Introduction
The Sponsored Projects for Undergraduate Research Program (SPUR) encourages faculty and undergraduate students in the College of Natural Resources to collaborate on research projects by providing a grant to support their joint project. The funding for this program is generously donated by CNR alumni.
Eligible students who have identified a project or topic that they would like to pursue are encouraged to seek a CNR faculty mentor to assist them. Faculty who have projects in which undergraduate researchers could gain useful research experience are urged, as well, to collaborate with CNR undergraduates.
Special Note for CNR Environmental Sciences (ES) Majors:
The main purpose of the SPUR Program is to encourage more CNR undergraduates to gain research experience. Environmental Sciences Majors have such undergraduate research experience built in as a required part of the major program, in the year-long Senior Research Seminar (ES 196A/L-B/L). One of the conditions for students receiving SPUR funding is their enrollment in independent study units under course numbers 199 or H196. Research conducted as part of the ES 196A/L or ES 196B/L seminar does not qualify. However, since no enrollment in course units is required for SPUR-sponsored summer research, ES juniors and seniors in CNR may apply for SPUR funding to support summer research and data collection in preparation of their ES Senior Research Seminar.
Sharing research with the CNR Community
Undergraduates benefiting from this collaboration with faculty mentors and from the generous financial support of CNR alumni are strongly encouraged to share their completed or in progress research project with the CNR community in the form of a research poster. The research poster summarizing the project and (expected) results may be presented at either the fall or spring Poster Session. Spring posters are also displayed during Cal Day, where we proudly share the excellent undergraduate research being conducted at CNR with the campus community and the general public.
What is a SPUR Grant?
The College provides financial support both to student-initiated and to faculty-initiated projects. In either case, the SPUR grant will be paid out to the faculty research account. No funding shall be paid out to students directly so as not to disadvantage students on financial aid, for whom the grant or stipend amount would be deducted from their financial aid package for the year.
Student Eligibility
Students declared in a CNR major who have completed 30 semester units (sophomore standing) and meet the minimum GPA requirement for enrollment in an appropriate independent study or research course are eligible to apply for participation in SPUR-funded faculty projects.
Juniors and Seniors who meet the minimum GPA requirement for enrollment in an appropriate independent study or research course are eligible to apply for funding to support their own independent study or honors research project. Note: Funding is available for current students only and not to support a graduating senior’s summer project following graduation.
Appropriate Use of Funding
SPUR funding may be used to cover lab supplies and expenses, travel costs (mileage/air fare) to research sites, conference registration fees (if presenting a poster or paper), etc. SPUR funds will not pay for personal lap tops, digital cameras, and similar personal equipment except in extraordinary circumstances.
Any equipment that is approved for purchase with SPUR funding will be considered property of the University of California and belongs to the faculty mentor’s research laboratory. The funding shall not be used for student stipends or honoraria, nor to cover rent, food or other living expenses in the Bay Area.
Funding For Faculty-Initiated Projects
When working jointly with eligible CNR undergraduates on a faculty-initiated research project, faculty members may apply for $500 of SPUR funding per student, per semester. The research funding is to be paid to the faculty mentor’s research account to cover part of the project’s supplies and expenses. Again, no funding shall be paid out to students directly in the form of a stipend or honorarium, so as not to disadvantage students on financial aid, for whom the stipend amount would be deducted from their financial aid package for the year.
Faculty-Initiated Proposals
Student Selection Process for Faculty-Initiated Projects
- How Students Select a Project
- How Students Apply for a Faculty-Initiated Proposal
- Selecting a Student for a Faculty-Inititiated Proposal
- Student Course Enrollment Requirements
- End-of-Semester Reports
- Access to the SPUR Grant
- Closing and Renewing Projects
- Sharing research with the CNR community at the Poster Session
How Students Select a Project
Students will be able to view all available faculty-initiated projects for any upcoming semester on the Students section of the SPUR website. Research opportunities for fall, spring, or summer projects initiated by a CNR faculty member will be posted on the SPUR website at the Apply for a Faculty Project section when SPUR opens for students during the first week of instruction of the semester (or in summer, in mid-March). All interested students are directed to visit faculty members during their office hours to discuss the research opportunities posted. Students may apply to up to three faculty-initiated projects per semester, but may work on only one project.
Note: The process described below includes the spring/fall semester deadlines. For an overview of summer application deadlines please view the Student Deadlines for Summer Projects.
How Students Apply for a Faculty-Initiated Proposal
When a student responds to a faculty-initiated proposal, the student submits an application online from the Apply for a Faculty Project section of the SPUR website by the first day of the second week of instruction, that should include:
- Their electronic application form
- A Personal Statement describing their interests in, and qualifications for, completing the project
- A resume
- An unofficial transcript demonstrating relevant coursework and the minimum GPA requirement for enrollment in an appropriate independent study or research course.
