How do I get started?

Decide on your research area of interest.  What grabs your attention?  What are you curious about?  What do you enjoy studying?  What questions need to be answered?  Choose a  research topic in which you are genuinely interested and think you will enjoy investigating.  Don't try to solve all the problems of the world, but choose something that is doable in one or two semesters of part-time research.

Find a faculty mentor. If you know a faculty member with experience in your field of interest, you may contact the faculty member directly. If you don't have a faculty member in mind, browse the departmental contact list for suggestions or contact Dr. Jim Murowchick, SEARCH Director. Dr. Murowchick will listen to your research ideas and help you find a faculty mentor who has expertise in your area of interest.

Complete a SEARCH application. Applications are available online or you can request one from SEARCH@umkc.edu.  Within the application is the opportunity to request research support in the form of a SEARCH grant.  Please submit  an electronic version of the application and proposal (MS Word .doc or .docx file) to SEARCH@umkc.edu and a signed paper copy to Dr. Murowchick (c/o Dept. of Geosciences, 420 Flarsheim Hall).  Be sure to follow the directions!

Application deadlines: 
Fall Semester 2009- 5:00 p.m. Friday, September 25.  Proposals will be accepted after September 1, 2009

 

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