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Division of Academic and Student Affairs 
Office of Undergraduate Research

Thank you for your interest in the Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Research and Mentoring Award. We are pleased to share that the program has received an overwhelming response, and the number of applications has exceeded our expectations.

As a result, we have already achieved and surpassed our goals for awarding mentors and mentees, and have closed the application process. We deeply appreciate your enthusiasm and commitment to supporting undergraduate research, and we hope to engage with you in future opportunities.

(Pilot) Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Research and Mentorship Awards

These awards, funded by the Office of University Interdisciplinary Programs (OUIP) and the Office of Undergraduate Research, are for faculty mentors of undergraduates who are engaged in interdisciplinary research. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the end of the spring semester with funds needing to be spent by the end of June.

Learn More about the OUIP

Funding

  • Applicants may request up to $2000 to cover any of the following expenses:
    • Research Supplies (including fees for diagnostic services or data analysis)
      • Must be allowable on state funds.
    • Travel Expenses to Present Research at a Conference
      • Undergraduate mentee(s) must also participate.
    • Open Access and Other Publication Fees
      • Undergraduate mentee(s) must be listed as co-author.
    • Hourly Wages for Undergraduate Mentee(s)
      • Must be budgeted at $15/hr.
  • Final amount awarded depends on availability of funds.

Eligibility

  • Must be an NC State Faculty Member with a proposal that covers interdisciplinary research and includes the mentorship of at least one NC State-enrolled undergraduate student.
  • Must be able to spend funding by the end of the fiscal year (June 30, 2025).

Program Requirements

  • Submit a final report (~1 page) briefly summarizing the outcomes of the proposed research including any presentations and publications.
    • Must also include a final budget of expenses.
  • Undergraduate mentees must participate in the 2025 Summer Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium, presenting on the research they conducted as part of the accepted proposal.

Deadlines

Completed Proposal

Applications are now closed.

Mentee Presentation

July 25, 2025

Abstract Deadline: June 27, 2025

Summer Symposium Information

Final Report

July 31, 2025

Application Process

To apply, faculty mentors should compile the following into a single document and email it to undergraduate-research@ncsu.edu using the following naming format, “Last Name, First Name_Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Research and Mentorship Proposal 2024-2025”

  • Project Description (up to 2 pages) including:
    • A brief description of the project to be undertaken, with a clear articulation of the role to be played by undergraduate researcher(s)
    • Description of anticipated outcomes (e.g. publications, presentations), and/or plans for public dissemination of findings, with clear articulation of how the undergraduate(s) will participate
    • Statement on the interdisciplinary perspectives of the proposed work and/or any new interdisciplinary partnerships that would be enabled by this funding.
  • Mentorship Statement (up to 1 page) detailing:
    • The applicant’s mentoring strategy, with specifics on how the undergraduate researcher(s) involved will be mentored, including how frequently and in what capacity the undergraduate(s) will meet with the applicant
    • The applicant’s mentoring experience and/or professional development training completed around student mentoring
    • How networking with other members of the research group and/or other members of the different fields involved will be facilitated/encouraged for the undergraduate(s)
      • The Office of Undergraduate Research has mentorship tools and other resources to support undergraduate researchers. We are happy to help you develop or expand your mentoring strategy.
  • Itemized Budget (up to 1 additional page) detailing:
    • The project budget and justifying the requested funds with attention to how the use of funds will benefit both the project and the undergraduate researcher(s)
      • All expenses must be allowable on state funds.

FAQs

If you have questions about your project’s eligibility, please reach out to undergraduate-research@ncsu.edu. We are happy to help potential applicants improve their chances for success.

Students who are currently supported by one of the Office of Undergraduate Research’s other programs are still able to be included in your proposal. The only limitation is that you cannot request funding for what the Office of Undergraduate Research is already covering.

No, we understand you may want to secure funding before recruiting your mentee(s). The Office of Undergraduate Research is always happy to help you find undergraduate researchers for any research project.

Please note that for Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Research and Mentorship Awards, undergraduate mentees must be confirmed before any awarded funds may be accessed.

Yes, teaching faculty are eligible! The Office of Undergraduate Research has noted that many teaching faculty across the campus mentor undergraduate researchers.

Nearly any supplies and services needed for research are allowable on state funds. However, please note that gift cards or other incentives for survey participation are not allowed. If this is a supply you need, we recommend utilizing a professional service that facilitates surveys and data collection on your behalf as those service fees are allowable charges.

Once your proposal is accepted, you will have access to use the allotted funds. Proposals will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the deadline, allowing earlier applicants/awardees a longer spending window.

Awardees will work with the Office of Undergraduate Research for any necessary hiring of undergraduate researchers. For remaining expenses, funds will be disbursed into an F & A project (funding account) under the control of the awardee.

Yes, however, the Office of Undergraduate Research fully supports student presentations on research that is still in progress or even just beginning. The purpose of our symposia is to give students a supportive environment to practice their research presentation skills.

No, all undergraduate mentees associated with the accepted proposal will need to present at the Summer Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium regardless of any other presentations they may give. This is an excellent opportunity for them to further improve their communication and presentation skills, while adding experience to their CVs and resumes. We encourage students to present at multiple events.

Mentor-Mentee Support

Check out our mentorship tools and resources.

Extra Opportunities to Present

Check out our list of additional conferences for undergraduate researchers.

If you have questions please contact the OUR at undergraduate-research@ncsu.edu.