The student's application details will appear in the My Projects tab of the SPUR student website once the students’ as soon as it has been uploaded. The student can edit their application up until the faculty member has either accepted them to the project or declined their application.
Selecting a Student for a Faculty-Initiated Proposal
During the second and third week of instruction, the faculty member will contact any qualified applicants for an interview, or they will simply accept or decline their application.
Once the student has been selected through the online system, the student and faculty member must agree on the number of semesters each student will work. This number must not exceed the number of semesters for which the faculty member originally indicated the project would last, although it is fine if the student would like to work fewer semesters than the faculty member requested.
When the student has been selected to work on a project, the student should submit their the course enrollment form to the faculty member's department's undergraduate staff advisor (NOT their own major advisor). At this point, the student must enroll in independent research units via Tele-BEARS. The project will then be "Funded," by SPUR administration. The department's MSO will release the SPUR funds to the faculty member's account. This process can take several weeks.
Student Course Enrollment Requirements
By the end of the fourth week of the fall or spring semester the faculty mentor and each selected undergraduate researcher should meet to agree on the unit credit the student will receive for their participation in the project. For variable unit courses, the unit value will be determined by the faculty mentor and student together, based on established Academic Senate regulations.
Together the faculty member and student will also fill out and sign a departmental enrollment form for an appropriate independent study course – 99, or 199. Students obtain these enrollment forms from the faculty mentor's departmental undergraduate staff advisors. It is important that students check the departmental requirements regarding GPA and units BEFORE attempting to enroll in an independent study course. Also, no student on academic probation may receive credit for independent study.
NOTE: Students enrolling in units for participation in a faculty-initiated research project should enroll in the independent study course numbers 99/199 in the faculty mentor’s home department.
The student will take the completed enrollment form to their undergraduate staff advisor to obtain a CCN (Course Control Number) and CEC (Course Enrollment Code) required to enroll in the course through TeleBEARS. Students must enroll in the relevant course by the end of the fifth week of classes (TeleBEARS add/drop deadline) in the fall or spring semester in which they plan to begin work on the project.
During the summer, the SPUR Program does not require students to enroll in independent study course units. Instead, the student and faculty member should fill out a SPUR Summer Learning Contract and submit it to the SPUR Coordinator no later than the last day of instruction of the preceding spring semester.
Access to the SPUR Grant
The SPUR Coordinator will first verify that each student researcher is enrolled in independent study course units, before indicating to the departmental MSO to release the SPUR grant to the faculty research account. All student researchers on the project must be enrolled in units before the grant will be released.
End-of-Semester Reports Required
At the end of each semester, the SPUR Coordinator will contact faculty and student(s) who worked on the project and will ask them to complete a brief report commenting on the research experience and giving feedback on the SPUR Program. These may be submitted online from the My Projects section of the website. With the researchers’ permission, some of these comments may be shared with the CNR alumni who donated the funds that support the SPUR Program.
Both the faculty and the student’s reports are due before the end of final exams. Such reports are required for each term that the project lasts (fall, spring, and summer).
Faculty are also required to submit final grades for the students’ independent study or research course during the fall and spring semesters. As students are not required to enroll in units during summer session, a final progress report should be submitted to the SPUR Coordinator by the faculty mentor in lieu of a final grade, to indicate satisfactory work.
Renewing and Closing Projects
Projects that last more than one semester will renew automatically if all semester reports for the project are received before the end of finals. If reports are not received, the SPUR coordinator will suspend the project's status until the reports are received. This will seriously affect the likelihood of funding for future projects, both faculty- and student-initiated.
The SPUR grant will close automatically at the end of the duration indicated by the faculty member when the project was initiated.
Sharing research with the CNR Community at the Poster Session
Undergraduates benefiting from collaboration with faculty mentors and from the generous financial support of CNR alumni are strongly encouraged to share their completed or in progress research project with the CNR community in the form of a research poster. The research poster summarizing the project and (expected) results may be presented at either the fall or spring Poster Session. Spring posters are also displayed during Cal Day, where we proudly share the excellent undergraduate research being conducted at CNR with the campus community and the general public.
Funding For Student-initiated Projects
Juniors and Seniors undertaking their own independent research or honors thesis research may apply one time only during their time in CNR for SPUR funding up to $2,000 to support their own research project. Submitting a detailed research budget, approved by the student’s faculty research mentor, is a required part of the application process. Note: SPUR grant will be paid out to the faculty mentor’s research account. No funding shall be paid out to students directly so as not to disadvantage students on financial aid, for whom the grant or stipend amount would be deducted from their financial aid package for the year.
