Award for Undergraduate Research
Undergraduates, now is your chance to turn your research project into a cash prize.
The University of Maryland Libraries, the Office for Undergraduate Research (OUR), and Maryland's College of Information are partnering to showcase and reward undergraduate research projects.
Up to four awards of $1,000 each will be awarded to undergraduates who impress us with their research. The awards, provided by the University of Maryland Libraries, aim to promote the value and use of library services and information resources.
Submissions will be accepted beginning December 11, 2024. Submissions will close at noon on March 13, 2025.
Essays and projects of winning students will be included in the Digital Repository at the University of Maryland (DRUM).
For questions and more information about the Library Award for Undergraduate Research, contact Patti Cosard, Indigenous Studies & Special Collections Librarian, at pcossard@umd.edu.
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Award
As part of our ongoing commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA), the University of Maryland Libraries seeks to recognize and empower students to explore diversity issues, educate themselves, and inspire others to advance social justice by embracing the IDEA values through research.
The Libraries are committed to creating and maintaining diverse and inclusive learning and research environment that nurtures the growth and development of our students.
We encourage individual submissions of research papers related to diversity issues including but not limited to race/ethnicity, gender identity, religious heritage, socio-economic status, first-generation university students, veterans, disability/ableism, ageism, national origin/immigration status, indigenous heritage, sexual orientation, etc. One of these four awards will be awarded to the individual IDEA winner.
Criteria and Guidelines
To be eligible for the awards, individual applicants must:
- Be a currently enrolled University of Maryland College Park undergraduate at any class level, and in any discipline (e.g. agriculture, arts, humanities, information science, public policy, social sciences, sciences, etc.).
- Have completed their research paper/project for a credit course or under the direction of a professor or a librarian at the University of Maryland College Park.
- Agree to submit their research paper/project to the Digital Repository at the University of Maryland (DRUM). Research papers are not eligible for consideration if they are pending review by the publisher, accepted for publication, or already published in print or digital form.
- Have their research papers/projects and the essay written in English. For papers written in a foreign language, follow the guidelines in FAQ section, item #7.
- Agree to have the application used as data in a study on trends of undergraduate information seeking and use.
To be eligible for an IDEA Award for Undergraduate Research, as well as the criteria above, the research paper should focus on research that promotes our understanding of diversity issues including but not limited to race/ethnicity, gender identity, religious heritage, socio-economic status, first-generation university students, veterans, disability/ableism, ageism, national origin/immigration status, indigenous heritage, sexual orientation, etc.
Papers/projects will be judged based on the following criteria:
- Sophistication, originality, or unusual depth or breadth in final research product.
- Exceptional excellence in the use of information and library resources, including, but not limited to, printed and electronic resources, subscription databases, primary sources, materials in all media, and guidance from a professor and a librarian, as demonstrated in:
- A bibliography or other appropriate listing of sources consulted.
- A reflective essay.
An essay consisting of 750-1,000 words is required that describes your experience in using the information resources and library services. Explain your research strategy and how you used and evaluated the resources found. The following questions should be addressed in your essay. If one or more of the questions are not applicable, please explain why.
- How did you begin your research? Explain how you came up with your research query/topic.
- How did you discover your sources? Which library or other information sources did you use? Explain particular techniques or strategies that you used while searching and discovering information.
- Did you seek assistance from a librarian, a professor, or someone else? If so, how this interaction impacted your research process? Was there anyone in particular who gave you the inspiration to turn your research in a different direction?
- How did you select and evaluate the sources you found? Explain which criteria you used for selecting sources.
- What did you learn during the research process that will help further your academic or professional career?
Finally, reflecting back on your research experience, what would you change? How could the library be a better place for your research needs? Be creative and bold in your imagination!
Applications must include all of the following:
- Application form. Applications are collected through a form. To submit your application, you will need the following information in addition to general information about yourself and your submission:
Summary of the paper/project.
- Course number and course name for which the paper/project was completed.
- Year and semester the paper/project course was completed.
- Citation style used for references (e.g. MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.).
