Is your student participating in undergraduate research? Do they need a part-time job as well? If so, suggest that your son or daughter apply for the President’s Undergraduate Research Award (PURA). PURA was established in 2002, by Georgia Tech’s then President Wayne Clough and the Georgia Tech Research Corporation to support students participating in research. Since its inception, more than 1,500 students have been awarded close to $2.2 million. Students are awarded either $1,500 for part-time work during one semester of the academic year or up to $1,000 to help defray expenses when invited to present their research at a professional conference. Awards can be made during all three academic terms; however, students are eligible for only one salary and one travel award per academic year.

Any undergraduate student participating in research and in good standing at Georgia Tech is eligible to apply. Students simply create a project under the direction of a faculty mentor, write a proposal for their research, and have their faculty mentor submit a letter of recommendation. Awards are very competitive, so students should work on their proposals early and make sure to include all of the expected information.

Even if your student is not planning on applying for the award immediately, you should encourage your student to attend our upcoming information session to be held Tuesday, February 16, at 11 a.m. in the Student Success Center, President’s Suites C&D. We’ll discuss eligibility, proposal writing, and the application procedure. Students may wish to come with a draft proposal to obtain brief feedback. Click here for additional information.

Deadlines for 2010 are as follows:
Summer 2010 - March 1
Fall 2010 - May 17

Contact the PURA program at pura@gatech.edu or click here for additional information and requirements.