A Directory of Undergraduate Research Opportunities and Faculty Research Interest at UCSB
The University of California, Santa Barbara is a major research institution with faculty conducting research on many diverse topics. One way that undergraduates may be involved in these projects is by enrolling in a special research assistance course (99RA or 199RA). This directory attempts to provide students with information about current research projects, the faculty and senior researchers conducting them, and the academic or other preparation that is necessary to participate in the projects.
Profiles of faculty who are willing to sponsor students in 99RA/199RA (or related research courses) are arranged in this directory by departments. This arrangement will help you locate faculty members and senior researchers whose primary interests are in a given area of study. Since the research interests of faculty often intersect disciplinary boundaries, we have included interdisciplinary projects at the end of each departmental listing. You may wish to look under several departments and programs to identify all faculty members who are conducting research that interests you. Most faculty prefer personal contact. It is advisable to contact the departmental office to inquire about a professor's office hours.
FRAP Faculty
Form (Fillable PDF Form)
(Directions for submitting
online FRAP faculty form)
How to Enroll in a Special Research Assistance Course
(99RA or 199RA)
The 99RA/199RA courses are offered for variable units, usually 1-4. Once the
undergraduate and the faculty member have decided on a project and the amount
of time the student will be spending on the project, the student and faculty
member submit an Independent Studies Research "contract" for departmental
approval. Most academic majors place limitations on the number of independent
studies units that can be counted toward satisfaction of major requirements.
Contact the undergraduate advisor in your department for detailed information
about how independent studies research courses will fit into your degree plan.
*In those departments that do not offer the special Research Assistance course (99RA/199RA), you will need to enroll in a regular independent studies (99/199) or other research-related course.
For more information about the FRAP Directory please contact the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Office in the College of Letters and Science by e-mail at urca@Ltsc.ucsb.edu or by telephone at 893-2319. Please contact the departmental undergraduate advisor for information pertaining to enrollment and course credit involving the projects and faculty listed in this directory.
Faculty members participating in the Faculty Research Assistance Program (FRAP) are eligible to apply for small grants to help defray research expenses involving College of Letters and Science undergraduates who have enrolled in the special research assistance course (99RA/199RA), regular independent study, or other research-related course. Because of finite resources, FRAP grants limitations are as follows:
1. Awards are made once each academic quarter and are quarter
specific. The deadlines for submitting funding requests this year are listed
below.
2. The maximum award per quarter is $300 and requires a minimum enrollment
of one (1) student in a 99/199 course. The maximum amount to be awarded in
any one academic year is $900, requiring a minimum of three (3) different
undergraduate assistants, a different student each quarter. Students
pursuing degrees in the College of Creative Studies and Engineering will not
count towards the funding criteria.
3. The funds awarded are to be used for project expenses, excluding travel
and salary. The undergraduate/s should be enrolled in the department's 99RA/199RA
or similar independent study course, and should not be paid wages from this
award.
4. These are temporary funds that must be used up by the end of the fiscal year (June 30) in which they are awarded. Unused funds must be returned.
Fund request deadlines for the 2007-08 academic year are:
October 19, 2007 for the fall quarter
January 25, 2008 for the winter quarter, *
April 18, 2008 for the spring quarter,
*
* awards suspended for the remainder of the 2007-08 academic year due to lack of funding
Application Instructions (Faculty Only)
A. Indicate the amount requested and provide a brief description on how the funds will be expended, what will be purchased (detailed itemization is not necessary). NOTE: Funds may NOT be used for salary, international travel, or the purchase of furniture or computer hardware.
B. Provide the name(s) and perm number(s) of the undergraduate assistant(s).
C. Submit this information to the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities
(URCA) Office in one of the following ways:
By e-mail to: urca@LTSC.ucsb.edu
By fax to: 893-7780
