Fund your research

Currently enrolled U of I undergraduate students in good academic standing are eligible to apply. To qualify:

• The applicant must be a full-time enrolled undergraduate student in any of the eight U of I undergraduate colleges during both the application semester and the travel semester (if not the same).
• The applicant does not have to be a prior OUR funded researcher.
• Students must provide proof of acceptance of their research or creative activity at the conference (usually in the form of an accepted abstract).
• Students must be traveling domestically.
• Students must apply six weeks prior to the anticipated travel date.
• Students must agree to present their work at the university-wide OUR Symposium held every April.
• Maximum of two students per faculty mentor per annual cycle.

What is covered:

Costs for traveling to present at a conference often include: poster printing, airfare (or mileage if you are traveling by car), lodging, ground transportation and registration. The OUR also expects that the student’s mentor, department or college will also commit support for the student’s travel.

To apply, submit the OUR Travel Grant Application along with a letter of support from your U of I faculty research advisor.

Applications must be submitted at least 45 days before your planned travel date. Be sure to include a detailed budget estimating your transportation and registration costs.

Applications received by the 15th of each month will be reviewed before the end of that month.

Note: Applications received in December will be reviewed with the January applicant pool.

A letter of support from the U of I faculty member who mentored your research is required. OUR only funds research conducted at University of Idaho under the guidance of U of I faculty. Projects conducted at other institutions or with non-U of I mentors are not eligible.

The letter should include:

• Student’s name and the conference name, location and date
• Confirmation that the event is a professional conference
• A statement confirming the faculty member’s role in mentoring your research
• A brief description of your work and its significance
• An assessment of the impact of your participation in the conference
• Whether your research is grant-funded (include the funder’s name, if applicable)

The letter must be on department letterhead (PDF format) and emailed to our@uidaho.edu or delivered to the Office of Undergraduate Research.

While financial need is a consideration for selection, it is not the only criterion. We welcome applications that reflect presentations from diverse disciplines as represented in the arts and humanities, natural sciences, social sciences and the professional schools. We also encourage applications from diverse student populations such as first-time and experienced presenters.

OUR can reimburse eligible expenses related to conference travel — including transportation, lodging and registration fees — up to a maximum of $800. Meal expenses are not covered.

To receive reimbursement, students must:

• Submit original receipts and a copy of the conference program
• Complete travel and submit their reimbursement request within 15 days of the conference
• Be enrolled at U of I at the time of travel and reimbursement

Reimbursements are processed after travel is completed.

Recipients of OUR Travel Grants are required to present their work at the U of I Undergraduate Research Symposium, held in April. Recipients are also required to acknowledge support from OUR on their posters or during their presentations. Please see our guidelines for acknowledging OUR support.

The Idaho Space Grant Consortium (ISGC) offers several opportunities for undergraduates to gain hands-on research experience in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math. For more information on ISGC scholarships, fellowships and internships, visit the ISGC website.

The Institute for Health in the Human Ecosystem (IHHE) offers Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates (REEU) mini-grant awards (and traineeships).

For more information and to apply, visit the IHHE site.

The sustainable chemistry focus of this research experience for undergraduates (REU) site combines a broad cross-section of disciplines attractive to students and critical for future generations and is open to:

• undergraduate students who have completed at least their first year
• will not graduate before the program starts
• who have an interest in sustainability

Participating students from non-research-focused regional community colleges and 4-year institutions may receive preference, but we accept applicants from across the nation. This REU site welcomes a diverse population of applicants from minority and underrepresented groups, including first-generation college students. Underrepresented minority students in science and engineering fields (including women, persons with disabilities, Blacks, Hispanics and American Indians or Alaska Natives) are highly encouraged to apply.

The NSF requires that less than 20% of participants can be from the host institution, so if you are a University of Idaho student, please know that this is extremely competitive for you.

U of I students looking for a site where you will be more competitive are strongly encouraged to check out the NSF REU site list.

Learn more and apply to the Elements of Sustainability program.

The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program supports active research participation by undergraduate students in any of the areas of research funded by the National Science Foundation. REU projects involve students in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs or in research projects specifically designed for the REU program. REU Sites are based on independent proposals to initiate and conduct projects that engage a number of students in research.

If you have questions, contact undergrad-research@uidaho.edu.