Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (SOURCE STEM)

Eligibility

Students must identify a CWRU faculty (or affiliated) mentor prior to completing the SOURCE STEM summer application. The Undergraduate Research 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 2025 and awardees must be registered for Fall classes prior to beginning the summer project. Remote/virtual proposals will be considered. 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 28 - August 2) and adjust their start and/or end time accordingly to engage in a full 10 week research program. Part-time project applications are accepted.  Although the length of the program is flexible, awardees are expected to attend at least 8 educational seminars that are offered weekly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays during the 10-week program.  Awardees will receive $4000 for full-time engagement.  Recipients may use the research award as they want, including for summer housing and food.

Undergraduate Research Office Summer Course Policy and More.  Students who are awarded full research awards ($4,000) 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. Please review the complete Summer Course Policy.  

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 (double- or single-spaced) that is written in your own writing. Please do not copy and paste from your mentor's proposals.  Please include the following in your proposal:
   • First Page: Title Page - Your name, major, project title, 3 research descriptive key words, mentor's name, and department.
   • Pages 2-5 - (a) Project background or overview, (b) significance/contribution of the research to the broader field, (c) objective or research question, (d) comprehensive methodology, (e) time commitment required for the project, (f) what you hope to learn from this experiences and its connection with your educational and career goals, and (g) budget summary.  Note:  It is acceptable for the budget summary to be one sentence (e.g. I am requesting $4,000 in stipend support or I am requesting $3500 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.
   • If applicable, please describe how your project is connected to energy and/or sustainability.
   • Last Page - Reference Page (if applicable)
   • Please note: 6-page maximum, including title page and references.  There are strong proposals that are 4 pages and weak proposals that are 6 pages.
3. Resume  - Please include student groups and leadership activities.

Please save your proposal and resume as .pdf.

Application Deadline

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

Please note: The URO receives many more outstanding applications than we can support, so we make it a practice to not accept late applications. We appreciate your understanding.

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 13, 2025.

Applicants cannot access this form.  Undergraduate researchers: please provide your faculty mentor with the link to this page along with your 7 digit student ID number.  Please note summer 2025 update: faculty mentors can submit their sponsor form before their mentees submit their applications, however, if they do, mentors will need to manually enter the student's SIS identification information and your first and last name.  There are instructions on the form.  Mentors do not have to be a CWRU employee CAN access the form.

An application is considered complete when both the online application and the Faculty Mentor Sponsor Form are submitted.  Mentors who have difficulty accessing the form may email ugresearch@case.edu