The Livingstone Undergraduate Research Awards are open to any Temple undergraduate who is enrolled, i.e.taking a class or classes, in the spring 2024 semester or who completed all undergraduate coursework in December 2023 (i.e. graduating in January 2024).
Submitted research papers or projects must have been initiated during your time at Temple University during the spring 2023, summer 2023, fall 2023, or spring 2024 semesters. Additionally, projects undertaken in summer and fall 2023 as part of the Diamond Research Scholars Program or spring or fall 2023 as part of The Creative Arts, Research, and Scholarship (CARAS) Program are eligible.
All application materials for the 2024 awards must be submitted by February 26, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. (EST)
There are good reasons for what might seem to some to be an early deadline. We want students to get as far along as possible on their projects while allowing the librarian and faculty judges the time they need to review and judge the submissions. If we set the deadline any later in the semester we would have trouble getting faculty to commit, as they will have their own students' papers to read. While the research project is certainly important, remember that the library research process is a major focus of the Awards. Therefore, for judging purposes, a crucial part of the application is the essay describing the research strategy and process, along with the project itself. This is why we accept spring semester drafts for Awards consideration. Rest assured that drafts receive the same consideration as completed projects. For incomplete projects, please provide a work plan that details the remaining steps of your project.
All application materials must be submitted online. See the How to Apply page for details.
Yes. All submissions must include a properly formatted bibliography in a recognized style (MLA, APA, etc.). A bibliography is mandatory regardless of whether or not your professor originally required it. Check out the Libraries' guide to citing sources for help creating your bibliography.
Yes. A spring semester draft may be submitted in lieu of the final paper or project. For judging purposes, the more complete a project the better. However, rest assured that drafts receive the same consideration as completed projects. Students who have submitted a draft need take no action until the Chair or another library representative contacts them to request a final version.
No. Note also that a research project can only be submitted into competition once. In other words, a student who has already submitted a spring 2022 project into competition cannot resubmit that same project the following year. Please refer to the Eligibility requirements for more information.
Yes. A student may submit more than one research project into competition. However, a student may not win more than one prize per academic year.
Groups or teams of researchers may submit their projects into competition. Each team member must make a substantial contribution to the paper or project. If a team project wins, the cash award will be distributed equally among team members.
Yes, any project completed during the eligibility period and while you were a student at Temple University would qualify.
Yes. Students will not be excluded from competition because of current or past library employment.
Yes. Please remove all mentions of your name from your submission.
Submissions are judged by a seven-member selection committee. The committee is composed of four librarians and three faculty members, including one faculty member each from the sciences, social sciences, and humanities.
While the research project is certainly important, it is crucial to remember that the research process is another major focus of the Awards. Therefore, for judging purposes, a crucial part of the application is the essay describing the research strategy and process, in addition to the project itself. View the Evaluation Criteria for additional information about what the judges will be considering.
Projects in non-English languages may be submitted, but the accompanying essay must be in English. Additionally, submissions of works in other languages may benefit from the inclusion of an English translation.
The Livingstone Undergraduate Research Awards acknowledge a high level of achievement in research and scholarship. The award enhances the winner's resume and graduate school application. Each winning project also receives a $1,000 cash prize. Winners will be asked to submit a short video about their project, and will be featured on the Livingstone Awards website. Winners will be asked to give very brief presentations focusing on their research and collaboration with faculty at an awards luncheon.
While a definitive answer depends on the number of applicants, all applicants have an equal chance of winning regardless of their major, class level, choice of research topic, or past employment with the library or other institution at Temple University.
The Awards were established by Temple University Libraries in 2004 to encourage more and better use of its resources and collections, to advance information literacy, and to promote academic excellence at Temple University.
They were transformed into the Livingstone Undergraduate Research Awards for the 2015-16 academic year, in order to celebrate the diversity of undergraduate research produced at Temple University.
