Yeah, Oklahoma is a dry barren wasteland.

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES   (Disabled students CAN participate!  See me for details.)
See me BY OCTOBER 10 if you are interested in the following research opportunities:

1. Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program:  Get course credit for doing lab research; an opportunity to earn a good recommendation letter.  UROP is administered by the Honors College, but we emphasize that the awards competition are not restricted to the Honors College members, and is open to all OU undergraduates. Each year, there will be approximately 20-35 awards each with a maximum budget of $500.  These awards are intended to support individual projects designed and undertaken by undergraduate students and thus each proposal should be written by the student and must be supported by a letter of recommendation from the faculty sponsor. I am asked to encourage talented undergraduates to complete a proposal. Such research support can be of great benefit to capable students who seek direct involvement as undergraduates in serious and substantial research projects. Broad student participation in UROP can benefit the University in many ways, including the eventual recruitment of outstanding students into departmental graduate programs.  (See me for help with the "research description" portion of the proposal.) Help with the application forms.
2. Honors Research Assistant Program:  Honors students get paid for lab research; an opportunity to earn a good recommendation letter.  Provides an opportunity for students to work with professors as research assistants on specific projects. The program runs for two 6-week periods each semester. The purpose of the program is to involve students in a faculty researchproject, and teach them how to develop research into a completed project.The focus is on the research process in action, and the connection between research and teaching.  Faculty descriptions of projects are available on the Honors web page.  Each student will fill out an application for a specific project. The professor for the project will choose whom to hire.  Student assistants are expected to work 10 hours a week for six weeks; at $6.00 an hour, the total for a six-week period is $360.00.  Honors College students with at least 15 hours of college credit and at least a 3.40 GPA are eligible to apply.  For the Fall 2000 semester, the first six week period will begin August 28 and end October 6. The second will begin October 16 and end December 8.
3. Smart Start (Click on "Scholorships & Grants" then scroll down):  Students serving in approved tutoring/mentoring activities can earn credits to apply directly to educational costs.  The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education have recently launched Smart Start for Brain Gain 2010, an AmeriCorps program designed to engage college students in community service throughout Oklahoma as tutors and mentors.  Smart Start is an Education Award program, which means students can earn an Education Award of either $1,200 or $2,300 (depending on the number of hours served) that can be applied to their current college costs, student loans, or saved for graduate or professional school. Dr. Nelson has a program that qualifies as a site where Smart Start members can serve.  Tutors; assistance with summer programs, adults returning to college, or peer mentoring programs; service learning opportunities; student organizations that value volunteerism and community service. Smart Start activities are designed to help our university, the surrounding community and our state while allowing students to gain valuable experience as well as earn the Education Award.