Student-Initiated Proposals
- Preliminary Work: PREPARING YOUR PROPOSAL
- Faculty Responsibility for Student Budget
- Student Course Enrollment Requirements
- SPUR and the CNR Honors Program
- Awarding of the SPUR Grant
- Final Grades and Required End-of-Semester Report
- Sharing Research at the Poster Session
Eligible Juniors and Seniors may apply one time only during their time in CNR for SPUR funding up to $2000 to support their own research project. They may initiate their own proposal for independent research, for research as part of the CNR Honors Program, or may modify a faculty proposal from the SPUR website. It is the student’s responsibility to find an appropriate faculty mentor for their project well in advance of the semester in which the project is to be initiated. It is not sufficient merely to have a faculty sponsor in a CNR department; the actual faculty research mentor must belong to a CNR department.
Preliminary Work: PREPARING YOUR PROPOSAL
Students who are interested in taking on their own research project are urged to begin the process of identifying a faculty mentor and project well in advance, during the semester preceding the one in which the student project will begin.
During the preceding semester students are encouraged to:
- Start working on a research project proposal including a proposed project title, abstract, background, objectives and hypothesis, methods, timeline, expected results, references; and
- Create a detailed budget proposal including:
- Expected expenses for each semester of project
- Amount of SPUR funding being requested for duration of project
- Other sources of funding for the remainder of the project costs
- CNR faculty mentor name, department, contact information, and signature line for faculty mentor’s approval of proposed budget.
- Students are also urged at the onset of this process to attend the workshop series offered by the UCB Office of Undergraduate Research. For details and schedules of the workshops Getting Started in Undergraduate Research - Overviews and Strategies.
Faculty mentors are encouraged to provide guidance and feedback to students who approach them during this preparatory process.
Note: The process described below includes the spring/fall semester deadlines. For an overview of summer application deadlines please see Student Deadlines for Summer Projects.
The application deadline for SPUR grants to Student-Initiated projects is the first day of the second week of instruction each semester.
Faculty Responsibility for Student Budget
Before submitting the SPUR Program application online, as well as submitting a hard copy to the SPUR Coordinator, students must obtain a CNR faculty member’s signature on the project’s budget proposal to indicate the specific faculty member’s willingness to serve as the research mentor and to indicate the faculty mentor’s approval of the proposed research budget.
By signing the approved budget, the faculty mentor indicates that s/he will be responsible for covering any overexpenditure of the SPUR grant, which is paid to the faculty member’s research account. However, if some of the SPUR grant remains unused by the end of the project’s completion, the funds will remain in the faculty mentor’s research account and can be used toward other purposes.
At the end of the third week of instruction, the SPUR Coordinator will notify each student via the online system at My Projects on the student site as to whether the application was approved and for what amount.
Once the SPUR grant has been approved, students will be directed to contact their faculty mentor for departmental guidelines on how to access research funds (departmental purchase order or reimbursement guidelines and procedures). This process varies by department.
Student Course Enrollment Requirement
Course enrollment is required by the end of the fourth week of instruction for student-initiated projects. If a SPUR grant was approved for the fall or spring semester, the student is required to enroll in independent study units in connection with the project before the grant will be awarded. However, for summer projects the student and faculty mentor instead sign a SPUR Summer Learning Contract and submit it to the SPUR Coordinator to qualify for funding.
It is important that students check their departmental requirements regarding GPA and units BEFORE attempting to enroll in an independent study course. Also, no student on academic probation may receive credit for independent study.
During the fall or spring semester, the student and faculty mentor will discuss the course number and the number of units of academic credit the project warrants. Together they will fill out and sign a departmental enrollment form for an appropriate independent study course – 99, 195, 199, or H196. Enrollment forms are available in each department’s Undergraduate Staff Advisor’s office. For general policies, requirements and guidelines, see Course Enrollment Information for Independent Study or Research.
For variable unit courses, the unit value will be determined by the faculty mentor and student together, based on established Academic Senate regulations.
Please note:
- Students enrolling in units under independent study course numbers 99/199 should do so in the faculty mentor’s home department.
- Students enrolling in units for honors research should enroll in H196 in their own home department.
Students then return the enrollment form, signed by the faculty mentor, to the faculty mentor's department’s Undergraduate Staff Advisor (if independent study) or to the student's Undergraduate Staff Advisor (if honors credit), who will provide the Course Control Number (CCN) and Course Entry Code (CEC) needed for enrollment through TeleBEARS. Students working on their own research project must enroll in the relevant course via TeleBEARS no later than the end of the fourth week of classes in the fall or spring semester in which they plan to initiate their project.
