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Your Mentor and their Letter of Recommendation
What Kind of Funding Can You Request?
After Receiving Your DURF Grant
Questions not answered on this page? Email cas.durf@nyu.edu
Who’s eligible to apply for a DURF Grant?
- CAS undergraduates who are first-years, second-years, juniors or first-term seniors (i.e., the term before your last term at NYU) are eligible to apply. More details (contact cas.durf@nyu.edu with any questions):
- Non-CAS students who have a second major in CAS and are carrying out research and/or pursuing the honors track in that CAS major are usually allowed to apply.
- LS students transitioning into CAS may only apply during their final semester in LS and only for work not yet completed (i.e., applying in March for research that will be carried out over the following summer).
- Non-CAS students who are working in a CAS lab and/or with a CAS professor are not eligible. These students should consult their home school for information about any similar funding programs.
If I’m carrying out my research in the summer/winter/fall, should I apply during a specific application cycle? When should I apply for a DURF Grant if I’ll be doing my research in the summer (or the fall, or the winter)?
Technically, application cycles are not tied to specific terms (e.g., summer, spring or fall) and grant funds may be used in any term: fall, winter, spring, summer. Typically, though, students are applying for funds to use in the immediately following term. That is, they apply during the fall application cycle to carry out projects over the winter or spring terms or they apply during the spring application cycle to carry out projects over the summer or fall terms. It’s important to remember, though, that there are only two application cycles per academic year and that there is no application cycle over the summer.
I received a DURF Grant in the past. Can I apply again?
Yes! There’s no limit on the total number of DURFs you’re allowed to receive over the course of your undergraduate career. Several students are “repeat offenders” and have received more than one DURF award. Even if you’re still working on the project for which you previously received a DURF, you can apply again. In this case, you should explain how you used the previous grant, how the research has progressed and how the next grant will help you further your research project.
Can I apply for more than one Research or FAST Grants at a time?
Yes! You can apply for more than one Research or FAST grant in one application cycle so long as they are for separate projects. So, for example, if you are working on two independent research projects, you could apply for two Research Grants. If you are only working on one independent research project, however, you may only apply for one Research or FAST grant per application cycle.
- Please note that this one grant per project policy does not apply to Conference Grants. So, for instance, you could apply for a Conference Grant for the same project you used as the basis for a Research Grant and could do so in the same cycle! Also, you could apply for multiple Conference Grants for presentations based on the same project so long as you've been accepted to present at multiple conferences.
- If you're unsure whether you're eligible to apply for more than one of any type of grant, just reach out (cas.durf@nyu.edu)! We're happy to consult and figure it out with you!
What is involved in an application?
All grants require that applicants submit an online application that include personal information, the proposal, and a detailed budget. FAST and Research Grants (Individual and Team) also require a letter of support from your project mentor. Applicants are also able to attach up to 4 tables and/or figures for any DURF application. Here are more details about the parts of the research proposal for each type of grant along with word limits for each section:
- Provide background to contextualize your area of interest (350 words)
- Explain the specific goals of your training project (250 words)
- Describe the significance of this training (250 words)
- Describe your timeline for completing this project (250 words)
- Describe your relationship with your mentor (200 words)
- Clearly articulate the specific research question and goals of the project (250 words)
- Provide sufficient background, including references, to contextualize your research (600 words)
- Describe your methodological approach (600 words)
- Describe your timeline for completing the project (150 words)
- How is the project relevant to your academic interests and goals (150 words)
- Describe your relationship with your project mentor (200 words)
- Describe how each member will contribute to the overall project (300 words)
- Explain how you will present your project? (50 words)
- Describe the significance of presenting at this Conference (200 words)
- Describe the advising you have received from your project mentor (100 words)
- Clearly articulate the specific research question and the goals of the project (100 words)
- Provide sufficient background to contextualize your research (250 words)
- Describe the methodological approach you employed (250 words)
- Upload proof of confirmation of acceptance to present
How do I access the application?
You can access (and submit) the application online! If you're already logged in to your NYU email/NYU Home, you'll be automatically logged in to the application system just by following the link. Otherwise, you'll just need to use your NYU credentials (NetID and password) to log in.
Great! I've taken a look at the application and noticed there are several “Tasks” to complete. Are they all required?
Nope. There are three required tasks and one optional task for Research and FAST Grant applications.
- Required Tasks:
- Personal Information Form (e.g., name, email address)
- Application Form (e.g., major, minor, field of research, proposal title, research proposal)
- Request a mentor recommendation
- Personal Information Form (e.g., name, email address)
- Optional Task:
- Figures and Tables (as a file upload)
Do I need to complete the Tasks in the order in which they appear in the application?
Nope. Required tasks can be completed in any order. However, we suggest completing the “Request a recommendation” task as early as possible so that your mentor will receive the notification and be able to upload their letter as soon as they are ready.
