Paul H. McCarthy Award
Individual undergraduate and graduate students from all disciplines at the University
of Alaska are eligible and invited to apply for an award of $2,500 to support their
research using the Alaska and Polar Regions Collections & Archives (APRCA) at the
Elmer E. Rasmuson Library. One award is available annually.
All student research using materials housed in the Alaska and Polar Regions Collections
& Archives will be considered. One individual award is available per project. The
awardee will be expected to present to the public on their research at an event hosted
virtually or in person by the Elmer E. Rasmuson Library.
Preference will be given to research that supports a larger project. In the past,
research proposals for projects such as a journal article, thesis chapter, short film,
research guide, or art project have been submitted. Other types of projects will also
be considered. Although the award does not guarantee inclusion of the resulting project
in our library collections, the outcome should support the student's personal educational
goals.
The purpose of the award is to facilitate access to the unique physical collections
held by the Alaska and Polar Regions Collections & Archives. Applications that highlight
the need to access specific APRCA collections will be given preference. While travel
to the UAF campus can be facilitated by the award, the necessity of travel will not
be used as a criteria for selection. Students from all campuses taking a minimum of
six credits are encouraged to apply.
Alaska and Polar Regions Collections & Archives staff will support the research experience
of the awardee. At this time, group projects will not be considered.
Questions regarding this research award should be directed to Rachel Cohen, Head of the Distinctive Print Collections & Archives- Alaska and Polar Regions Collections & Archives, at rcohen7@alaska.edu.
Deadline to apply is November 3, 2024 by 11:59pm.
- Support of an individual graduate or undergraduate student involved in research
- All funds must be spent no later than June 30, 2025
- Any graduate or undergraduate degree-seeking student
- All disciplines from all UA campuses
- Must be registered for at least 6 credits in the Spring 2025 award term
- Proposals will be reviewed by a 5-member review committee
- All applicants will be notified by email and the recipient announced by December 2, 2024
- Project proposals are assessed on how well APRCA collections (including film, oral history, rare books, maps, photos and manuscripts) can support the research topic, and how well the research supports the larger educational goals of the student
- Awardees are required to undertake their research and give a 20 to 30 minute public presentation online or in-person