Undergraduate Research

What is Undergraduate Research?

Undergraduate research is a process of discovery, creativity, and critical thinking where students explore questions and ideas within or beyond their academic discipline. It involves working closely with faculty mentors to design, conduct, and share original work, whether through scientific inquiry, artistic expression, or scholarly analysis.

At Schreiner University, we define undergraduate research as:

“An original inquiry, investigation, or creative endeavor conducted by an undergraduate student in collaboration with a faculty mentor, aimed at making a meaningful intellectual or artistic contribution to their discipline or broader scholarly community.”

This can include:

  • Laboratory experiments
  • Fieldwork
  • Creative performances or exhibitions
  • Scholarly writing
  • Presentations at academic conferences

Participating in undergraduate research helps students develop valuable skills in communication, problem-solving, and collaboration, while also contributing meaningfully to their field of study.

Undergraduate Research Travel Award

The Undergraduate Research Travel Award supports Schreiner students who are presenting their research or creative work at academic conferences, exhibitions, or other professional events. This award helps cover travel-related expenses so students can share their scholarship with broader audiences and engage with professionals in their field.

Who can apply?
Any undergraduate student who has been accepted to present at a scholarly event and is working with a faculty sponsor.

What does the award cover?
Eligible expenses may include transportation, lodging, meals, registration fees, poster printing, and other costs directly related to the event.

How to apply:
Students must complete a short proposal form, submit a budget spreadsheet, and have their faculty sponsor submit an endorsement. Clear guidelines are available to help students prepare strong applications

Funding Guidelines

To preserve the Undergraduate Research fund and to ensure its use in offsetting research expenses incurred by the students, the fund will not be used to reimburse faculty sponsors for either conference fees or travel expenses.

Grant proposals will be reviewed on a rolling basis, i.e., without set deadlines for submissions. However, because the review and funding process could take three to four weeks, proposals should be submitted as soon as the project has been approved by the faculty sponsor. For travel and conference funding, the proposal should be submitted as soon as written confirmation has been received from the conference (or venue) organizers.

  • At the completion of the project, the grantee will submit a two-page summary, approved by the faculty sponsor, describing the results/outcome of the research.
  • In addition to the Final Report Summary, the grantee will provide a copy of all relevant receipts. Unused funds must be returned to the Undergraduate Research fund.
  • All grant recipients will be invited to share their projects at Schreiner University’s Student Achievement Showcase to be held at the close of the spring semester.

  • Allowable expenses include registration fees, lodging, airfare, meals (daily allowances are $10 for breakfast, $20 for lunch, $30 for dinner) and ground transportation (including gas, if a personal car is used).
  • For hotel expenses, where possible, students are expected to share costs with roommates.
  • Funding may not be used to support enrollment in language study or study-abroad programs, internships, or volunteer activities. Moreover, grant money cannot be used to travel to a country subject to a U.S. Department of State Travel Warning or other areas where personal safety may be an issue. If safety issues exist in a research locale, students need to address in the application proposal the steps that will be taken to ensure personal safety.
  • Travel award money must only cover the actual costs of the project as itemized in the budget. Funds may not be used toward tuition, program fees, or expenses normally incurred during regular coursework.

  • Appropriate projects include those that are designed and carried out collaboratively by students and their faculty mentors or by students and their instructors.
  • If the project involves human subjects, including interviews, it must receive certification from Schreiner University’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) that no human subject will be put “at risk.” Both the student and the faculty sponsor share the responsibility to obtain this approval prior to funding. Contact Dr. Susan Klinedinst, slklinedinst@schreiner.edu, for additional help with the IRB process.

Undergraduate Research Grants are open to all Schreiner University full-time undergraduate students in good standing.

  • Grant applicants must be full-time undergraduates who will present their project at an academic conference or venue hosted by a recognized scholarly organization. The student’s name must appear on the conference program, and the student must be either the primary or the co-presenter.
  • Students who will graduate prior to the conference or performance date are not eligible for grant funding.
  • Grant applications must be submitted after the conference acceptance or performance notification has been received in writing and before the actual travel takes place.

Contact

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Susan Klinedinst
Susan Klinedinst, PhD
Demmie G. Mayfield Endowed Chair of Undergraduate Research and Science
830-792-7248
slklinedinst@schreiner.edu
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