thereon @ 10% per annum.

8.  Completion of the Study 

8.1 On completion of the study, the Project Director should submit:

• Final report in a publishable form (Softcopies in both PDF and word format);
• Abstract in 500 words (Softcopies in both PDF and word format);
• Executive Summary of the final report in 5000 words (Softcopies in both PDF and word format);
• Similarity index sheet (Plagiarism check) for the final report.

8.2 After acceptance of the report by the ICSSR, upon incorporating the suggested changes if any, the Project Director should submit:

• Soft copy of modified final report (in both PDF and word format) along with two hard copies;
• Five copies of executive summary;
• Softcopies of (if any) Data Sets, along with well-defined definition of data and other important information for documentation.

8.3 ICSSR gets every report checked for plagiarism and the similarity report is also generated.  As a policy, ICSSR does not accept contents beyond 10 per cent on similarity index.  Scholars are required to get their final as well modified report checked on their own for similarity index and attach a report of the same at the time of submission. 

8.4 The final report submitted by the scholar will be considered as satisfactory only after final recommendation of acceptance by the expert appointed by the ICSSR.

9. Obligations of the Affiliating Institution

9.1 The affiliating institution is required to give an undertaking in the prescribed format contained in the Application Form to administer and manage the ICSSR grant.

9.2 It is also required to provide the requisite research infrastructure to the scholar and maintain proper accounts.

9.3 The affiliating institution shall open / maintain a dedicated bank account for ICSSR grant (Scheme Code-0877) that is duly registered at EAT Module of PFMS portal for release of the Project Grant without any delay.

9.4 The affiliating institution will be under obligation to ensure submission of the final report and an Audited Statement of Accounts and Utilization Certificate, (in the prescribed Proforma GFR 12-A) duly certified by the Competent authority of the institution including the refund of any unspent balance. The affiliating institution shall make suitable arrangements for preservation of data such as filled in schedules, tabulation sheets, manuscripts, reports, etc. relating to the study. The ICSSR reserves the right to demand raw data, or such parts of the study as it deems fit.

9.5 In case a scholar leaves /discontinues/dies during project before completion of the tenure, the affiliating institution shall immediately inform ICSSR, settle the accounts including the refund of any unspent balance within a year of submission.

10.  Other Conditions

10.1 The duration of the project shall be a maximum period of two years for Major Projects and one year for Minor Projects which includes the time for Final Report writing. In case of exceptional circumstances, an extension may be granted by the ICSSR without any additional financial burden on being satisfied about the progress of the work including quality publication. If the extension is required, the Project Director needs to request at least three months prior to the completion for no-cost extension with a copy of the progress made, reason for the delay by justifying the extension. Retrospective extension will not be permitted.

10.2 The contingency grant may be utilized for stationery, computer typing related costs, specialised assistance such as data analysis and consultation for field trip etc., related to the research work.

10.3 Defaulters of any previous fellowship/project/grant of the ICSSR will not be eligible for consideration. 

10.4 No scholar will be allowed to take up a research project along with any ICSSR fellowship.

10.5 Foreign trip is not permissible within the awarded budget of a project. However, the Project Director may undertake data collection outside India in exceptional cases and if warranted by the needs of the proposal. For this he/she is required to apply separately for consideration under the Data Collection Scheme of the ICSSR International Collaboration Division but any rejection there should not have any bearing on the study and cannot be taken as an excuse.

10.6 Any request for additional grant in excess of the sanctioned budget will not `be considered. 

10.7 Purchase of equipment/ assets for the research Project is permissible only if it is originally proposed and approved by the ICSSR and does not exceed the permissible amount and follows the rules of the affiliating institution.

