The SMART Program is UCF’s premiere undergraduate research program that is designed to help students identify and work with faculty mentors in a research area of shared interest.  SMART students assist faculty on their ongoing research projects in all academic disciplines; work may entail laboratory activities, library research, the collection and compilation of survey data and/or artistic endeavors.  Some students, however, develop their own independent research projects under the supervision of their faculty mentor within the SMART Program.

Student-Mentor Teams also have the opportunity to apply for SMART Grants.  The Burnett Honors College will award up to four SMART Grants per semester.  UCF’s Office of Research and Commercialization in concert with The Burnett Honors College selects the recipients of these awards.  During the fall and spring semesters, SMART Grants consisting of a $1,000 award for the student and a $1,000 award for the faculty mentor are distributed on a competitive basis.  For the summer semester, SMART Grants consisting of a $2,000 award for the student and a $1,000 award for the mentor are distributed on a competitive basic.

Eligibility requirements

• At least one completed  semester at UCF and at least two semesters remaining prior to graduation at the time of application
• An overall UCF GPA of 3.200
• Completed SMART Student Information Form
• Be sponsored by a UCF Professor

Program Requirements

If a student is awarded a grant, the following requirements must be fulfilled in the semester for which the grant is awarded:

1.Enrollment in a three (3) credit hour Directed Independent Study (xxx 4912).  The number of hours that the student will commit to the research project will be determined by the faculty mentor.

2. Submission of a written report, discussing the substance of the research project, methodology employed, activities undertaken, and conclusions drawn. This report will be submitted to the Office of Research and Civic Engagement in The Burnett Honors College (BHC 102). This report should also be submitted to the UCF Undergraduate Research Journal, http://ejournal.ucf.edu for potential publication.

3. Submission of an introspective written paper discussing the importance of research and its role in the intellectual growth of the student. This report will be submitted to the Office of Research and Civic Engagement in The Burnett Honors College.

4. Participation in UCF's annual Showcase of Undergraduate Research Excellence (SURE), that is sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Studies  every spring. SURE is a forum for UCF undergraduates to present their research and/or creative projects to the entire UCF and broader Central Florida community. SMART students will prepare a poster presentation of their research project and be available during their assigned SURE session to answer questions about and discuss their research project with interested attendees. More information about SURE and on how to prepare a research poster presentation is available from the Director of Research and Civic Engagement in The Burnett Honors College.

Student Resources
How to find a SMART Faculty Mentor
Directory of Research Opportunities
SMART Student Information Form (PDF)
Student Accomplishments
Additional Research Opportunities

Faculty Resources
Faculty Undergraduate Research Opportunities and Research Interests Form (PDF)
Faculty Undergraduate Research Opportunities and Research Interests Form (MS Word)

SMART Grants
Spring 2009 Grant will be available on August 25, 2008.
SMART Grant Recipients