The Minnesota Undergraduate Research and Academic Journal’s In Action Grant is an opportunity for undergraduate students at the University of Minnesota to receive funding for  novel, community-based projects. A minimum of two grants will be awarded, which can be up to $1000 each. Our goal for the In Action Grant is to promote undergraduate research that will not only advance the applicant’s academic career, but will benefit the community.

These projects can take a variety of forms, depending on the academic interests of the applicant. The proposed project should seek to address social injustices facing our communities in the realm of racial, social, economic, or environmental justice, although this can mean many different things depending on the proposal. The project must be completed by a current undergraduate student before the end of the spring semester and must culminate in a paper that will be published by MURAJ.

Applications are currently open and should be submitted on or before December 31st, 2023. Recipients will be selected by MURAJ’s In Action Grant Board, consisting of both students and faculty advisors, and will be notified by January 16th, 2024, so that projects can be funded for the spring semester.

Eligibility

• All currently enrolled undergraduate students from all majors at the University of Minnesota are eligible.
• Preference will be given to applicants who do not have other sources of funding (e.g. UROP or USR funding)

Mentor

• A mentor is required for your project.
• Your mentor should be a current faculty member, postgraduate researcher, or graduate student at the University of Minnesota.

Funding

• The amount requested should be between $500 and $1000.
• The funding is largely intended to be a stipend to compensate applicants for their time, however, it can also include expenses.
• It is not recommended that applicants not use more than $200 of the requested amount for expenses. 
• Expenses not eligible for funding include, but are not limited to, training, travel expenses, and anything that results in earned credit or compensation.

Selection Criteria

• Academic merit
• Feasibility
• Achievability within the given time frame.
• Potential impact

How Do I Apply?

• Write a three page proposal focusing on the background and significance of your proposed project, your experimental approach and methods, your expected results and their implications, and a statement of how your proposed project will address social injustices.
• Prepare an itemized expense description, if you so choose.
• Review last year’s In Action Grant recipient’s project here, if you so choose.
• Email fuchs190@umn.edu with any questions or concerns.
• Complete the online application here before the deadline.