- Name of instructor or librarian supporting this application as well as their email, phone number, and the college/school and department to which they belong. - Letter of support from the University of Maryland – College Park sponsoring professor or librarian. On official letterhead the supporter will:
- Address the Review Committee
- Date the Letter
- Introduction: who the supporter is and how they know the applicant
- Description of applicant's library research strategy as known/observed by supporter
- Evaluation of the significance of research discussed in the applicant's paper
- Worthiness of the applicant's work for the award
- Reflective essay (750-1,000 words) describing applicant’s research strategies and use of library tools and information resources.
- Bibliography (please do not remove the references list from your original research paper/project)
- A final version of the research paper/project. Projects in all media and formats are encouraged. All materials will not be returned to the applicant and will become property of the University of Maryland Libraries collections. The applicant will retain ownership of the intellectual content. However, for some projects in alternative media, the judging panel may agree to return the project to the applicant.
- Written projects: The length of the paper may vary depending on the assignment.
- Digital projects: If web-based, include a URL of the digital project in your Application form (next to the Title of the research/project) along with the other application components. If the project is in a format that cannot be submitted electronically, such as an architectural model, CD or DVD, deliver it by the due date in person to Patti Cossard.
All necessary documents must be in .pdf format. Save your files using your last name and the name of the document:
- Lastname_Application.pdf
- Lastname_LetterOfSupport.pdf
- Lastname_Essay.pdf
- Lastname_ResearchPaper.pdf
- Lastname_Bibliography.pdf
You will receive a confirmation e-mail after you complete your application process. To be considered for the award, applications must be received by noon on March 13, 2025. Late applications will not be considered.
FAQ
Applications must be submitted online via this Application web site. Submissions may be accepted after the deadline. See the Application guidelines section of the left sidebar for more information.
If, due to format, your project cannot be submitted electronically, contact Patti Cossard, pcossard@umd.edu, to make alternate arrangements.
No, we are no longer accepting group projects.
No. Instead of submitting several research papers, choose the best one and describe your research experience in your essay.
Yes. All submissions must include a properly formatted bibliography in a recognized style (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.). A bibliography is mandatory regardless of whether or not your professor originally required it. Check out the UMD Libraries' Citation Tools for help creating your bibliography.
Yes. Students can still apply for the library award.
If the research paper is written in a foreign language, translate it in English and place the following note at the beginning of your document in italics:
This is a translated English version of the original paper written in [state the language here]. The original text in [foreign language] follows on p. [….] in this document.
When you submit items, you agree to the DRUM license and grant the University of Maryland a non-exclusive right to retain, preserve, and provide access to your material. The term "non-exclusive" means that you retain all copyright to your work. You can still enter into agreements with other organizations (such as publishers) granting them rights to use your material.
If you have further questions, please email drum-help@umd.edu.
The jury consists of three to four subject librarians, a faculty member of the Libraries' IDEA committee, and a faculty member from the iSchool, College of Information Studies.
Not necessarily. The prize will only be given when the work submitted is of high enough quality to warrant it. We anticipate giving the prize every year, therefore, but do not guarantee it.
This prize is aimed at promoting the use of library research among undergraduates in order to prepare them for lifelong learning. The goal is to promote and reward research strategies at an earlier stage of learning than graduate level work.
Yes, examples of past award winning papers can be found in DRUM Collection: Library Award for Undergraduate Research.
The award may affect your financial aid. Please consult your financial aid advisor or the Office of Student Financial Aid.
