Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (SOURCE STEM)

Eligibility

Students must identify a mentor prior to completing the SOURCE STEM summer application. The SOURCE office is available for assistance in identifying a faculty mentor.   CWRU undergraduates conducting research related to Science, Engineering, Technology or Mathematics (STEM) are eligible to apply for SOURCE STEM funding.  Applicants must be continuing as undergraduates in Fall 2023 and awardees must be registered for Fall classes prior to beginning the summer project. Projects must be completed at CWRU, and/or be under the supervision of a CWRU faculty member. Most all applicants are working in labs of faculty (i.e. and not solitary, independent projects). Eligible faculty mentors include our affiliates at the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, the VA Hospital, University Circle museums and other affiliated institutions. 

The SOURCE STEM program allows for reasonable and limited flexibility.  With the project mentor's approval and SOURCE notification, students may take off 1-2 weeks during the traditional 10-week summer program (May 31 - August 5) and adjust their start and/or end time accordingly. Part-time project applications are accepted.  Although the length of the program is flexible, awardees are expected to attend at least 10 educational seminars that are offered weekly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays during the 10-week program.

SOURCE STEM AND SOURCE SURES.  If you wish to be considered for SOURCE STEM and SURES funding, you must submit your application by February 15, 2023. Please be aware of SURES requirements and be able to commit to them if awarded a SURES award instead of a SOURCE STEM award.  Students awarded a SURES award instead of a STEM award will be awarded the additional $500 in housing allowance.  

SOURCE Summer Course Policy.  Students who are awarded full research scholarships ($3,700) cannot enroll in more than one summer class for a maximum of 4 hours. However, students may not enroll in physics 115, 116, 121, 122, 123 or 124 and participate in a full-time SOURCE funded summer research experience. If students wish to take a physics course or enroll for more than 4 credit hours over the summer they must apply as a part-time SOURCE STEM applicant. While students may apply for funding for different projects, students may not accept funding for 2 different projects (that is, for example, students may not be part of the ENGAGE program and receive SOURCE funding for a separate project). If you are accepted into more than one program, you must choose in which program you want to participate. Faculty mentors may (and are encouraged to) supplement SOURCE funding with supplies and/or stipend support.

Application Procedures

Please Note: Students cannot save and return to the online application.  It is necessary that students complete all application materials and have them available prior to beginning the online application.

The online application consists of the following:

1. Completion of all required application questions.  You will need to know your project mentor's department and email.  
2. A 3-6 page proposal (single- or double-spaced) to include:
   • First Page: Title Page - Your name, major, project title, mentor's name, and department only on this first page.
   • Following Pages (pages 2-5) - Objective (big picture of proposed project), Introduction (with literature citations, include project background as appropriate), project description, methodology, time commitment required for the project, connection with your educational and career goals, and budget summary.  Note:  It is acceptable for the budget summary to be one sentence (e.g. I am requesting $3,700 in stipend support or I am requesting $3000 in stipend support and $500 in supplies).
   • If your project involves human subjects that require IRB approval, you must include a section in your proposal about where you are in the IRB approval process.
   • Please note: 6-page maximum, including title and reference pages
   • Last Page - Reference Page 
   • If you also wish to be considered for SURES funding, please read carefully. 
     • Please include on your cover page after the mentor's name and department: This project is related to Energy and Sustainability.  Please also consider it for SURES. 
     • You may extend your proposal to 7 pages and include the following: Please affirm that you will be able to fully participate in the SURES program (DATES TBD) and attend all Thursday seminars (typically, noon-1pm). Describe how you have been involved in energy and sustainability organizations or extracurricular activities. You should also address how your project is connected to energy and/or sustainability.
3. Resume  - Please include student groups and leadership activities.

Application Deadline

The application deadline is February 15 at 11:59 PM.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be reviewed to confirm that the applicant meets the eligibility criteria. Application reviewers will evaluate application files and identify recipients based on the strength and educational value of the proposal, the feasibility of the project, and the overall support of the faculty sponsor.

Funding Announcement

SOURCE will inform students about funding status on or by April 16, 2023.

Online Funding Application

Use the blue button below to access the summer funding application.

Please note: faculty cannot submit their sponsor form until after students have submitted their application.  Applicants cannot access this form.  Please provide your faculty mentor with the link to this page along with your 7 digit student ID number and CWRU network ID.  If your faculty mentor does not have CWRU network access, please email source@case.edu and provide your faculty mentor's email.  SOURCE will email the form to your project mentor.

An application is considered complete when both the online application and the Faculty Mentor Sponsor Form are submitted.