The Alayont Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Mathematics has been developed to provide financial support to students pursuing rigorous, independent scholarship during the academic year, mentored by a faculty member.

The funded projects must be in the field of pure or applied mathematics, and conform to the definition of undergraduate research as defined by the Council on Undergraduate Research: "An inquiry or an investigation conducted by an undergraduate student that makes an original intellectual or creative contribution to the discipline."

The goals of this fellowship are to encourage students to experience the beauty and excitement of mathematical research through discovery of original results and independent learning outside of course work, and to better prepare interested students for graduate studies in mathematics.

About the Award

AWARD
The award provides student fellows with a $2,500 fellowship for approximately 10 hours per week for an academic semester.

ELIGIBILITY
The fellowship is available to undergraduate students at GVSU who are majoring or minoring in mathematics and have not yet completed the requirements for graduation. It is preferred that the student will be enrolled at GVSU as an undergraduate for at least one full semester of study beyond the period of the award. Successful applicants generally have a 3.0 GPA or higher in their major. Please note that this fellowship cannot be awarded to support an independent study (MTH 499), or an Honors Thesis.

All tenured, tenure-track, visiting, and affiliate faculty are eligible to mentor Alayont Fellows.

REVIEW COMMITTEE
Please note the review committee will comprise of the director of OURS, the chair of the Undergraduate Research Council (or designee), and the chair of the Math Department (or designee).

Proposal Requirements

The proposal is a collaborative effort between an undergraduate and faculty mentor. An undergraduate student may propose a research project to a faculty member, or a faculty member may actively recruit an undergraduate student for a potential research project.

The proposal must include the following sections:

1. Project Description: Description of the project (Limited to 1 page, 12 point font, double spaced, 1 inch margins)
    
2. Project Goals and Feasibility: (limited to 2 pages, 12 point font, double spaced, 1 inch margins, exclusive of references). This should include the following:
   1. Background – What specific research problem or creative process is being addressed?
   2. Significance – Explain the significance or interest of the proposed project. What are the goals of the project? What is the ideal outcome of this project?
   3. Methodology – Describe the nature of the research, including the types of activities the student will engage in, how goals will be set, and how progress will be assessed.
   4. Timeline – Include a timeline of the project detailing the responsibilities of the student at each stage. What are the significant research tasks for the student?
       
3. Quality of the Student Learning Experience: This should include the following:
   1. Student focus – What are the faculty member’s student-centered goals for this project? What pedagogical techniques will the faculty member use to help the student achieve those goals? What active collaboration will take place?
   2. Independence – Describe the steps to be taken to allow the student to become a more independent researcher/scholar during the project.
       
4. Student Qualifications and Motivation: This should include the following:
   1. Preparation – Include a statement written by the student that articulates his/her interest in the project, how s/he is prepared to meet the project objectives and outcomes. Students must disclose their academic and non-academic commitments for the proposed semester. It is the expectation, that this fellowship will be a significant part of their co-curricular experience.
   2. Qualifications – One page résumé listing major GPA, overall GPA, work, volunteer, and educational experiences that will help the student complete the project.

How to Apply

The same deadline applies to all applications, regardless of the semester in which you would like the award. Faculty and student should prepare the proposal per the requirements listed below. The proposal needs to be one complete PDF document that you will submit online. There is only one upload button, so please be sure your document is complete.

Apply Online

Grantee Responsibilities

STUDENT SCHOLARS DAY
Student applicant must participate in the Student Scholars Day that falls within the fiscal year in which the grant was awarded. Fellows are also encouraged to present on campus at Math Department Seminars, as well as present off campus at such events as Math Fest.

ALAYONT FELLOWSHIP REPORT
Successful applicants must provide a final report to the Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship. The Report must include a project abstract, a description of the current status of the project, and intentions for possible dissemination. The report will be due on the last Friday of classes of the project semester (i.e., the Friday before Exam Week).

Submit Your Report