Past Award Recipients
Emily Eason, Senior student. Major: Government and Politics (Concentrating in International Relations)
Faculty Librarian: Jordan Sly, University Libraries, Teaching and Learning Services
Library Award Essay and Project
Research Paper: Olde Towne, New Townspeople: An Anthropological Analysis of the LifeStages of 1.5 Generation Latino Immigrants in Gaithersburg, MD
Winner of the 2022 Library IDEA Award for Undergraduate Research
Linette Kingston, Senior student. Major: Health and Science Analytics
Faculty professor: Dr. Andrea Lopez, College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Anthropology
Library Award Essay and Project
Research Paper: Surveillance in the United States: From the War on Drugs to the War on Terrorism
Lauren Krauskopf, Senior student. Major: History
Faculty professor: Dr. Katarina Keane, College of Arts and Humanities, History
Librarian: Judy Markowitz, University Libraries, Teaching and Learning Services
Library Award Essay and Project
Research Paper: Discomfort and Unpleasantness: The Vietnam Antiwar Movement at the Supreme Court
Karoline Trovato, Senior student. Major: Psychology
Faculty professor: Dr. Karen O'Brien, College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Psychology
Library Award Essay and Project
Research Paper: Educate and Empower: An Online Intervention to Improve College Women’s
Knowledge and Confidence When Communicating in a Romantic Relationship
Jesse Anderson, Junior student. Major: Information Science (Concentrating in Data Science)
Faculty Librarian: Rachel Gammons, University Libraries, Teaching and Learning Services
Library Award Essay and Project
Winner of the 2021 Library IDEA Award for Undergraduate Research
Boban Dedović, Senior student. Major: Psychology
Faculty professor: Edward Bernat, College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Psychology
William Wong, Senior student. Major: English and History
Faculty professor: Linda Coleman, College of Arts and Humanities, English
Library Award Essay and Project
Research Paper: Strength in Contradiction: The Radicalization of Incel Rhetoric
Boban Dedović, Senior student. Major: History
Faculty professor: Matthew J. Suriano, College of Arts and Humanities, Jewish Studies
Peter Roberts, Senior student. Major: History
Faculty professor: Lauren Michalak, College of Arts & Humanities, History Department
Librarian: Eric Lindquist
Cecilia Sun, Junior student. Major: Communication
Faculty professor: Carly Woods, College of Arts & Humanities, Communication Department
Archivist: Lae'l Hughes-Watkins
Meron Gebre-Egziabher, Freshman student. Major: Undeclared
Faculty professor: Norrell Edwards, College of Arts & Humanities, English Department
Library Award Essay and Project
Research paper: Dismantling of the African American Nuclear Family
Samantha Martocci, Senior student. Major: Behavioral and Community Life
Faculty professor: Elizabeth Aparicio, School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral and Community Life
Librarian: Nedelina Tchangalova
David Rekhtman, Sophomore student. Major: Biochemistry; and Biology with a concentration in Neurobiology and Physiology
Faculty professor: Dr. James Hagberg, School of Public Health, Department of Kinesiology
Rachael Edmonston, Sophomore student. Major: History
Faculty professor: Roger Bailey, College of Arts & Humanities, Department of History
Librarians: Eric Lindquist and Cecelia Vetter
Sarvar Oreizi-Esfahani, Senior student. Major: Psychology
Faculty professor: Tracy Tomlinson, College of Behavioral & Social Sciences, Department of Psychology
Elizabeth Patterson, Junior student. Major: English
Faculty professor: Jessica Enoch, College of Art & Humanities, Department of English
Librarians: Elizabeth Novara
Michelle Glazer, Senior student. Major: History
Faculty professor: Marlene J. Mayo, College of Arts & Humanities, Department of History
Librarians: Eric Lindquist and Amy Wasserstrom
Noah Jarrah, Sophomore student. Major: Aerospace Engineering
Faculty professor: Andrew Becnel, A. James Clark School of Engineering, Department of Aerospace Engineering
Sarah Schurman, Junior student. Major: English
Faculty professor: Mark A. Forrester, College of Art & Humanities, Department of English
Sophie Dean, Junior student. Major: Public Health Science, English
Faculty professor: Devon Corcia Payne-Sturges, School of Public Health, Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health
Librarian: Nedelina Tchangalova
Michelle Sauer, Sophomore student. Major: English, Secondary Education
Faculty professor: Zita Nunes, College of Arts and Humanities, Department of English
Librarian: Patricia Herron
Kathleen Weng, Senior student. Major: English (Art History minor)