During the summer term, students must instead submit the SPUR Summer Learning Contract, signed by their faculty mentor, to the SPUR Coordinator no later than the last day of instruction of the preceding spring semester. For an overview of summer application deadlines please see Student Deadlines for Summer Projects.
For year-long projects students must re-enroll in independent study units each term (fall/spring) or submit a SPUR Summer Learning Contract, in order to receive the approved SPUR semester grants.
SPUR and the CNR Honors Program
If a student is proposing a research project as part of the CNR Honors Program and is enrolling in 8 units of H196 over two semesters in the department of the student’s major program, the independent study work plan must include–as an Honors Program requirement– the preparation of a publishable paper according to standards relevant to the field/discipline in which the student is working. The deadline to submit the CNR Honors Program Enrollment Form to the student’s undergraduate staff advisor is the end of the first week of instruction (before the SPUR funding application is due).
Awarding of the SPUR Grant
During the fifth week of instruction, the SPUR Coordinator verifies that the student has enrolled in the required units before the SPUR grant is awarded. The appropriate departmental and Dean's Office financial officers will also be notified of the amount of funding being awarded to each project. The SPUR grant will be transferred to the faculty mentor’s research account. No funding shall be paid out to students directly so as not to disadvantage students on financial aid, for whom the grant or stipend amount would be deducted from their financial aid package for the year.
It is the faculty mentor’s responsibility to guide the student through departmental procedures for submitting purchase orders or reimbursement requests.
Final Grades & Required End-of-Semester Report
Near the end of each semester, the SPUR Coordinator will contact faculty and student(s) who worked jointly on a research project and will ask them to complete a brief report commenting on the research experience and giving feedback on the SPUR Program. You can submit your report from the students' My Projects page, under the "Reports" tab. With the researchers’ permission, some of these comments may be shared with the CNR alumni who donated the funds that support the SPUR Program.
Faculty members are not required to submit a final report for student-initiated projects. The student's report is required for for each term that the project lasts.
Faculty are required to submit final grades for the students’ independent study or research course during the fall and spring semesters. As students are not required to enroll in units during summer session, a final progress report should be submitted to the SPUR Coordinator by the faculty mentor in lieu of a final grade, to indicate satisfactory work.
Sharing research with the CNR Community
Undergraduates benefiting from this collaboration with faculty mentors and from the generous financial support of CNR alumni are strongly encouraged to share their completed or in progress research project with the CNR community in the form of a research poster. The research poster summarizing the project and (expected) results may be presented at either the fall or spring Poster Session. Spring posters are also displayed during Cal Day, where we proudly share the excellent undergraduate research being conducted at CNR with the campus community and the general public.
Student Deadlines for Faculty-Initiated Projects: Summer 2008
When? |
 |
What? |
4/7-4/14 |
Faculty projects posted for viewing on SPUR web site. Submit applications online. |
|
4/14 (5:00 PM) |
Student applications due online |
|
4/2-4/23 |
Faculty interview student applicants and select undergraduate researcher. Submit your application early, as interviews and selection begins 4/2. |
|
4/23-5/12 |
Meet with mentor and complete SPUR Summer Learning Contract. Learning Contract due on 5/12, to SPUR Coordinator so that SPUR Grant may be processed |
|
8/15 |
End of semester report due to SPUR Coordinator |
|
Fall semester |
Students are encouraged to present their summer research projects during the fall Poster Session |
Deadlines for Student-Initiated Projects: Summer 2008
When |
|
What? |
Prior Semester |
|
Start preparing proposal and identify faculty mentor |
3/13-4/14 (5:00 PM) |
Submit Student-Initiated Project online, plus hand deliver a copy of the application to 260 Mulford Hall, SPUR Coordinator |
|
4/23 |
Students are notified whether their project has been accepted or denied. |
|
4/23-5/12 |
Meet with mentor and complete SPUR Summer Learning Contract. Learning Contract due on 5/12, to SPUR Coordinator so that SPUR Grant may be processed. |
|
4/24-5/1 |
Attend training on how to report SPUR expenses. Day and time to be determined. |
|
8/15 |
Last day to submit student’s End of Semester Reports |
|
