The PRISM Project

The Prism Project: Reflecting on the Personal Impact of Undergraduate Research

Have you spent the last semester or academic year in a research lab, in the field, or in the archives? We know that undergraduate research is about more than just data—it’s about the "Aha!" moments, the late-night breakthroughs, and the lessons learned when things don't go as planned. It’s a journey of transformation.

We are looking for creative storytellers to document the "human side" of their research—the breakthroughs, the setbacks, and the personal growth.

We are seeking creative submissions for the Prism Project that documents the personal and educational impact of your research experience. This is your chance to move beyond the technical report and share your journey with the broader campus community. Don’t just tell us what you did in the research; tell us who you became because of it. We value authenticity and honesty over professional-grade production.

The Prism Award: Successful applicants will receive either a $1500 or $2500 stipend/grant upon the completion and public sharing of their creative artifact.

Note to Research Mentors & Students: These artifacts are intended to be 'Process-Focused' rather than 'Data-Focused.' Students are encouraged to focus on their personal growth and the research environment, ensuring that proprietary or unpublished data remains confidential."

To support this work, we are offering two distinct funding tracks based on the depth and reach of your creative vision.

Track 1: The Narrative Award ($1,500)

This award is for students who want to capture their personal evolution as a researcher.

• The Goal: Create a high-quality "artifact" (e.g., a 5-minute video, photo essay, or podcast) that explains how research changed your perspective on your education.
• Best For: Students finishing a summer program or a single semester of intense research.

Track 2: The Catalyst Award ($2,500)

This award is for students who have been deeply embedded in a project for over a year and want their reflection to serve as a resource for others.

• The Goal: Create a multi-dimensional project (e.g., a documentary plus a resource guide, or a physical art exhibition) and lead a peer-mentoring activity.
• Requirement: You must include a plan to "pay it forward"—such as leading a workshop for new researchers or presenting your work to a campus-wide audience.
• Best For: Senior researchers, honors thesis students, or those working in multi-year longitudinal studies, including UROP students and UROP alumni.

For more details, please see the Prism Funding Criteria

We require students to produce a Creative Impact Artifact. We welcome all forms of expression, including but not limited to:

• Digital Media: Vlogs, documentaries, or soundscapes.
• Visual Arts: Photo essays, "Data as Art" visualizations, or graphic narratives.
• Literary Arts: Long-form creative non-fiction, zines, or poetry collections.
• Audio: Podcast episodes or narrated soundscapes of your research environment.

The "Medium" vs. "Message" Balance:

Remember that a student doesn't need to be a professional filmmaker to have a strong "Clarity of Vision." A student with an iPhone and a good story is just as eligible as a film major. Furthermore, a student who proposes a simple, well-thought-out Photo Essay with deep captions often has more impact than a student who proposes a High-Tech Video but has no clear story to tell.

Before you can apply for the creative funding, UM undergraduate students should meet a few baseline criteria:

• Research Verification: Completion of at least one semester (or a summer term) of mentored research (Narrative Award) or one full academic year (Catalyst Award).
• Faculty Endorsement: A brief sign-off from their research mentor confirming the student’s engagement and the accuracy of the research context.
• The "So What?" Proposal: A short (200-word) pitch explaining why they want to document their experience and which creative medium they’ve chosen.
• We accept UM undergraduate student applications who are conducting research in any field of study. 
• Students must still be enrolled throughout the duration of the project.

1. Review the Application Components you will need to prepare and upload to the PRISM application form. We have curated some Creative Reflection Prompts that will help with your vision and reflection statements.
2. PRISM Application

Important Dates: You can apply for the PRISM Project Grant anytime throughout the year. However, we require the submission of your application a minimum of 60 days or 2 months prior to the term your creative archive of your research experience will start.

Students will be required to "close the loop" by sharing their work through a designated forum. Some examples include:

• Campus Presentation: Feature the work at an undergraduate research symposium or a dedicated "Creative Research Night."
• Digital Repository: Permission to host the artifact on the UROP website, university website or social media to inspire prospective students.
• Peer Mentorship: A requirement to speak briefly to one introductory-level class about the value of research.
• Leading a workshop for UM students on how to engage in a research, scholarly, creative opportunity.
• Organizing a "Creative Research" panel or night for the UROP department.
• Submitting the work to a national conference or external publication (e.g., A discipline-specific blog).

Should you have any questions about the PRISM Project, feel free to contact Dr. Michelle Ferréz at mdferrez@umich.edu.