University Libraries Undergraduate Research Award

The University of Oklahoma Libraries Undergraduate Research Award recognizes excellence in the research accomplishments of OU undergraduate students who demonstrate creativity and innovation in their use of OU Libraries collections and services.

The final product of a research project may or may not be a written paper. The OU Libraries seek to acknowledge research of all kinds and in a variety of formats. For example, successful projects may:

  • incorporate primary sources from the Libraries’ special collections;
  • take the form of digital scholarship that integrate digital techniques and tools;
  • result in the visualization of spatial or numeric data;
  • reflect creative scholarship such as poetry, music, film, and other forms of individual expression grounded in research.

Up to three awards may be given. One each in the amounts of $1,500, $1,000, and $750.

The OU Libraries will accept submissions for individual as well as collaborative research projects. Collaborative research projects may include no more than five group members. Any award monies received will be shared equally between all group members.

ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible, applicants must:

  • Be currently enrolled as a University of Oklahoma undergraduate student at any class level and in any discipline.
  • Agree to submit the research project and application to OU Libraries’ institutional repository for undergraduate research, Commons@SHAREOK. Applicants will retain copyright but will be required to grant a license to OU Libraries.

EVALUATION CRITERIA
OU Libraries personnel use the University Libraries Research Award Rubric to evaluate the applications based on the following:

  • In-depth and effective use of the OU Libraries collections and services;
  • Evidence of personal learning and an understanding of the research process;
  • Overall quality of the application materials, including content, completeness, and research and writing skills.

Award
Varies
Deadline
02/01/2025
Supplemental Questions
  1. The University Libraries Undergraduate Research Award is available to any OU undergraduate student in any discipline. More information about this award can be found in the application description.

    Please provide a separate detailed document that describes your research process, including research strategies as well as how OU Libraries resources, collections, and services were used to complete the research project.

    You need to emphasizes the importance of understanding and reflecting upon the process of developing a topic and research strategy in order to locate, evaluate and use the best information possible.

    The research process essay is your opportunity to provide the award committee with insight into how the libraries and its resources enriched and enhanced your work.

    Please note that due to the nature of this award, the essay portion of the application is weighted as much as the project itself, and therefore we encourage you to provide us with a thoughtful reflection of your OU Libraries research experience. See help text for permitted file type.
  2. If this research project was a collaborative effort, please provide the first and last name(s) as well as the OUNetID (4+4) of all other OU students in your research collaboration.
  3. To be considered for this award you must submit a final version of the research project, including a bibliography of sources consulted. See help text for permitted file type.
  4. The OU Libraries seek to acknowledge research of all kinds and in a variety of formats. If your research project is not one that can be uploaded as a file, but is housed on a website, please provide your project’s URL here: