Posts

Interested in the Undergraduate Research Library Fellowship for Summer 2021?

About the Fellowship

The University Libraries’ Undergraduate Research Library Fellowship provides undergraduates the opportunity to see how scholarship is communicated and disseminated through work in libraries that is often invisible to the casual user.  It will position students with an interest in academic research to experience more deeply the type of partnerships many researchers have with libraries around projects that enhance the work of their discipline. Experience might be with scholarly communication, metadata, primary resources and artifacts (as found in our Archives or Special Collections), development of open education resources, knowledge discovery tools, bibliography/resource curation of a discipline, digitization, and more. Projects can result in learning objects, digital images, curated exhibits, or performances, depending on the project.

If you are interested in seeing examples of the types of projects that are possible, you are invited to view the recording of the 2020 Undergraduate Research Library Fellowship Symposium.

This is a paid fellowship of $4,000 for a 10 week; 40 hours/week project, paid hourly. Fellowship projects must be completed virtually during Summer 2021. Applications are due Monday, March 22nd, 2021 by 5:00 pm EST. 

Eligibility

The award is open to undergraduate students from all majors who are returning the following autumn semester (Autumn 2021) and will require that students commit up to 40 hours per week on the proposed project over a period of 10 weeks during the summer term under the mentorship (supervision) of a faculty librarian.

Due to COVID19 restrictions, all projects for Summer 2021 must be completed virtually.  

How to Participate

Contact and meet (virtually) with a faculty librarian or professional staff member from the University Libraries to develop a research proposal. To identify faculty librarians and professional staff available to work on fellowship topics, review the list of topic areas below and click on the topic area you are interested in. Contact information for the faculty librarian(s) and/or professional staff in that area are provided. After you have identified the individual you would like to work with, please contact that person directly. 

Application Materials

Applications require a completed application packet, which includes the following:

  • A cover letter describing academic goals and interests and offering a rationale for the project (1-2 pages). The cover letter should be addressed to Craig Gibson, Chair, Teaching and Learning Committee; The Ohio State University Libraries
  • A research proposal identifying the research question or topic to be investigated; the methods to be used in the research; the product or performance to be created; the timeline and major steps involved in completing the project; and any budget items associated with the project (3-4 pages). As part of the proposal, it should be clear how you will be able to complete the project virtually.
  • A letter of support from the library faculty advisor describing the student’s ability to commit to and complete the project, and a general workplan for advising the student during the fellowship period
  • A letter of support from an academic advisor who knows the student’s work well, that addresses the student’s interests and ability to meet the requirements of the fellowship

Review Criteria

The selection committee considers the following when judging submissions:

  • Student’s cover letter, GPA, and research proposal
    • Is the writing clear and persuasive?
    • Does the student have a good grasp of the research area and methods?
    • Is the student likely to follow through and complete a worthwhile project?
    • Is the project highly original, independent, or ambitious?
    • Would this experience contribute greatly to the student’s future plans?
  • Faculty librarian ‘s (advisor for project) letter
    • What is the advisor’s opinion of the student’s academic potential?
    • Does the advisor have a good plan for supervising the student?
    • Is the advisor’s letter compelling?
  • Second letter of recommendation
    • Is the letter well written and supportive?
    • Does the writer know the student well?

How Do I Submit My Application?

Student materials, including cover letter and research proposal, should be submitted using the following link: URLF Application.

Faculty support letters should be emailed directly to Craig Gibson at gibson.721@osu.edu

All application materials should be submitted by 5:00 pm on Monday, March 22, 2021. If you have any difficulties submitting application materials, contact gibson.721@osu.edu

What Will I Need to Do if Awarded This Fellowship?

A mid-project report will be due by end of June 2021 and a final report by end of August 2021.   Those who receive fellowships are strongly encouraged to apply to present at the Research Festival sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry in Autumn 2021.

Project Topics Areas

The following are potential areas for projects.  More information about the types of projects that may be completed within each area, as well as the available faculty or staff sponsor(s) for that area, can be accessed by clicking on the link.

If you have a project idea that does not fit into one of these categories, contact Craig Gibson (Gibson.721@osu.edu, (614) 292-5466) or Beth Black (black.367@osu.edu, (614) 688-5428).

Resources

For Students:

If you are interested in seeing examples of the types of projects that are possible, you are invited to view the recording of the 2020 Undergraduate Research Library Fellowship Symposium.

For a selected list of projects that have been completed since 2016, see the following: URLF Projects. Please note that these are only examples of the types of projects that are possible. The final product for the project can take a variety of forms.

An example of a previous application can be viewed here: Sample URLF Proposal. Note that on this application, the cover letter is separate from the personal statement. For 2021 applications, the personal statement should be included as part of the cover letter.

For Mentors:

A folder with mentor resources can be found here: Mentor Resources.