Proposals should not exceed five pages (excluding references), and should be submitted via the application link. Applications submitted via regular mail or e-mail cannot be accepted.
Scholars use their time in the UMAPS program for various different purposes, so there isn’ta single application format that has to be used by all applicants in their proposal.
Irrespective of the nature of your UMAPS plans, your application should contain a clear statement of the following, so your application can be evaluated effectively by the UMAPS selection committee:
Your specific goals for the five-month period of the program. What do you hope to gain from your participation in the program? Many applicants will be continuing or completing research they have already begun. Others may start on a new research project. Still others may want to use the time to gain additional skills needed to conduct their research.
What specific outcomes do you anticipate? If you intend to begin a new area of research, explain how much of the topic you will be able to cover at U-M and how you would complete the work once back at your home institution.
If you intend to prepare publications, explain the number and nature of these publications. If you intend to work towards your PhD, explain your current progress and what you hope to achieve during your participation in the program.
Your application should reflect what is standard practice in your area of research. As a general guideline, however, we expect that most applications should contain the following subsections:
General background: Contextualisation of your project in the relevant literature and/or research area.
Problem/topic: A statement of your research problem or topic. Depending on your project, this may take on different forms: a list of theoretically motivated hypotheses, a narrative explanation of your research, etc.
Methodology: An explanation of the methods on which you will rely. This can range from very technical details for STEM applicants, to discussion of various quantitative or qualitative methods for other applicants. What is most important to communicate your methods clearly so that the appropriateness of your methodology to your proposed project can be evaluated.
Milestones: A list of milestones you want to achieve during your participation in the program, together with target dates for each milestone.
