All majors eligible!

• Applications for Summer 2024 funding are due by Sunday, February 18 at 11:59 p.m.
• Decisions will be announced by March 25.
• Mandatory orientation for Summer 2024 funding recipients will be held on Tuesday, May 28 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
• Funding period: May 28 - August 16, 2024. 
• Funding limit: $6,000.

• LSU Discover Project Grant recipients with remaining funding that they wish to use beyond their original funding period can submit a No-Cost Extension Request Form.  
• Requirements to request at No-Cost Extension.  All are due one week before the end of the original funding period.
  • Complete the No-Cost Extension Request Form.
  • Ask your original faculty mentor to email a note of support for your submission request to lsudiscover@lsu.edu 

Links to online application forms

If you are having issues with any of these online forms, please submit all of your application documents and information to lsudiscover@lsu.edu  

• View research grant application – for individuals
• View research grant application – for groups

Application Components 

*To be loaded to online application form (all documents loaded into the application should have your name on at least the first page of each document)

Note: Your entire application will be scored by the selection committee using the Project Grant application scoring rubric

A word about the personal statement: There are no specific instructions for the personal statement so you are free to concentrate on any aspect of your life that you feel is relevant. This is your opportunity to share anything about yourself with the judges that might convince them that you are an excellent candidate for the funding. For example, you could discuss how this project contributes to your future goals (graduate school or workforce).  You may want to explain how your previous educational and research experiences have prepared you for this project.  Or you may want to explain any financial hardships that could be alleviated by the grant.  You could even discuss all of these things. There’s no “right way” to write the personal essay for this grant.  The personal statement is not scored but gives the judges a better sense of who you are as a student researcher beyond your project proposal and transcript.

You must attach a project proposal to your online application.  Your entire proposal must be reviewed and approved by your faculty mentor before submitting your application.

Proposal Style:

Times New Roman, 12-point font, 1-inch margins, full name on right corner header of each page, and double-spaced.  Can be uploaded as a Word Doc or PDF.

Required Elements of the Project Proposal:

1. Cover Page
   • Title
   • Student full name
   • Student major
   • Semester in which research will be conducted
   • Name, title, and department of faculty mentor(s)
2. Project Narrative (500 - 1500 word count)
   • Provide a description of the project using the following outline.  Remember to write your proposal so that even a non-specialist can understand the purpose of your research.
   • Introduction – This section should provide the justification for the proposed project.  You should explain how your research contributes to the broader context of your discipline.
   • Goals, Objectives, Hypothesis or Study Question – This section should discuss what you plan to accomplish.
   • Methods – Describe how you plan to collect and analyze your data.
   • Budget Justification and Resources – In this section, you must explain your budget requests (hourly wages, supplies, etc.).  Also, you should explain what, if any, supplies, software, equipment, lab space, or other resources will be provided by other funding sources (such as your mentor or with other funding).  
   • Broader Impacts – Briefly discuss
     • The impact or benefit of your project on your discipline
     • The impact or benefit of your project on society
3. Literature Cited
   • You must include citations to support your project narrative.  Use whichever citation style is expected in your discipline.
4. Research Oversight and IRB (for Research with Human Subjects)

   •  All projects which involve human subjects must be submitted to the LSU Institutional Review Board (IRB) for approval or exemption.  This includes projects in which humans will be experimented on, interviewed, surveyed, etc. In no case may a project with human subjects begin before written exemption or written IRB approval is received. Faculty mentors will need to submit the forms on behalf of their student mentee(s).

     Click here to visit the Institutional Review Board website to learn more about research involving human subjects.

   • When submitting your application for the LSU Discover Project Grant, include your approval or exemption letter from IRB.  If you are still awaiting a decision from IRB, you may include a copy of the email which confirms that the forms have been submitted.
5. Budget
   • Provide a budget summary spreadsheet using the appropriate budget template.
     • Academic Year (Fall & Spring) Budget Template (must use linked template)
     • Summer Budget Template (must use linked template)

Note: Your proposal will be scored using this scoring rubric: Project Grant Scoring Rubric

Recommendation: Your proposal will also be scored on the quality of the writing so we recommend that you make an appointment with CxC to review your proposal before submitting.  Schedule an appointment with CxC.

• Application is reviewed by an LSU Discover staff member for completeness.
• Completed applications are sent to LSU faculty judges for review. Each proposal is reviewed by 2-3 faculty members, at least one with expertise in the student’s discipline and one from our Faculty Advisory Board. Judges will remain anonymous.
• Each faculty judge uses the Research Grant application scoring rubric to evaluate the student application.
• Around 4-6 weeks after the application deadline, all student applicants will be notified.
• Students whose applications have been accepted must reply to our emails in a timely fashion.

Faculty Mentor Responsibilities:

• For the application:
  • Faculty mentor recommendation form – Mentors should complete this form before the application due date
• For faculty with a funded student
  • Mentor must complete Research Skills Assessment Form before the student’s first day of work on the project
  • Mentor must attend the orientation or send a proxy
  • Mentor must read and sign the LSU Discover Undergraduate Research Grant FACULTY Agreement Form before the student’s first day of work
  • Mentor must sign and submit bi-weekly time sheets to the the office coordinator
  • Bi-weekly time sheets must be submitted by the student’s research supervisor every other week by Friday at midnight.  Students and their supervisors will get warnings for the first two late submissions; the 3rd late time sheet submission will result in the grant being revoked.