SURG: Small Undergraduate Research Grants

The Small Undergraduate Research Grants (SURG) program offers grants for materials and supplies to undergraduates at Carnegie Mellon for research in any field of study. 

SURG applications are now reviewed on a modified rolling deadline.

Student Proposal Deadline: 1st of the month* (11:59 pm)

Faculty Letter of Recommendation Submission Deadline: 5th of the month* (11:59 pm)

*OURSD will review SURG applications submitted in the following months:

• September
• October
• November
• February
• March 
• April

Please note that only complete applications will be reviewed. It is the applicant’s responsibility to follow the application guidelines and ensure their application is complete, including the letter of recommendation (to be submitted by the faculty mentor). Any applications that remain incomplete after the 5th of the month will be held for review until the next listed month, assuming the missing components are completed by that time. Applications that remain incomplete for 60 days after initial submission will be removed from the system.

Generally, applicants will be notified of the funding decision by the end of the month in which they have applied. There may be delays in November and April due to committee obligations at the end of each semester. 

What can I do with SURG?

Students interested in any form of research may apply. You can work alone or in a group, in a traditional or interdisciplinary field, in a professor’s lab or in a studio—it’s up to you.

The Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholar Development adheres to a broad definition of research: “Research, scholarly, or artistic activities that lead to the production of new knowledge; to increased problem solving capabilities, including design and analysis; to original, critical or historical theory and interpretation; or to the production of art or artistic performance.”

How much SURG funding can I get?

Single-student projects qualify for grants of up to $500.  Group projects can receive up to $1000.  The grants are given as cash awards for materials and supplies related to your project only, and will not affect your financial aid. 

Am I eligible? 

You are eligible if you:

• are a CMU undergraduate student -- including first-years -- in a degree-granting program;
• will be enrolled during the academic year in which you are using the grant funds;
• have not already received a SURG award during the fiscal year (July 1 - June 30) in which you are applying;
• are applying for funding for work that has not yet been completed (i.e., these grants cannot be used retroactively for costs already incurred);
• are in good standing at the university (not on academic or disciplinary probation or suspension);
• are not on a leave of absence when applying for SURG and/or are not planning to be on leave during the academic year (please contact our office to discuss your leave);
• have a faculty member who will meet with you throughout the semester and oversee your progress;
• will conduct research on campus or at an institution in Pittsburgh.  SURG is not intended to support research at other institutions outside of Pittsburgh or for study abroad; please check ISURG for information on materials and supplies support for a research project if studying abroad.  

What are the grant requirements?

By accepting a SURG, you are agreeing to:

• participate in all required OURSD events
• write a thank you note to your funder
• complete all surveys connected to your SURG
• present your work at the Undergraduate Research Symposium (Meeting of the Minds)
• follow human subjects guidelines.  Read A Note on Human Subjects for instructions.

Failure to satisfy these requirements will result in ineligibility for future awards.

To make an appointment:
Alex Johnson
Paige Zalman
Richelle Bernazzoli

Your proposal

There are two types of Proposals. Type I is designed for students who are in the Arts and Creative Humanities and covers research-based “making” proposals.  All other students should submit Type II proposals and follow the guidelines for SURG Type II.

 Please follow this format for your proposal:   

Budget

Please consider your budget carefully.  Include a listing of all the items you propose to purchase and your best estimate of the cost of each item.  All expense items should be explained in a budget narrative included on your budget page and they should include specific vendor information - where you plan to purchase the item(s) and how much each item costs.  If you are asking for funds to purchase a piece of software, is that software available in a public cluster?  Does a faculty or staff member have the software that you could use when they aren't there?  The selection committee reserves the right to disallow certain line items and frequently approves partial budgets.  SURG funds are for supplies and materials only and not for salary/payment to the student. Please list the full estimate of cost and include the total amount, even beyond the SURG maximum. 

Also consider:

• Conference fees are not allowed (apply separately to the Presentation Award program) and poster printing is not an approved expense
• Travel costs must be directly related to the proposed research and fully justified; the committee rarely funds airline tickets or international travel
• Equipment purchases must be fully supported in the proposal and equipment must remain at Carnegie Mellon; state who will be responsible for it when you complete your project
• Book purchases are approved only if you can show that it is impossible to get what you need from a library or on loan
• Food costs disallowed

Supporting Materials

Type I: All proposals must contain supporting materials to clarify the proposal. These include prior art or creative work; links to documentation; music compositions; sketches of proposed work; preliminary research; etc. Please limit the supporting materials to five pages.

Type II: Please note that any materials are optional and not required.  Please only include here materials that are directly related to the proposed project. For example, if you are doing an interview- or survey-based study, you could include your interview protocol or sample survey questions. You may also include a larger-scale diagram that does not fit within the three pages of the proposal but is essential for readers’ understanding of your project. Please limit the optional supporting materials to three pages. If supporting materials are not crucial to your proposal, this section should be omitted.

Letter of recommendation by faculty mentor (submitted by mentor)

A SURG requires the direct and regular supervision of a Carnegie Mellon faculty member/researcher. Once you have submitted your application, your advisor will receive an email prompt to upload a letter of recommendation.  If you have questions about a faculty member, please contact our office.