Human Performance Fund Undergraduate Research Scholarship

Amount: $2,500

The Human Performance Fund Undergraduate Research Scholarship is available in fall and winter terms with two awards available for each academic year. Note that the grant will not be offered once the two awards for the year have been given out. An additional award is available for Status Indian/First Nations, Non-Status Indian/First Nations, Métis or Inuit students in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation.

 

Eligibility

This award is for undergraduate students in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation. It supports students wishing to do a research project focusing on human performance. The award is provided for one term (i.e., fall, winter, or spring/summer). Eligible applicants must:

  • be full-time students in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation
  • have a minimum GPA of 3.0
  • have completed at least 24 credits prior to commencing the award
  • have completed KIN 209 (Research Methods in Kinesiology) or RLS 210 (Recreation and Leisure Scholarship)
  • propose a research project focusing on human performance, which may include performance in different types of contexts (e.g., sports, extreme environments, performing arts, dance).

Students may apply for this award for a research project being undertaken as part of a practicum or part of a course, for a project that is part of a larger research program (e.g., supervisor's research program) or for a stand-alone project.

Conditions of Funding
Students who receive this award must agree to the following:

  • Spend 8-10 hours per week working on the research project.
  • The first instalment of the award ($1,250) will be paid upon submission and approval of an interim report (approximately six weeks after the project commences). The second and final instalment ($1,250) will be paid upon submission and approval of a final report, which must be provided within 10 days of completion of the project. The reports must be approved by the supervisor, then sent to the Associate Dean (Research) for final approval.
  • Present findings at the Research Revealed! undergraduate conference (usually held in March or April).
  • Work with the faculty marketing and communications team to promote their research activities.
  • Acknowledge financial support from the Human Performance Fund in all publications and presentations arising from the research project. Specifically, award winners must state: "This project was supported by the Human Performance Fund grant from the President's Office of the University of Alberta."

Application Process

  1. Identify a supervisor and work with the supervisor to develop a research proposal.
  2. Write a research proposal. Have the supervisor approve the proposal.
  3. Submit application to Pirkko Markula, Associate Dean (Research), via e-mail (ksradr@ualberta.ca) by Aug. 1 at 4 p.m. (fall term application deadline) or Dec. 1 at 4 p.m. (winter term application deadline) or April 1 at 4 p.m. (spring/summer deadline) or at 4 p.m. on the following business day if the deadline falls on a weekend or public holiday.

The application form for the Human Performance Fund Undergraduate Research Scholarship is available here.

 

Adjudication Criteria

  • Cumulative GPA. Particular attention will be given to grades achieved in research methods and other courses directly relevant to the proposed research (60 per cent weighting).
  • Research proposal. The review committee will consider if the proposal is clearly supported by the supervisor, is novel and is viable in the time frame (30 per cent weighting). Note that the student's project may be part of a larger project, but the student's portion of the larger project must be viable within the time frame of one academic term.
  • Other awards or scholarly activities. The committee will consider other awards the student has achieved along with other evidence of scholarly engagement, such as previous work on research projects, presentations and scholarly activities in the wider community (10 per cent weighting).