Scholar Research Institute (SRI – UMBC McNair Scholars Program)

We are excited to open the application process for the UMBC McNair Scholar Research Institute (Summer 2024 & Spring 2025). Please see the details below.  All McNair Scholars are welcome to apply. If you are not a Scholar In Good Standing, you may still apply, as we will take into account your engagement and progress made this semester. Pre-McNair Students may apply with the understanding that their application will be pending until their full acceptance into the program.
Funding is limited; therefore, we encourage all to pay attention to deadlines (which have already been added to your individual Google calendars).
In addition to meeting the standards of your disciple, the proposal must also:
  • Address COVID-19 considerations ( in case you will not be able to be as mobile as in past semesters);
  • Any additional cost that should be considered; and,
  • Must show the ability to be able to complete the research during the semester.
  • Be approved and supported by your Faculty Research Mentor. You need to have shared with them your proposal as it may be posted online with their name listed as your mentor.

If you have any further questions not answered below, please reach out to the McNair Professional Staff or our Teaching Fellow.

General McNair Requirement

  • REM 33 members are not required to apply for SRI; however, they are required to submit a satisfactory proposal to AFST495 that is supported by their Faculty Research Mentor. Their Faculty Research Mentor should either approve the proposal to be submitted to SRI or give the scholar feedback as to what needs to be done to make the proposal worthy of assessment for future SRI or UR Award submission. Either way, the scholar’s proposal and presentation must receive an average grade of B or better from the AFST495 faculty.
  • For 2023 onward – All Scholars: Can apply for either SRI or REU Supplemental Support within the same year, not both.  Scholars are allowed to have other non-McNair financial assistance in addition to SRI and/or REU Supplemental Support.
  • Graduating Seniors:  May not apply for both SRI and travel support.

Applicants 

To qualify for SRI, it is expected that the scholar has:

  • Classification of being a Scholar in Good Standing by the start of SRI
  • Successfully completed McNair 101, 102, 103 (AFST 495) with a B or higher
  • McNair 101 (Orientation & Bridge Weekend, spring of semester accepted into the program)
  • McNair 102 (Blackboard 0 credit course – taken the first summer within the program)
  • McNair 103 (AFST 495- taken fall semester of the first year within the program)
  • Developed a research proposal that has been reviewed by and will be supported by your Faculty Research Mentor prior to submission.
  • Spring Applicants: Have prepared a list and will submit as part of SRI at least 6 REU experiences for the upcoming summer
  • Summer Applicants: Have prepared list as part of SRI application of at least 6 REU experiences applied and rejections to all experiences.

Note: For incoming rising seniors applying for Summer SRIU, some of these requitemnts are waived. Youshoudl only paplyafter talkign with McNair staff.

If accepted into SRI, Fellow agrees to:

  • Register for a  PRAC 096 Research Practicum via the Career Center (McNair will handle registration unless the scholar is seeking to do for credits, then they must reach out to Career Center directly)
    • They may also register for independent studies in addition to the practicum (as determined by the fellow’s Faculty Research Mentor). This must be worked out directly between the scholar and the faculty member.
  • Engage in research and research-related activities for approximately 10 hours per week during academic semesters which includes research, attending all McNair Saturday Academy Sessions, bi-weekly scheduled SRI Group Meetings/Individual Check-Ins with McNair staff, all McNair Presentations Days (that will be held on Mondays during the free hour), and regularly scheduled meetings with the fellow’s Faculty Research Mentor (as determined by you and your mentor).
  • Fellows are required to keep Wednesdays 12 -1 pm open for all McNair events and SRI meetings, no exceptions. or Fridays at 2 pm depending on the University’s free-hour policy.
  • Fellows may only work a total of 15 additional hours at any other job(s), on or off-campus. Keep in mind that SRI Fellows are considered leaders within McNair.
  • The completion of a research paper that is given a passing grade by the Fellow’s Faculty Research Mentor (P if Pass/Fail, B or higher if given a letter grade), and that is eligible for publication within their discipline or the UMBC Review.
  • The completion of a conference presentation for the work done during SRI (URCAD registration and presentation required if doing Spring SRI, and SURF if applying for summer)
  • The completion of a reflection paper and video to be graded by the McNair Staff (must receive a B or higher, details to be sent with acceptance)

Award

Spring: up to $1400 { one-third per month, final third when final assignments including 5 REU applications, are submitted}.

Summer (either as SRI or REU Supplemental Award) – up to $2800  (must have applied to at least 5 REU experiences outside of UMBC McNair)

 

Process Summary (see details below)

  • Email Research Faculty Mentor & McNair Office

Timeline

  • Before Dec 1st, 12noon EST: Scholars must email their mentor letting them know that the scholar is interested in applying for SRI. Must send their proposal shared box link to their mentors and the link to the form the mentors must complete letting them know of deadlines. Scholars must cc the McNair program, mcnairs@umbc.edu, and the program director.  We understand the proposal will not be complete, but the link should be the one used. if you need to make changes to the document, use the add new version feature in Box so that the link you shared doesn’t change.
    • We will begin Payroll Process based on those preparing to apply. Therefore this is a MUST deadline.
  • Do not submit an application if you are not sure if your mentor will approve of your proposal! Also, follow all instructions exactly or you will be disqualified and will have to reapply at a later time.

 

    • Use file nomenclature: LastName-FirstName-SpringSRI {YEAR}Proposal
    • The title page must include box link for the proposal. If you edit the document after the deadline or if it is different than the proposal you emailed, you will be disqualified. This will be the same link your Faculty Research Mentor and the McNair staff are evaluating.
  • December 17th, 12noon EST: SRI Research Mentor Recommendation Form must be submitted. (No exceptions to this deadline)
  • By January 5th:  Decisions sent out from the McNair Office.

 

  • January 10th,12noon EST: Scholars must complete the Acceptance Form.
Research Proposal Clarifications
As the semester winds down, we wanted to provide clarifications on the expectations of the AFST495/SRI research proposal. The research proposal is inclusive of an extensive literature review, research questions, methodology, etc. We see this as laying the groundwork and initial research preparation to begin implementing as early as next semester (even though some of you have already started). In the proposal, you may have multiple research questions you want to explore, but we want you to keep in mind the feasibility of the research project, and that you will have the opportunity to implement this project during the spring, summer, or both! This is where it will be important for scholars and research mentors to be in constant communication with one another. If you feel the research study will take more than one semester you can continue the project throughout the summer, but your proposal must focus on one-semester completion. The overall goal is to design a project that can be implemented (even with preliminary findings) for the aforementioned timeframe. 
It is imperative that faculty research mentors ensure that the submitted research proposal meets the academic standards of the research discipline. We encourage scholars to review articles from the discipline, specifically those written by their mentor(s). The final proposal may be reviewed by the McNair Community of Supporters within the research field, and will then be added to our website.
The Faculty Research Mentor’s honest assessment will be required when completing the recommendation. We ask mentors, If they have any hesitations or questions, please reach out to the scholar first and then the McNair Staff prior to the Dec 10th deadline.