Dear UCI Undergraduate Students:
We are writing to invite your participation in the Fourth Annual Multidisciplinary Design Program (MDP), where you or a team of undergraduate and/or graduate students propose projects that meet the following MDP criteria:
- Recruitment of at least two faculty members (from different schools), who are willing to serve as mentors for the proposed project if awarded. Students are also encouraged to invite a leader from industry or community to serve as a substitute mentor for co-supervising the project with the faculty mentor.
- The project must be multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary in nature – preferred projects will have a focus on energy, healthcare, environment or culture
- The “design” criterion is intended to be flexible, invoking the notion of creativity, novelty and innovation, although actual design is encouraged.
A Call for Projects has already been sent to all faculty, but this is the first time we are inviting students to propose projects.
A collaboration between the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Calit2) and the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), the MDP is designed to support an environment for students to develop the multidisciplinary skills and knowledge that will propel them into graduate studies or careers in fields that explore the connections between different concentrations.
Please submit the following information about each project you wish to propose to Andrea Bell-Wheelans, abellwhe@calit2.uci.edu, by Monday, October 21, 2013.
- Project Title
- Co-Mentors: Names of faculty co-mentors (from different schools at UCI).
- Project Description: A one- to two-paragraph summary of the design questions being addressed or the goals of the creative activity.
- Students’ Involvement and Expected Outcomes: Please elaborate on intended student activities, expected outcomes, and specific skills that the student will develop as a result of this involvement.
- Student Eligibility: You may specify preferences or requirements for the students’ prior coursework, special skills, or majors of study. The program is open to all undergraduate and graduate students.
- Recommended Readings & Publications (optional): Please provide a list of reference material for students to review to learn more about the topic and the proposed activities.
The selected projects will be announced to students on the UROP Web site (http://www.urop.uci.edu/mdp.html). Additional students will be invited to apply and indicate projects that interest them. In consultation with the mentors, selected teams will incorporate their multidisciplinary knowledge and skills in developing a solid project design by the end of Spring 2014. Each team is expected to submit an itemized budget not to exceed $3,000. Calit2 will provide 2:1 funding-with two thirds of the funding provided by Calit2, and one third from other sources (e.g., UROP, faculty grants, students’ personal funds, etc.). Budget requests will be due Monday, December 2nd and all approved funds must be expended no later than the end of Spring quarter. Calit2 will provide working and meeting space on the second floor of the Calit2 Building to serve these teams and support interaction between them and their mentors. Additional space may be provided by the mentors.
MDP Fellows will be invited to participate in various workshops on project management, team building, conflict resolution, and other activities to ensure the success of each team and their overall experience. Students will receive academic credit through courses under the mentors’ names, and for program participation. The program will coordinate its activities with existing design programs and courses.
Thank you again for all your efforts and support to the success of this unique UCI program.
Sincerely,
G. P. Li
Director, Calit2
(949) 824-9073
gpli@uci.edu
Said M. Shokair
Director, UROP
(949) 824-7701
shokair@uci.edu