• Fowler Innovation and Research Excellence Scholar Program (FIRE)
  The Fowler Innovation & Research Excellence Scholar Program (FIRE) is a unique 11-week summer research experience designed for undergraduate students. In this program, students will receive research funds to engage in hands-on research guided by expert faculty mentors. This paid, on-campus opportunity allows students to either participate in ongoing faculty research projects or develop their own unique project tailored to their interests. Throughout the experience, students will gain invaluable experience in research and creative scholarship. At the end of the program, participants will showcase and present their work highlighting their contributions and discoveries.

• Robert A. Day Excellence in Undergraduate Research Grant
  Our most prestigious research award, the Robert A. Day Excellence in Undergraduate Research Awards, supports faculty-mentored research for our undergraduate students with the greatest promise for outstanding research achievement. Additionally, the top applicants each year will be named “Robert A. Day Awardees” to acknowledge the generosity of Mr. Robert A. Day in supporting Fowler Engineering's research mission. Allowable uses of grant funds may include student salaries, materials, supplies, equipment, software, participant costs, and any other categories typically supported by external grants. Awardees are selected each year. To be considered, undergraduate students must apply to the Fowler Innovation and Research Excellence Program (FIRE).
  

• Inclusive Research and Development Program (iRAD) 
  Designed to support students from groups typically underrepresented in engineering research more effectively, the Inclusive Research and Development (iRAD) program provides funds for faculty-mentored student research experiences. Allowable uses of funds may include student salaries, materials, supplies, equipment, software, participant costs, and any other categories typically supported by federal grants. A faculty advisor is not required when applying to the iRAD program. The iRAD Advisory Committee will help students find a faculty advisor if awarded. This program is on hold for the 2025/26 academic year.

• Nachman Family Innovation Challenge
  The Nachman Family Innovation Challenge Awards up to $10,000 to individual MS EECS, thesis track candidates to develop research with ideas that advance engineering and computer science fields. The Nachman Innovation Challenge application criteria for EECS graduate students aligns with the area of study within the graduate program (computing systems, data intelligence systems, electrical systems) and the potential for innovation in those fields. Visit the Nachman Innovation Challenge webpage for details. 

• Applicants must be enrolled and active in a Fowler School of Engineering major or graduate program. 

• Undergraduate students must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits per semester.

• Seniors graduating may not apply for funding following their graduation date. 

• Applicants must include a letter of commitment from their faculty research mentor. 

• Applicants must be in good academic standing with the University.

• Only one application is allowed per student.

• Awards can be rescinded if all requirements are not met.

• Incomplete applications will not be accepted. 

• Unsuccessful proposals may be revised and resubmitted in future calls for proposals. 

• Students awarded a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) or Scholarly/Creative Grant funded by the Center for Undergraduate Excellence are not eligible to receive Fowler Engineering research grants in the same award period.

Fowler Innovation and Research Excellence Scholar Program (FIRE) - Summer 2025

Application deadline is April 13, 2025, at 10:00 p.m. PST. 

FIRE Scholars must commit to a minimum of 8 weeks of research between June 2 through August 15, 2025 conducting an average of 20 hours of research activity per week.

Students participating in a group project must apply individually, with an individual letter of support and a clearly stated individual role in or contribution to the larger project. Because of funding constraints and evaluation processes, it is possible that not all of the students in a group would be awarded fellowships.

Complete the application form and upload supporting documentation. 

ALL DOCUMENTS MUST BE UPLOADED AS PDF. 

• Research Proposal (3 pages maximum) 

  • Title 

  • Requestor Name (include additional names if there are co-investigators)

  • Name of Faculty Mentor

  • Introduction/Background 

  • Specific Goals/Aims of the Research 

  • Timeline of Research Project Milestones and Deliverables

  • Project Narrative 

  • Conclusions/Future Outlook 

  • Cited References (if applicable) 

• Letter of Commitment from Faculty Mentor
  

• IRB Approval (If applicable)
  Your project may require IRB approval if it involves any human or animal subjects. Students are responsible for working with the faculty mentor to ensure that the project has approvals necessary to begin research. If your grant is funded and needs hazardous materials approval or IRB approval, any grant award is pending until the hazardous materials approval or IRB approval has been submitted prior to conducting research. www.chapman.edu/irb.

• All students who are awarded a FIRE Grant for Summer ‘25 are required to present their research at the Fowler Engineering Fall Meeting held in August 2025. 

• All undergraduate students who are awarded a student research grant are required to present their work as a poster presentation at the Chapman University Student Scholar Symposium during the academic year in which they received their award.