Kansas State University

Apply now for the Kirmser Undergraduate Research Award

Submitted by Sarah McGreer Hoyt

K-State Libraries is currently accepting applications for the fifth annual Kirmser Undergraduate Research Award, which is given annually at the end of the spring semester. The award program includes three major categories:

• Individual freshman projects — $1,000 grand prize.
• Individual undergraduate projects, non-freshman — $1,000 grand prize. 
• Undergraduate group project — minimum $2,000 grand prize. 

Additional honorable mention awards will be acknowledged in each category.

"We have designed the award to recognize projects that reflect thoughtful, well-executed use of library sources in their research," said Cindy Logan, Kirmser Award committee chair. "We hope students from across the university will consider applying, because we've had past winners in fields ranging from French to biosystems engineering to psychology. No one field has a lock on this prize!"

Research projects don't necessarily have to be in the form of a traditional research paper. Posters, websites, multimedia projects and artistic output are all welcome submissions. Regardless of final research format, all applicants must complete an essay of up to 1,000 words that details their research process and the scholarly resources they used.

The application deadline is April 18.

The following criteria will be used to select the winners:

• Recipients must be undergraduate students who completed research projects in any area of study since last year's award deadline, i.e., April 22, 2017.
• Projects must have been completed for K-State course credit.
• At least 50 percent of the research work must have been completed while the applicant was enrolled at K-State as an undergraduate.
• Use of library resources to complete the project is highly encouraged.
• Projects will be scored based on creativity, organization, appropriateness of scope, quality of presentation and appropriateness of attributions.

Philip Kirmser, 1919-2012, was a longtime professor and head of the applied mechanics department at Kansas State University. He also taught in several other departments in the School of Engineering. Jeune Kirmser, 1921-2012, was an educator, social worker and activist.

For more information and complete guidelines, visit the Kirmser Undergraduate Research Award website.