The office of Sponsored Projects is here to help with anything grants related. Since student research is an integral part of Northern’s educational efforts, I had a short Q & A with Dr. Susan Citrak, Coordinator of Student Research, regarding her efforts and the program’s resources. SPONSORED PROJECTS ANNUAL NEWSLETTER 23-24 If you are interested in applying for a grant, please contact Sponsored Projects office (see contact below) for pre-award and post-award guidance. ANNUAL ISSUE AY2023-2024 Sponsored Projects Dr. Alyssa Kiesow Northern State University 1200 S Jay St. Aberdeen, SD 57401 Phone: 605-626-2602 Alyssa.Kiesow@northern.edu Student Research Dr. Susan Citrak Northern State University 1200 S Jay St. Aberdeen, SD 57401 Phone: 605-626-2419 Susan.Citrak@northern.edu Export Controls Dr. Debbi Bumpous Northern State University 1200 S Jay St. Aberdeen, SD 57401 Phone: 605-626-3394 Debbi.Bumpous@northern.edu Northern’s Student Research Program Program Coordinator: Dr. Susan Citrak, Assistant Professor of Chemistry Q: Who do I contact about student research on campus? Is there a website? A: If you're a student interested in conducting research, or just want to find out more about what it means to be a student researcher, your first step should be to reach out to the Student Research Coordinator, Dr. Susan Citrak, at susan.citrak@northern.edu. Dr. Citrak will discuss your research interests with you and guide you toward the right opportunities, from honors program projects to independent studies with professors. There's a path for every interested student! We have a research page on the NSU website at https://northern.edu/academics/research, and we are currently developing a comprehensive research section set to launch by the end of this academic year. It will feature professor research profiles with contact details, a catalog of local internships, and links to NSU grant applications. Our goal is to create a central hub for all student research information. Q: Are there grants available for undergraduate students to conduct research? A: Yes! Northern State offers grants to help undergraduate students pay for some costs of conducting research. There are two research grants: The Competitive Research Grant for up to $2500 (undergraduates only), and the Northern Edge Grant for up to $1000. Undergraduate students who meet the eligibility criteria can apply for a Competitive Research grant of up to $2500 to support their independent research projects. This competition is held annually in the spring, and awards a maximum of two recipients. This grant is exclusively available to undergraduate students, distinguishing it from the Northern Edge and travel grants. The Northern Edge Award is designed to augment existing funding sources for undergraduate and graduate scholarship at Northern State University. It is especially intended to aid student scholarship in under-represented disciplines and/or projects that may not be eligible/competitive for other funding opportunities on campus. There are two award cycles every academic year, one in the fall and one in the spring. Northern Edge Award fund is approximately $10,000/year and each applicant can request up to $1000 for their project. All students awarded grants for scholarship (research, productions, exhibits, etc.) are required to present at our Spring Research Forum (name undergoing a change, currently in review). This event is currently being revamped, but is scheduled to be held Spring 2024 after not being held the previous year. More information, and all application materials can be found on MyNSU : https://portal.sdbor.edu/nsu-student/academics/ugresearch/Pages/default.aspx Q: Are there grants available for undergraduate students to travel and present research? A: NSU provides funding for students to present their research at conferences, with awards of up to $250 for in-state and $500 for out-of-state travel. This financial support is designed to enable students to showcase their exceptional work from Northern without financial constraints. Annually, around $5000 is allocated for student travel awards. For more details and application resources, visit MyNSU: https://portal.sdbor.edu/nsu-student/academics/ugresearch/Pages/default.aspx. Q: Similarly, are there any resources for graduate students? A: The only NSU-funded research grant that is not available to graduate students is the Competitive Research grant. The Northern Edge Award and Travel Awards are both open to graduate student applicants.
SPECIAL PROJECTS ANNUAL NEWSLETTER 23-24 If you are interested in applying for a grant, please contact Sponsored Projects office (see contact below) for pre-award and post-award guidance. ANNUAL ISSUE AY2023-2024 Sponsored Projects Dr. Alyssa Kiesow Northern State University 1200 S Jay St. Aberdeen, SD 57401 Phone: 605-626-2602 Alyssa.Kiesow@northern.edu Student Research Dr. Susan Citrak Northern State University 1200 S Jay St. Aberdeen, SD 57401 Phone: 605-626-2419 Susan.Citrak@northern.edu Export Controls Dr. Debbi Bumpous Northern State University 1200 S Jay St. Aberdeen, SD 57401 Phone: 605-626-3394 Debbi.Bumpous@northern.edu Q: I heard about the Pierre poster session held during the legislative session. What is the Pierre poster session? A: The Pierre Poster session is an annual research poster session held in the Rotunda at the state capitol in Pierre where students from universities across the state present their research in the form of a poster. 1-2 students for each university is chosen as the representative(s) for their school. For us, it is a time to give legislators a snapshot into the research we do at NSU, since many don’t know that we even conduct research on the NSU campus. Often chosen to represent NSU is one of our Competitive Research grant recipients, who will go along with their research advisor and the student research coordinator. The process of researcher selection will likely soon change to a competitive format with the roll-out of our new Spring Research Forum (name undergoing a change, currently in review). If you are a student conducting research and are interested in this opportunity, please contact the student research coordinator, susan.citrak@northern.edu for consideration! Q: Similarly, does Northern have any opportunities to present research here on campus? A: Northern has traditionally hosted an annual Spring Research Forum, where students across disciplines showcased their research to the university and local community. The 2023 forum was postponed to revamp the event with a more inclusive and dynamic format. Scheduled for April 2024, the upcoming forum will feature a diverse array of presentations, including posters, oral sessions, exhibits, and performances. Additionally, it will provide opportunities for faculty to discuss special topics, engage community members, and invite middle and high school students to experience the vibrant academic community at Northern, potentially envisioning themselves as part of our future. We are excited about this new direction for highlighting all the amazing scholarship going on here at Northern! (stay tuned for the new name of this event!) Q: I have heard about IRB and IACUC. What are these committees, and when do I utilize them? A: The Institutional Review Board (IRB) for biological research is a committee that has been established to review and approve research involving human subjects. Its primary responsibility is to ensure the protection of the rights, welfare, and wellbeing of research participants. This includes reviewing research protocols to ensure ethical standards are met, informed consent is obtained, and that there is a balance between scientific objectives and the risks to participants. A student would need to utilize the IRB when their research involves collecting data from human subjects. This could be in the form of surveys, interviews, clinical studies, observation, or any interaction where private information might be collected. Before beginning their research, the student, with the help of their supervising professor, must submit their research proposal to the IRB for approval. The board evaluates the ethical implications and decides whether the research meets the required ethical standards. Similarly, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is concerned with the welfare of animals used in research. The IACUC reviews all aspects of the institution's animal care and use program, including the evaluation of animal use protocols, the inspection of animal facilities and labs, and the oversight of training and educational programs. Students must consult the IACUC when their research involves the use of live vertebrate animals. They must provide details of the study, including the justification for using animals, the species to be used, the number of animals required, and the procedures that will be implemented. The goal is to ensure the humane treatment of animals in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. Both IRB and IACUC approvals are crucial steps in the research process for ensuring ethical compliance and are required before any research involving human subjects or animals can begin. Reader’s Corner (click on text below): US Funding Opportunities for International Collaboration NCURA Magazine
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