The following fall or spring semester |
Students are encouraged to participate in either a fall or spring poster session to present either research in progress or completed research projects |
Student Deadlines for Faculty-Initiated Projects: Fall 2007
When? |
|
What? |
8/21 9/4 |
Available faculty projects are posted online |
|
9/4 (5:00 PM) |
Student applications due online |
|
9/5 – 9/14 |
Faculty interview and select student researcher(s) |
|
9/17-9/21 |
Meet with mentor and complete Independent Study/Research Course (99/199) Enrollment Form. Obtain form and CCN/CEC from undergraduate Student Affairs Officer from your mentor’s department. Enroll. $10 add fee applies. |
|
9/28 |
Independent study course enrollment deadline (TeleBEARS Add/Drop deadline). ($10 add fee applies) |
|
10/1 – 10/5 |
SPUR Coordinator verifies course enrollment for undergraduate researchers. Then the fund transfer of SPUR grants to faculty research accounts will be initiated. |
|
12/13 |
Faculty submit final grade |
|
12/13 |
Last day to submit student’s End of Semester Reports |
|
The following fall or spring semester |
Students are encouraged to participate in either a fall or spring poster session to present either research in progress or completed research projects |
Deadlines for Student-Initiated Projects: Fall 2007
When? |
|
What? |
Prior Semester |
Start preparing proposal and identify faculty mentor |
|
8/21 - 9/4 (5:00 PM) |
Submit Student-Initiated Project online, plus hand deliver a copy of the application to 260 Mulford Hall, SPUR Coordinator |
|
9/14 |
Students are notified whether their project has been accepted or denied. |
|
9/17 - 9/21 |
Meet with mentor and complete Independent Study/Research Course (99/199) Enrollment Form. Obtain form and CCN/CEC from undergraduate Student Affairs Officer from your mentor’s department. Enroll. $10 add fee applies. |
|
9/17 – 9/21 |
Attend training on how to report SPUR expenses. Day and time to be determined. |
|
9/28 |
Independent study course enrollment deadline (TeleBEARS Add/Drop deadline). ($10 add fee applies) |
|
10/1 – 10/5 |
SPUR Coordinator verifies course enrollment for undergraduate researchers. Then the fund transfer of SPUR grants to faculty research accounts will be initiated. |
|
12/13 |
Faculty submit final grade |
|
12/13 |
Last day to submit student’s End of Semester Reports |
|
The following fall or spring semester |
Students are encouraged to participate in either a fall or spring poster session to present either research in progress or completed research projects |
Student Deadlines for Faculty-Initiated Projects: Spring 2008
When? |
|
What? |
12/17 – 1/28 |
Available faculty projects are posted online |
|
1/15 - 1/28 |
Submit applications online |
|
1/28 (5:00 PM) |
Student applications due online |
|
1/29-2/8 |
Faculty interview and select student researcher(s) |
|
2/11 – 2/15 (or before) |
Meet with mentor and complete Independent Study/Research Course (99/199) Enrollment Form. Obtain form and CCN/CEC from undergraduate Student Affairs Officer from your mentor’s department. Enroll. $10 add fee applies. |
|
2/22 |
Independent study course enrollment deadline (TeleBEARS Add/Drop deadline). ($10 add fee applies) |
|
2/25 – 2/29 |
SPUR Coordinator verifies course enrollment for undergraduate researchers. Then the fund transfer of SPUR grants to faculty research accounts will be initiated. |
|
5/11 |
Faculty submit final grade |
|
5/11 |
Last day to submit student’s End of Semester Reports |
|
The following fall or spring semester |
|
Students are encouraged to participate in either a fall or spring poster session to present either research in progress or completed research projects |
Deadlines for Student-Initiated Projects: Spring 2008
When? |
|
What? |
Prior Semester |
Start preparing proposal and identify faculty mentor |
|
1/15 – 1/28 (5:00 PM) |
Submit Student-Initiated Project online, plus hand deliver a copy of the application to 260 Mulford Hall, SPUR Coordinator |
|
2/8 |
Students are notified whether their project has been accepted or denied. |
|
2/11 – 2/15 |
Meet with mentor and complete Independent Study/Research Course (99/199) Enrollment Form. Obtain form and CCN/CEC from undergraduate Student Affairs Officer from your mentor’s department. Enroll. $10 add fee applies. |
|
2/11 – 2/15 |
Attend training on how to report SPUR expenses. Day and time to be determined. |
|
2/22 |
Independent study course enrollment deadline (TeleBEARS Add/Drop deadline). ($10 add fee applies) |
|
2/25 – 2/29 |
SPUR Coordinator verifies course enrollment for undergraduate researchers. Then the fund transfer of SPUR grants to faculty research accounts will be initiated. |
|
5/11 |
Faculty submit final grade |
|
5/11 |
Last day to submit student’s End of Semester Reports |
|
The following fall or spring semester |
Students are encouraged to participate in either a fall or spring poster session to present either research in progress or completed research projects |