Faculty professor: Yui Suzuki, College of Art & Humanities, Department of Art History & Archaeology
Library liaison: Tim Hackman
Matthew Gabb, Junior student, College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Department of Anthropology
Faculty professor: Sean Downey, College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Department of Anthropology
Library liaison: Otis Chadley
Lenaya Stewart, Senior student, College of Arts and Humanities, Department of English
Faculty professor: Laura Rosenthal, College of Arts and Humanities, Department of English
Library liaison: Patricia Herron
Robert Tully, Senior student, College of Computer, Mathematical, & Natural Sciences, Department of Biology
Faculty professor: John Rosser Matthews III, College of Arts and Humanities, Department of English
Library liaison: Patricia Herron
Honorable Mention
Xiuyu Shen, Freshman student, College of Arts and Humanities, Department of English
Faculty professor: Ralph Bauer, College of Arts and Humanities, Department of English
Library liaison: Patricia Herron
Benjamin Kramer, Junior student, College of Arts and Humanities, Department of History
Faculty professor: Robyn Muncy, College of Arts and Humanities, Department of History
Library liaison: Lauren Brown
Aviva Pollack, Junior student, College of Arts and Humanities, Department of Art History and Archaeology
Faculty professor: Marjorie Venit, College of Arts and Humanities, Department of Art History and Archaeology
Library liaison: Sally Stokes
Jeffrey Rappaport, Senior student, Clark School of Engineering, Department of Bioengineering
Faculty professor: Silvia Muro, joint appointment with Clark School of Engineering and Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research
Library liaison: Robin Dasler
Molly Brune, Senior student, College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Department of Government and Politics
Faculty professor: John McCauley, College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Department of Government and Politics
Library liaison: Judy Markowitz
Samuel Sober, Senior Student, College of Arts and Humanities, Department of History
Faculty professor: Richard Bell, College of Arts and Humanities, Department of History
Library liaison: Eric Lindquist
Paul Tumulty, Senior student, College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Department of Government and Politics
Faculty professor: Scott Kastner, College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Department of Government and Politics
Library liaison: Judy Markowitz
Jason Chun Yu Wong, Junior student, Environmental Science and Policy, Germanic Studies
Faculty professor: Betsy Mendelsohn, A. James Clark School of Engineering/ Science, Technology & Society/ College Park Scholars
Library liaison: Judy Markowitz
Kristen Tadrous, Senior Student, College of Arts and Humanities, Department of American Studies
Faculty professor: John Caughey, College of Arts and Humanities, Department of American Studies
Library liaison: Eric Lindquist
Whitney Beck, Senior student, Environmental Science and Policy
Faculty professor: Joanna Goger, Environmental Science & Technology
Library liaison: Judy Markowitz
Deborah Namugayi, Junior student, Agriculture and Resource Economics Dept.
Faculty professor: Joanna Goger, Environmental Science & Technology
Library liaison: Judy Markowitz
Ho-Man Yeung, Senior student, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Dept.
Faculty professor: Ganesh Sriram, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Faculty mentor: Shilpa Nargund, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Library liaison: Nedelina Tchangalova
Gemstone Team: Genes to Fuels (14 students)
Andrew Chang, Maria Chang, Chin-Hsiang Feng, Jasjeet Khural, Tana Luo, James McCarthy, Cory Mekelburg, Kelsey Nadig, Christine Perry, Sharad Thaper, Richard Urbanski, Pragun Vohra (representing the team), Christian Weber, and Justin Wong
Faculty mentor: Jason Kahn, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Library liaisons: Bob Kackley and Jim Miller
Acknowledgments
This program was possible due to the generous support of the Dean of the UMD Libraries, Dr. Adriene Lim, and the collaborative efforts of faculty members from University of Maryland University Libraries, Office for Undergraduate Research (OUR), and iSchool (College of Information Studies).
The Library Award for Undergraduate Research was developed base on similar programs offered by academic institution libraries across the country: Ohio State University, Oregon State University, University of California - Berkeley, University of Alberta - Augustana, University of Georgia, University of Washington.