Great. So, once I complete all the required tasks, that means I've submitted my application, right?
Nope. After you've completed all the required tasks, you'll need to click the “Review and Submit” button. Then, after you've checked everything over for accuracy, you can hit the “Submit” button, which, you guessed it, officially submits your application.
Will the application system save my work as I go? Or, do I need to complete the application in one sitting?
The system saves your work! As you work on each task, you'll notice a “Save and continue editing” button at the bottom of the page. You can click this instead of “Mark as complete” in order to save a draft of your work or of the form. Then, if you need to, you can log out and your application will be waiting for you when you come back. We would still recommend completing the research proposal itself offline and then copying it into the application system. This is just a good idea in general so that you have a saved version of your work as a fail safe. Just be sure to not only complete the required tasks but also to mark them as complete by the application deadline.
Who decides whether to accept or reject a DURF application?
There are three DURF Selection Committees, one for each discipline in the College (Humanities, Natural Science, Social Science). The individual members of the committee change from semester to semester, but each committee is made up of CAS faculty: faculty from humanities departments serve on the Humanities DURF Selection Committee and so forth. Furthermore, the Assistant Dean for Students coordinates the Selection Committees and ensures that their decisions are carried out.
- A separate committee makes decisions about FAST Grant applications. That committee is made up of other undergraduate researchers who received a FAST Grant in the past. In addition, a few CAS faculty members and the Assistant Dean for Students coordinate and oversee the FAST Grant Selection committee.
When will the decisions be made?
There are two application deadlines each year (one in the fall and one in the spring). Decisions are usually communicated the week after the Selection Committee meets. You can find specific dates and more information on the timeline for decisions here.
- Please note that sometimes the FAST Grant selection committee meets somewhat later and that therefore those decisions might be communicated later as well.
My mentor just can't seem to upload their letter. I don't know what's going on. Can you help?
Of course! In this situation, just ask your mentor to email their letter directly to us at cas.durf@nyu.edu. It will be helpful if the email includes your name and the grant you're applying for. We'll be happy to upload the letter on their behalf.
Does my project mentor have to be a CAS faculty member?
Nope. You can work with faculty in any of NYU’s schools (including the Medical School and the Law School). In fact, your mentor doesn’t have to be a part of NYU at all! Many grant winners have pursued their projects off campus (e.g. Sloan Kettering, Rockefeller University, Mt. Sinai). In some cases, we may ask a mentor who is not a part of NYU to send us their CV. However, the fact that you have a mentor who is not a member of the NYU community does not disqualify you from applying. Just remember (as noted above) that mentors who are not at NYU NY, AD, or SH will need to create a user profile to access the system and submit their recommendation.
Even though I have regular contact with the Principal Investigator (PI) of my lab, my day-to-day project supervisor is a post-doc (or graduate student). Who should write my letter of support?
The Selection Committee very much wants to see that you are interacting with the lab’s PI and considers that mentoring relationship to be one of the most important components of your undergraduate research experience. At the same time, the Committee also understands that you will most likely be working with a post-doc or graduate student on a day-to-day basis. While it would be best if your PI writes and submits the letter, your direct project supervisor (i.e., the post-doc or graduate student) can write the letter but the PI must co-sign the letter. We will not be able to begin processing your award if your PI has not at least co-signed the letter of support. Lack of demonstrated support from your PI could result in your proposal being rejected.
Speaking of the letter of support. My mentor has never written a letter for the DURF program. They’re wondering hat, exactly, the mentor assessment entails. Is it just a letter of recommendation? Are there requirements as far as the content and/or length? Are there specific things that must be addressed?
The mentor assessment is more or less just a letter of recommendation focused on your (the student’s) project and their ability to successfully complete said project. The committee has, though, provided the prompts below as guidance for mentors and to help mentors be sure they’re addressing the most important issues for the selection committee. Mentors may choose to answer these prompts one by one in a non-narrative form. That’s fine. Most, though, address these points (which are interconnected) in a more traditional letter form. There’s no minimum or maximum length requirement. Really, the committee is most concerned with seeing that students have the necessary support to successfully complete their proposed project:
- How did the student identify you to serve as his or her project mentor?
- In what capacity did you work with the student in developing the DURF proposal, timeline, and budget request?
- How will you work with the student on this project?
- How often will you meet?
- How will you provide mentoring during the course of the research?
- Do the proposed timeline and methodology seem reasonable for this project?
- Is the student prepared to successfully undertake this project?
- How would you assess the educational value of this project for the student?
What can I purchase with the funds?
Any reasonable and justifiable budget request can be made in the proposal. In the past, we have funded the purchase of lab equipment, books, audio and visual equipment, software, voice recorders and payment for study participants among other things. Please remember, though, that all these expenses must be clearly justified in the proposal. Also, you should make every effort to find the most reasonably priced equipment/supplies available.
