Faculty Mentor Information and Form

Letters of recommendation from faculty mentors should include information on previous interactions you have had with the student and the your perception of the academic/scientific potential of the student. Additionally, mentors should provide information on what the student will actually do (i.e., how they will spend their internship time and how they will contribute to the project.)

Freshmen are eligible to apply (see eligibility section).

There is no limit to the number of students that may apply to work with one faculty member. However, the Committee expects that the faculty member will make appropriate arrangements for mentoring the students. It is also expected that the faculty mentor will provide the committee with recommendation letters that clearly compare the students applying to work under his/her mentoring. As final award decisions are made, the Committee members value this input from the mentor.

Faculty mentors should address the educational climate of the research setting (laboratory) in their recommendation letter. Please address who will supervise and interact with the undergraduate intern and the range of educational opportunities provided in the laboratory. Faculty mentors are expected to meet regularly (at least weekly) with the undergraduate intern.

Students MAY apply for continued funding, even if they have already received a year of funding from LS UROP or other sources (McNair, A&S, etc.) However, faculty are expected to decribe the anticipated educational benefit the STUDENT would receive with additional funding. Please provide a description in your recommendation letter rationalizing the benefit of continued funding.

Faculty are encouraged to seek other sources of funding for student interns, especially students who have already received LS UROP funding. The Committee appreciates a description of the efforts faculty mentors have made to secure other sources of funding (ie, NSF REU supplements to faculty grants) for students in their research team. Students that do receive other sources of funding ARE welcome to participate in all LS UROP activities.

The Committee looks favorably on project proposals that are developed and written by the student; however, the initial idea for the project need not be student-generated. The project idea may come from the faculty mentor. The Committee recognizes that student applicants may have been working with the faculty mentor for a very long time (over a year) or for a very short time (less than a month). In evaluating the application and project proposal, it is helpful for the committee to know how long the student has been working with you, to what extent the applicant was involved in proposal development, and the independence the student demonstrated in organizing and writing their project proposal. Please use one of these ratings in your letter:

• Insignificant (e.g., There was no time! or student was too young.)
  
  
• Limited (e.g., Applicant and mentor shared a few brief discussions about the project, student did not have much input into project and/or proposal.)
  
  
• Moderate (e.g., Applicant read research literature or grant and discussed these with the mentor. Prepared an average rough draft.)
  
  
• Considerable (e.g., Applicant prepared a strong rough draft or outline of project prior to mentor's intervention.)
  
  
• Extensive (e.g., Applicant actively participated in the development of the project and/or wrote proposal independently.)

Please include this form (.PDF) with your letter of recommendation sent directly to the LS UROP Office. The student's application will not be considered complete until this form and your letter of recommendation are received. Student applications and letters of recommendation are due Thursday, February 14, 2008. Late letters will not be accepted after February 16th. If you are sending your letter via e-mail to the LS UROP Office, you may include this information at the top of your e-mail. (You do NOT need to send a hard copy of your letter, if you send one by E-mail!) Please send this form and your letter to: Linda Blockus, LS UROP, 150 Bond Life Sciences Center (BlockusL@missouri.edu). The fax number is 573-884-9395.