Geballe Research Opportunities for Undergraduates Program (G.R.O.U.P.)
G.R.O.U.P. is a Townsend Center initiative designed to promote innovative undergraduate education within a research university. The program is composed of three interrelated parts: undergraduate courses, summer apprenticeships and interdisciplinary research teams.The application deadline for faculty proposals to the 2010-2011 G.R.O.U.P. program is Monday, November 16, 2009. See below for details about and applications for each G.R.O.U.P component.
Courses
G.R.O.U.P. courses are designed as joint faculty-student explorations with the potential of evolving over time into new curricula and programs. Courses are normally team-taught by UC Berkeley faculty members from different departments; they may also be taught by one faculty member who brings in guest speakers to provide diverse perspectives. All G.R.O.U.P. courses involve teaching that comes directly out of the instructors’ active research—not simply presenting a finished product but instead allowing students to engage with open issues.
Courses may have departmental titles or may be organized as L&S College Courses. Assignments should include research projects that go beyond the usual theme papers and critical analyses by involving non-library research.
Preference will be given to joint proposals from faculty in different departments. Proposals will also be considered from (1) individual ladder faculty proposing a roster of guest speakers and (2) individual ladder faculty seeking to co-teach with exceptionally qualified post-doctoral fellows.
Successful proposals will be awarded a total of $13,050 that may be used toward replacement costs as necessary, and up to $2,500 in course enhancement costs for course materials, field trips, and similar activities. In the case of two course organizers, the award will be split evenly, while the course enhancement costs will be transferred to one designated department. Information on the Townsend Center replacement funds policy can be found here.
Undergraduate participation in G.R.O.U.P. courses is through the regular course registration process.
Download the 2010-2011 G.R.O.U.P. Courses guidelines and application:
PDF
Microsoft Word
The application deadline for 2010-2011 Courses is Monday, November 16, 2009.
For information about past G.R.O.U.P. courses, click here.
Research Team
Research Teams are collaborative projects that provide undergraduates with the opportunity to conduct interdisciplinary research with more experienced researchers. Research Teams consist of two faculty members from different departments, at least eight undergraduates, and two graduate students. Undergraduates receive course credit for their work as they gain valuable research skills, build relationships as team members, and develop an appreciation for the insights that an interdisciplinary approach can bring to a single subject. Graduate students participating in the Team will reap the same benefits as well as gain experience as mentors to the undergraduate students.
All UC Berkeley faculty are invited to apply. Preference will be given to projects that involve sustained faculty-student mentoring and allow for significant independence in student research. The expectation of the program is that students and faculty members will both produce tangible outcomes at the end of the semester. In the case of proposals of equal merit, preference will be given to ladder faculty and to proposals that engage significant humanities questions from an interdisciplinary perspective.
Download the 2010-2011 G.R.O.U.P. Research Team guidelines and application:
PDF (164kb)
Microsoft Word (60kb)
For information about past G.R.O.U.P. Research Teams, click here.
Summer Apprenticeships
G.R.O.U.P. Summer Apprenticeships pair faculty members and undergraduate students in summer research projects, allowing the students to develop new skills under the guidance of a faculty mentor and to experience the rigor and excitement of academic research in an area of their interest. Faculty gain the time and opportunity to explore new ideas, and the collaboration with their apprentice may even generate new undergraduate courses and curricula.
Project proposals addressing a wide range of topics such as “Humanities and New Media” or “The Humanities and Biotechnology” are invited from UC Berkeley faculty. Preference will be given to projects that demonstrate eventual curricular implications, involve sustained faculty-student mentoring, and allow for significant independence in student research. The expectation of the program is that both students and faculty members will produce tangible outcomes at the end of the summer. In the case of proposals of equal merit, preference will be given to ladder faculty.
Download the 2010-2011 G.R.O.U.P. Apprenticeships guidelines and application:
PDF
Microsoft Word
The application deadline for faculty proposals for Summer 2010 is March 1, 2010.
For information about past summer apprenticeships, click here.
For questions about the program, please contact Fellowships Coordinator Bridgette Lehrer at blehrer@berkeley.edu.