- The committee will not fund the purchase of equipment deemed unnecessary, readily available or too costly. Examples include but are not limited to:
- Journalism majors have access to audio and visual equipment from the Journalism Department. Any request for equipment available there (cameras, microphones, etc.) will not be funded.
- Students who request a software license for, e.g. Stata, will be awarded the cost of the lowest available subscription for students. Exceptions, however, can be made if students are working with particularly large datasets or if the project will exceed the time limits of that subscription.
- Students who request audio and visual equipment (e.g. a DSLR camera) should investigate the possibility and cost of renting the equipment and/or purchasing pre-owned equipment for the project.
Can I use the funds for travel as well?
Absolutely! As long as it’s directly related to your research. Again, the most reasonably priced form of transportation should be requested, whether that means subway, bus, train, flight or fuel reimbursement. You may also use DURF funds for your accommodations while traveling.
- Meals, however, are not a legitimate budget request.
- Travel to a conference, academic or otherwise, will only be funded if you will be conducting research at the conference, for example by interviewing certain participants (if you have been accepted to present your project at a national or international conference, you should apply for a Conference Grant to fund that travel).
Is it true that I can use the funds for income replacement?
Yes! You can use DURF funds as income replacement but not as income. In other words, you must show the Selection Committee that you will be working less because of your research commitments.
- Example of an acceptable request for lost wages: “This semester I am working 15 hours per week at Imaginary Office for $12 an hour. Next semester, I will only be able to work 10 hours per week because of my research commitment in Imaginary Professor’s lab. I will therefore incur a weekly loss of $60 dollars. This amounts to a loss of $360 dollars over the course of my 6-week research project. I therefore request $360 as income replacement”
- Example of an unacceptable request for lost wages (essentially a request to use the funds as income): “I will be spending 15 hours per week in Imaginary Professor’s lab next semester doing my research. If I were to get a job instead of work on my research project, I would make $10 per hour. $10 per hour times 15 hours is $150 per week and equals $900 for the duration of my 6-week research project. I therefore request $900 as income replacement.”
I and two other students are applying for a Team Research Grant. Since there are three of us, are we eligible to receive up to $3000?
Nope. Funds are awarded on a per grant, not per person, basis. Therefore, the maximum award for a Team Grant (no matter how many team members) is up to $1000. This applies to FAST Grants as well, for which the maximum award is up to $500 per grant.
I started my research a few months ago and already spent some of my own money on research-related expenses. Can I request DURF funds as reimbursement for expenses already incurred?
You can certainly try. However, you should keep in mind that not every request will necessarily be honored either in full or in part. In other words, if you spend money on your research project before applying for a DURF Grant, you can’t be sure that you will receive enough (or any) funds to cover those expenses. Also, while the committee does sometimes grant funds for reimbursement, they will only do so for expenses incurred during the semester in which you’re applying for a grant. So, if you’re applying during the fall application cycle, for example, expenses incurred over the previous summer/before the start of the fall semester, would not be eligible.
- Pro tip: Apply for a DURF Grant the semester before you plan on starting your research project if at all possible. And, if you are awarded the grant then, keep in mind that (as mentioned above) you can always apply for another one if necessary and warranted.
How specific should my budget requests be?
As specific as possible. Excruciatingly specific in fact. Any vague request, e.g. “Books: $200” or “Lab Materials: $500” or “Miscellaneous: $237” will either be rejected outright or greatly reduced. Not only should you be specific about how you will use the funds but you should also provide a rationale for each piece of equipment, materials and/or supplies. Please consult our sample budgets for more information and examples.
What are the chances my proposal will be funded in full?
Budgets are evaluated on a case-by-case basis and in close conjunction with the overall proposal. Some proposals are funded in full, some only in part. Funding decisions are ultimately up to the discretion of the Selection Committee. It is therefore all the more important that you clearly explain the rationale behind and the necessity of every expense outlined in your budget. Budget requests that are deemed too vague or unnecessary will most certainly be reduced or go unfunded.
I don’t really need to buy anything to complete my research project – all my sources are online/I don’t need to travel/my lab provides all the necessary supplies. Should I still apply for a DURF Grant?
Absolutely! First of all, if you can’t think of anything to spend money on, you’re probably not trying hard enough. Most likely, there’s something you could buy to use for your research. Secondly, even if there’s really nothing you absolutely need, you should still apply. The Selection Committee doesn’t go around awarding grants to undeserving proposals just because there’s no funding request. The decision to approve a proposal with no funding request is a stamp of approval for your proposal and your project. Therefore, even if you’re awarded a DURF of $0, you can still be proud of that accomplishment and you can add that award to your CV. Furthermore, the act of applying is itself an extremely useful exercise and good practice/preparation for other grant proposals and scholarship/graduate school applications.
I received a DURF Grant - Now what do I do?
