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Managed by the Undergraduate Research Committee

Proposal Overview

The purpose of this program is to provide support to recent graduates in pursuit of academically valuable and pertinent opportunities that arise. These opportunities must be based off of the applicant's thesis.

Examples of relevant activities include:

• Presenting your research at a conference.
• Attendance at uniquely significant art or theatre exhibition
• Attendance at an intensive seminar, workshop, or other professional gathering.
• Acquisition of an academic resource, which will remain property of Reed.

Items not eligible for an Opportunity grant:

• Credit bearing tuition
• Summer internships
• Thesis research

Eligibility

Recent graduates are eligible to apply for this grant once for an opportunity that takes place within the year after graduation. Recent graduates are no longer eligible once a year has passed since graduation. Applicants in graduate school are eligible. These opportunities must be based off of work the applicant undertook while at Reed.

Requirements

Applicants will submit all relevant material through the SMapply application portal. A completed application will consist of:

• Budget form
  • The budget form is now built into the application portal.
  • Must demonstrate that no other funding is available.
  • Poster reimbursement has been capped at $100.
  • Applicants can request up to $70 dollars a night to cover food and ground transport during travel as a part of their overall budget.
• Resume - Please include a 1-2 page (maximum) resume.
  
  • The URC asks for resumes to help learn more about each applicant, and to encourage students to develop their application materials. 

• Abstract (if applicable)

• One-page, single-spaced proposal that reflects the general practices of the discipline.
  • If applying to present work at a conference, please address these items:
    
    • What is your role in the project? List all co-authors.
    • What opportunities will you seek out at the conference?
  • If applying to attend an event without presenting research, please address these items:
    • What opportunities will you seek out at the proposed activity?
    • What specific workshops or events you will participate in and what do you expect to learn?
    • What meetings have you set up at the proposed event and what do you expect to get out of those meetings?
    • How would attending the event inform your future plans?
• Endorsement from a Reed faculty sponsor that addresses the specificity of the project.
  •  The student will need to submit a request for a faculty endorsement through the SMapply application portal with adequet advance of the deadline. The faculty member will have the option to either fill out a form or upload a letter.
  • If a faculty member is sponsoring more than one student, they are welcome to write one recommendation letter for the group, addressing the individual merits of each student. Please make sure you contact your letter writer with adequate advance of the deadline.

Application Procedure

The student will submit their materials through the SMapply application portal, which will open at least three weeks before the application deadline. Proposals will not be reviewed until after the deadline has passed.After the Undergraduate Research Committee has made award decisions, applicants will be notified by email.

Please note: if your opportunity occurs before the grant deadline you are applying to, if funded, the grant can be used to retroactively reimburse your expenses. There is no guarantee an applicant will receive a grant. Students will need to provide itemized reciepts for all expenses they wish to cover with grant funds, so if you are intending to apply for funds retroactively, please make sure to save your reciepts.

Award amount

$1,700 is the maximum award amount. Awardees must provide itemized receipts in order to be reimbursed for expenses.

Note: Awardees must provide itemized receipts in order to be reimbursed for expenses. Posters and papers presented should acknowledge the support of the "Reed Â鶹ÊÓƵÏÂÔØ Professional Research Opportunity Grant," unless your award letter lists a different funding source

There are two deadlines for consideration

• November 5, 2025 by 12:00 p.m.
• May 13, 2025 by 12:00 p.m.

Applications received after a specified deadline will not be considered until the next deadline.

Available Guidance

Review the best practices for applying to any URC grant. For questions about the application process, applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Meg Andrews (urc@reed.edu). Members of the Undergraduate Research Committee offer office hours to answer proposal development questions. The CLBR advising team can also help you with your application and offers drop-in advising as well as 1:1 appointments. Please see reed.edu/beyond-reed for drop-in hours and for how to make an appointment. We encourage you to take advantage of this.

Inclusivity

The Undergraduate Research Committee seeks to offer students opportunities to support their studies and interests in the form of grants and awards. The URC views the opportunity to apply for grants and awards as a pedagogical one in which students have the chance to learn about how the application process works. The URC grants and awards are open to all students regardless of discipline. The URC is aware of systemic bias in the application process, and seeks in particular to support students from historically underrepresented communities in academia, and we take into consideration bias, oppression, and opportunity as we evaluate applications.

Travel

Reed Â鶹ÊÓƵÏÂÔØ prohibits Â鶹ÊÓƵÏÂÔØ-funded international travel to countries that are classified with a .