Awards & Scholarships

All eligible undergraduate students, regardless of major or class year, may apply.  

To be eligible, you must fulfill these requirements at the time of application: 

• Be enrolled as matriculated (degree-seeking), full-time (at least 12 credits) UAlbany undergraduate student 
• Be actively engaged in a research project, at any phase of the research process 
• Have a UAlbany faculty member, researcher, adjunct faculty member, graduate student or affiliated researcher mentoring or supervising your research project 

Your research project may be in any academic discipline, concentration or content area. However, each award is connected to a preferred research area: 

• Abele Research Fund: Research in physical or natural sciences will be given preference. Research in social and behavioral sciences will be considered. 
• Greenwald Research Fund: Research in physical or natural sciences will be given preference. Research in business finance or corporate management will be considered. 
• Moyer Research Fund: Research in physical or natural sciences will be given preference. Research in social and behavioral sciences will be considered. 
• Undergraduate Research Scholarships: All types of research will be considered.

To streamline the application process, there is a single Endowed Undergraduate Research Awards Application for all four awards.

The endowed awards application is currently closed.

Your application will be reviewed and considered for any awards you’re eligible to receive. Please review the eligibility rules above before applying. 

Be prepared to submit the following materials at the time of application: 

• Research Abstract  
• Budget Summary, including incurred or pending expenses and a written explanation of the funding use and itemized expenses  
• A detailed summary of your role and responsibilities for the research project 
• Acknowledgement that, if you receive an award, you may be required to present your research project at UAlbany Showcase

Your mentor or supervisor will be prompted to review your application after you submit it. They must certify your application for it to be considered complete. 

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The Abele Research Fund was generously donated by Kenneth W. Abele and Thelma Miller Abele '38. 

The Greenwald Research Fund was generously donated by Lita and Stephen Greenwald '40. 

The Moyer Research Fund was generously donated by Robert W. Moyer. 

The Undergraduate Research Scholarships were generously donated by Clyde '28 & Virgina Roosa '32 Slocum, Adelaid Schmid '38 and Adrienne Zimberg '83.

All eligible undergraduate students, regardless of major or class year, may apply.  

To be eligible, you must be a matriculated (degree-seeking) undergraduate UAlbany student enrolled in at least six credits at the time of application.

To apply, please complete the Situation Prize Application. Applications will open in early 2025.

You’ll be required to submit an updated resume and a three- to five-page project proposal or summary (see below for instructions). You can also optionally submit a 10-second video with a one-second tagline for your project. 

If you are selected to receive the award, you will be required to provide an update on your project, including how it has progressed and other related information, in July. 
 

Your project proposal or summary should respond to this prompt: 

Engaging with our communities has never been timelier than it is now. As a student, cultivating interests and passions outside of the classroom is a valuable aspect of your development as an engaged citizen. Using your academic experience, write a project proposal/paper that identifies an issue/problem within the community you live and work in that has sparked your passion. 

The project proposal or summary must also include the following: 

• A definition of the problem/issue 

• Your relationship to the problem/issue and why it matters to you 

• The impact of this problem/issue on the community 

• How this problem/issue is or is not being addressed elsewhere 

• Your proposal of actionable interventions that can be implemented to address the problem/issue within the community and/or how to further the work of an organization you are already involved with 

• What you envision the future will look like without this problem/issue 

It must also include a works cited page, which will not count against the three- to five-page limit.  

(A works cited is required to highlight the importance of sound research and analysis of data, theories, and practices in addressing such problems/issues.) 

The Situation Prize is generously donated by Damian Bazadona '98, the founder and president of digital marketing agency Situation.  

Bazadona earned a BS in Business Administration at UAlbany. Situation helps brands build passionate communities through digital-first marketing strategies.  

Over the years, Damian has worked with some of the world’s leading brands including Meals on Wheels America, The Metropolitan Opera, HBO, Major League Soccer, National Geographic, and The Ad Council.  

His agency has also been honored with numerous workplace awards from Crain’s, Best Companies Group, Cynopsis, Digiday, and Fortune. Damian himself was honored by Cynopsis with the Social Good Leader of the Year and HR Visionary of the Year awards. 

Damian strongly believes in giving back to his own community. Past Situation Prize recipients have used their awards to advance their projects, attend conferences and make an impact in their communities.

To be eligible, you must fulfill these requirements at the time of application: 

• A matriculated (degree-seeking), full-time (at least 12 credits) UAlbany undergraduate student with at least junior class standing
• Engaged in life sciences research (biology, chemistry, and/or related disciplines) under the direction or mentorship of a UAlbany faculty member 

Students who have previously won a Sorrell Chesin Award may apply but not with the same project. Past recipients must apply with a different project to be considered. 

To apply, students will complete our online application.  Applications will open in early 2025.

Be prepared to submit the following: 

• An abstract of your research project 
• Your faculty mentor/advisor’s name and email address 
• Your resume 
• Responses to the following prompts: 
  • Briefly describe your personal goals and objectives for being involved in research. 
  • How does your research contribute significantly to your field of study or beyond? 

After you submit the application, your faculty mentor/advisor will receive an email with instructions for submitting a letter of support.

The Sorrell Chesin Award is generously donated by Dr. Sorrell Chesin, an Emeritus Associate Vice President for University Development at UAlbany. 

Dr. Sorrell Chesin began his undergraduate education at NYU but completed it with a bachelor's of science from the SUNY Geneseo. His master's of arts is from Syracuse University and his doctorate from Michigan State University, where he served as a Head Resident Advisor. 

As an undergraduate student at SUNY Geneseo, Dr. Chesin participated in research under the direction of Psychology Professor Richard Bloomer. The experience inspired Dr. Chesin to champion undergraduate research during his career in higher education. 

He held an administrative and part-time faculty position at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut prior to being appointed Associate Dean of Students at UAlbany in 1965.

Dr. Chesin held several senior administrative positions over the course of his UAlbany tenure, including service as Executive Director of the UAlbany Foundation, and retired in 2013 as Associate Vice President for University Development.

Upon retirement, he was elected to the Board of Directors of the UAlbany Emeritus Center, an association of retired faculty, administrators and professional personnel and served as its Vice President and then President.

All eligible undergraduate students, regardless of major or class year, may apply for this award up to $1,000.  

To be eligible, you must fulfill these requirements at the time of application:

• Be enrolled as matriculated (degree-seeking), full-time (at least 12 credits) UAlbany undergraduate student
• Already have an identified research mentor; this can include currently working with the identified mentor or beginning work with the identified mentor in the funded semester (i.e., you do not need to currently be working on a project but must start in your funded semester)

Your research project or creative endeavor may be in any academic discipline, concentration or content area! Projects involving credit-bearing experiences (research internship, independent study, or course-based research) may be considered.

The Minerva Center award application for Summer 2025 will open in March 2025.

Your application will be reviewed and considered for any awards you’re eligible to receive. Please review the eligibility rules above before applying. 

Be prepared to submit the following materials at the time of application: 

• Mentor name and information
• Research description 
• Budget Summary, including projected expenses for the semester ahead in which you will be working on your project
• A detailed summary of your role and responsibilities for the research project, how the project supports your goals, and how funding will assist your work on the project 
• Acknowledgement that, if you receive an award, you will be required to present your research project at UAlbany Showcase, attend two professional development experiences (per semester funded), and complete a final survey about your research experience.

Your mentor or supervisor will be prompted to review your application after you submit it. They must certify your application for it to be considered complete. 

Incomplete applications will not be considered.