Basically, you should follow the instructions provided in your award letter. There are two ways we disburse funds depending on the project and how the funds will be used. If you work in a lab and the funds will be used in the lab (e.g., to pay participants, to house lab animals, to buy chemicals or supplies), we will transfer the funds directly to your lab. To do this, we will reach out to your PI directly to get the necessary information. You can follow up with them to make sure they have received/seen our email and are following up with us.
If you will be using the funds yourself (e.g., for income replacement, or you don't work in a lab, or for travel), you should follow the instructions in the award letter. Starting in Spring 2020, we will be able to disburse funds via direct deposit via students' e-Suite account. You might need to take some steps before your ready to receive those funds. For example, you might need to change the bank account tied to your e-Suite account for refunds. Or, if you're an international student, you will need to update your Glacier profile. Once you're done with all that, you'll need to confirm with us that you've completed those steps so that we can start the disbursement process. Again, the steps to take and the necessary information will be included in your award letter.
My research project and plans have changed somewhat since receiving a DURF. Can I still use the funds for my revised project?
Absolutely! Research is a dynamic process. A piece of new information or a new insight can take projects in a different or entirely new direction. That’s fine. As long as you’re using the funds to further the goals of your research project, you can use the funds you were originally awarded. You’ll have a chance to explain how the project changed and how you used the funds when you submit your Grant Report (more on that below).
I received a DURF Grant, and I’m an international student. Is the process the same for me as for domestic students?
Some international students will be required to register in the GLACIER system before we will be able to start the process to disburse the DURF award. Because this process can take 10 or more business days to complete, we recommend you get started as soon as possible.
I received a DURF Grant. I need to pay for things. My funds aren’t here yet. Why is it taking so long for me to get my money?
It depends. But, if you've taken all the necessary steps, it shouldn't take much more than 10 business days, maybe 2 weeks, after you receive the confirmation email from us that we have processed your award. So, if it's taking longer than that, it's possible that either you didn't complete a step as thoroughly as you intended or something odd is going on. We would ask that you wait up to 15 business days after receiving the confirmation email that we have processed your award. If your funds haven't been direct deposited by then, please let us know at cas.durf@nyu.edu.
Also, please do note that if your funds will end up being mailed to you as a check, the process will likely take a little longer. You can still follow up with us after 15 business days so that we can get an update, but they don't call it "snail mail" for nothing!
Is my DURF Grant taxable?
Yes. DURF grants are taxable, and NYU will issue tax documentation indicating that you have received this award (typically a 1099 form, but this will vary). This documentation will be sent to the mailing address you have on file in your student information. If you do not receive these documents, please contact NYU Accounts Payable for assistance with tax documents for your award: askfinancelink@nyu.edu
International students may be required to register in GLACIER before their funds are issued. Taxes will be automatically deducted from the DURF award for many international students (the amount will vary depending on your home country).
Domestic students and international students who are not required to register in GLACIER will likely not have any amount automatically deducted from their initial award - but they should consult with a tax professional to determine their tax liability for their award, and to plan accordingly.
If I receive a DURF Grant, is there anything else I have to do besides work on my research project?
Yes. There are a few things you get to do as a DURF Grant recipient:
- Individual and Team Research Grant recipients are required to present their finished research project at the annual Undergraduate Research Conference (more on this below);
- NB: You aren’t required to present until you have finished your project even if that means waiting a year (or more) after receiving your award;
- Also and in connection with the Conference, we will publish an abstract of your project in the College’s journal for undergraduate research Inquiry;
- Finally, we ask all grant recipients to complete a Grant Report detailing the state of your project as well as your research-related expenditures (receipts are not required). Information about the deadline for returning the Grant Report is provided in your DURF acceptance letter.
I received a DURF. Do I still have to apply for the Undergraduate Research Conference (URC)?
Yes. You’ll still need to fill out the online application. You can find a link to the application on this page. The deadline to complete that application is March 25. Part of the application includes submitting the abstract of your project which will appear in the College’s journal for undergraduate research Inquiry.
I received a DURF Grant. I really enjoy my research and the experience I’ve had/am having. Are there programs that would allow me to share my enthusiasm for research with my fellow CAS students…or even the world?
Yes! As a matter of fact there are!
- If you’d like to take part in classroom visits, information sessions, workshops and things of that nature where you’ll use your own experience both in research and in applying for a DURF Grant to help other CAS students find their own research opportunities, you should look into becoming a DURF Research Ambassador;
- If you’d like the chance to 1) reach any even larger audience, 2) exercise your creative instincts and 3) win a $1000 or $500 CAS scholarship, you should enter the DURF Video Contest. The video can use any audio/visual multimedia (e.g., video, animation, slide show) so long as it follows the submission guidelines. This is a great chance to use your creative (or not-so-creative) talents to create a video that tells the story of your research.