 10.8   The project director cannot make any changes in the research design at any stage.

10.9 Regarding Transfer of a Project/Appointment of substitute Project Director:

• On the request from a university/institute, the ICSSR may permit the appointment of a Substitute Project Director in exceptional circumstances.
• The ICSSR may also appoint a Substitute Project Director if it is convinced that the original awardee of the Project will not be in a position to carry out the study successfully.
• The ICSSR may transfer the place of the Project from one affiliating institution to another subject to submission of the following:
• Satisfactory progress report (s);
• No objection certificate from both previous and the new university/institute;
• Audited statement of account and utilization certificate along with unspent balance, if any.

However, no transfer of project / Project director should be requested in the last six months of the study.

• Overhead charges will be apportioned proportionally among the institutes as per the grant released or as may be finally decided by the ICSSR.
• In case of superannuation of Project Director and if the rules of the institution so require the transfer of the project to a serving faculty member may be done with prior approval of the ICSSR.  The credit of Project shall belong to the original submitting Project Director.

10.10 Consideration under other call(s) would require a fresh proposal.

10.11 The Council reserves the right to reject any application without assigning any reason. It will not be responsible for any postal delays/loss.

10.12 Incomplete applications in any respect will not be considered.

10.13 The final authority related to the interpretation of the guidelines or any issue left is vested with the ICSSR.

10.14 No queries will be entertained by the ICSSR Secretariat until the final declaration of results against a call. Any lobbying for award will lead to disqualification.

10.15 While accepting Research Project from the ICSSR, an awardee should not accept any other fellowship or research project or assignment from any other institution.

10.16 The ICSSR reserves all rights to publish the project funded by it, provided the work is recommended for publication by ICSSR appointed expert/experts.

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I'm planning to major in design and I'm looking for colleges with strong programs in that area. What are some of the best colleges in the US for design majors? Any advice or suggestions would be helpful.

There are numerous well-regarded colleges and universities in the US with strong design programs. Here's a list of some top choices to help you decide which one suits you best:

1. Rhode Island School of Design (RISD): RISD is renowned for its excellent design programs, including industrial design, graphic design, and interior design. As one of the leading art and design schools globally, RISD offers its students exceptional resources and opportunities for hands-on experience.

2. Parsons School of Design (The New School): Located in New York City, Parsons is known for its innovative approach to design education and strong connections to the professional design world. Their programs include communication design, fashion design, and product design.

3. California Institute of the Arts (CalArts): CalArts offers a range of design programs including graphic design, character animation, and experience design. Known for its interdisciplinary and experimental curriculum, CalArts provides students with a unique, creative environment.

4. Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD): SCAD's strong design programs cover disciplines like fashion, graphic, and industrial design. With campuses in Savannah, Atlanta, and Hong Kong, SCAD offers students a global perspective on design education.

5. ArtCenter College of Design: Located in Pasadena, California, ArtCenter is known for its rigorous and industry-focused programs in fields such as transportation design, interaction design, and environmental design.

6. Pratt Institute: This Brooklyn-based institution offers programs in industrial design, communications design, and interior design. Pratt's design curriculum integrates hands-on, collaborative projects with a strong focus on sustainability and social impact.

7. Carnegie Mellon University: While CMU is well-known for its technology and engineering programs, it also has excellent design programs in areas like communication design, industrial design, and design for service and social innovation.

8. University of Cincinnati (College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning - DAAP): DAAP offers design programs like graphic design, industrial design, and fashion design. Their unique co-op program allows students to gain professional experience throughout their education.

9. Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt): Located in Boston, MassArt offers a variety of design programs including graphic design, industrial design, and interface design. Students benefit from MassArt's interdisciplinary approach and connections within the vibrant Boston design community.

10. Cranbrook Academy of Art: This graduate-only institution near Detroit is known for its experimental and collaborative approach to design. Programs include 2D design, 3D design, and architectural design.

It's essential to research each school, visit campuses (if possible), and consider factors like location, size, and campus culture when selecting the right design program for you. Keep in mind that your fit and personal preferences are just as important as the reputation of the program itself. Good luck!

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