Student Research & Engagement
Hands-on learning is an important part of the student experience in the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences. Through research, internships, volunteer work and other applied experiences, students have opportunities to put classroom learning into practice, build new skills and explore where their interests may lead.
Many CSBS students also take part in undergraduate research, working alongside faculty or pursuing projects of their own. These experiences strengthen critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration and communication skills while helping students prepare for careers, graduate study and other opportunities beyond UNI.
INSPIRE Student Research & Engagement Conference
The INSPIRE Student Research & Engagement Conference offers an opportunity for students to showcase the wide variety of experiential activities in which they participate inside and outside of the classroom.
Undergraduate and graduate students from any program across campus are welcome to participate and present projects focused on research, internship, volunteer or study abroad experiences, club/class activities and/or creative performances.
Project Categories
- Research: Poster or oral presentation on a research or scholarly project.
- Volunteer/Internship Experiences: Poster or oral presentation highlighting a discipline-related volunteer, work, internship or experiential learning opportunity, such as cooperative education, a practicum, service learning or study abroad.
- Club Activities: Student, classes, clubs or groups may present discipline-related activities that fall outside the research or experiential learning categories. Examples may include historical re-enactments, project demonstrations, informational workshops or other course- or organization-based work. Presentations may take the form of a poster, oral presentation, table display, demonstration or other interactive format.
- Creative Performances: Individuals or groups may share creative work through performances, exhibits or demonstrations, such as music, art, improv or dance.
Questions?
Visit inspire.uni.edu and/or reach out to our conference co-coordinators Helen Harton and Windee Weiss. Submission details and more information will be posted online as the spring semester draws near.
Fruehling Undergraduate Research Fellowship
The Donald & Gudrun Fruehling Undergraduate Research Fellowship supports independent, faculty-mentored research by undergraduate students with a declared major in the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences.
Recipients work closely with a CSBS faculty mentor to complete an original research or applied project and present their findings at the annual INSPIRE Student Research & Engagement Conference. Students who successfully complete the fellowship are eligible to receive a $1,500 stipend.
Applications are due Dec. 1, with projects completed by April 1.
For eligibility requirements, proposal guidelines and application details, visit the Fruehling Fellowship page.