Reuleaux Writing Grant

The Reuleaux Writing Grant (RWG) is a selective grant intended to recognize and encourage undergraduate research scholars to publish their findings in Mines peer-reviewed undergraduate research journal, Reuleaux. Each RWG awards $500 per student. Students who are selected to receive the grant are expected to work closely with their mentor, the writing center, and the Reuleaux editing team in order to create a publishable, peer-reviewed manuscript for Reuleaux.

About the Award

The deadline to apply for the 2023-2024 RWG is (*extended!*) January 3rd, 2024.

You will be notified if you’re receiving the RWG within a few weeks of the deadline.

The RWG awards $500 per undergraduate research author. Students who are selected for the RWG are required to work with the Reulueax team, the writing center, and their faculty mentor to create and submit a manuscript for Reuleaux journal. This manuscript is due February 23rd, 2024. The next volume of Reuleaux is scheduled to be published in 2024. Reuleaux is an open access journal.

Click here to view application.

 

Eligiblity
  • Any undergraduate student who has conducted two semesters of mentored research with a Mines faculty mentor is invited to apply.
  • The writing grant is only intended for undergraduate research scholars seeking to be published in Reuleaux.
  • Faculty mentors should be willing to submit a brief recommendation form.
  • Deadline for the complete RWG application, including the faculty recommendation form, is January 3rd, 2023.
requirements

You must be willing and ready to submit:

  • A scientific abstract containing 300 words or less. The abstract should be written such that it is comprehensible to non-experts. We recommend that this scientific abstract be as close to a final draft as possible. However, it is understood that this abstract may be subject to change.
  • A graphical abstract. A graphical abstract can be described as an image that highlights the main findings of the article or is a visual summary of the article. Please note that this image or figure does not have to be polished. Our editors will work with you to generate high quality images. For more guidance and examples, please view the FAQ below.
  • A brief recommendation form from your faculty mentor. Upon submission of your application, an email will automatically be sent to you faculty mentor with a direct link to the faculty recommendation form. In consideration of your mentor’s time, this form is not a recommendation letter.

 

Students who are awarded the RWG are expected to:

  •  Work closely with their mentor, the writing center, and the Reuleaux editing team in order to create a publishable, peer-reviewed manuscript no later than February 23rd, 2024.

Questions and Resources

What is a graphical abstract?

A graphical abstract is a single, concise, visual summary of the main findings of an article. This image should clearly illustrate the findings of your paper. Generally, graphical abstracts are best if they have a clear beginning and end and are read from left to right or top to bottom. For examples of some graphical abstracts, please visit the following URL: https://www.elsevier.com/authors/journal-authors/graphical-abstract

For the RWG, you are required to submit a graphical abstract with your application. But, it is not expected that your graphical abstract be finely polished. If awarded the RWG, you will work with the Reuleaux team to create high quality graphic images to accompany your article manuscript.

For this reason, you are not required to adhere to any firm guidelines as you create the graphical abstract for this application. This said, we recommend you submit an image with a resolution of 75-300 DPI and an approximate ratio of 500×1200 pixels.

What tools can I use to create a graphical abstract?

As mentioned above, we recommend you submit an image with a resolution of 75-300 DPI and a ratio of about 500 x1200 pixels for this application. However, please understand this will not be your final graphical abstract and, thus, it does not need to be a completely polished version of your graphical abstract.

This said, you can use any tools you feel comfortable with. Often times, people will use Microsoft PowerPoint, Publisher, or Word. But, you can also use open source software such as Gimp. Alternatively, you can hand draw and scan your illustration. If you choose the latter method, we ask that you make your image clean, clear, and legible and still adhere to the advice listed above.

What questions are included on the faculty recommendation form?

The form includes three primary questions that require a single line response (e.g. “I recommend this student.”, “I give permission”, “I agree”, etc.). The questions are as follows:

  • Do you recommend the mentee listed above receive a $500 Reuleaux Writing Grant in order to publish their research in the 2021 edition of Reuleaux?
  • Do you give permission to your mentee to publish their independent findings on the project listed above in Mines peer-reviewed undergraduate research journal, Reuleaux?
  • Do you agree, if awarded the Reuleaux Writing Grant, your mentee will be able to reasonably set goals and complete a 3-4 page manuscript by January 30th, 2021?

If your mentor expresses reservations they can elaborate on any of these questions. Additionally, your mentor is invited (but not required) to  leave additional comments on the form.

How will I know when my professor has submitted a recommendation?

Please make sure you notify your faculty mentor prior to submitting your application!

As mentioned, upon submission of your application, an email will automatically be sent to your faculty mentor with a direct link to the faculty recommendation form. In consideration of your mentor’s time, this form is not a recommendation letter. Instead, it is a brief questionnaire regarding your eligibility and your project’s eligibility to be published.

Once your professor completes and submit this form, you will receive a notification via email. If you do not receive this notification before the application due date, it might mean your professor has not yet completed the recommendation form.

What information and data can I include in my abstract and manuscript?

The information you include in your abstract and eventual manuscript should be determined through multiple discussions with your mentor(s) and/or the primary investigator of your project. Every project is a little different and, thus, your mentor must approve anything you publish or plan to publish.

Because Reuleaux is an open access research journal, the parameters around publishing and licensing are not particularly restrictive. However, you still must obtain your mentor approval.

Can I still apply if I am working with a co-author?

Yes, you can still apply for a RWG even if you are working with a co-author. However, if you are applying for the RWG and are awarded, you must be the first author and it is understood you will be the person writing the manuscript. Additionally, you will be the primary person working with Reuleaux, the writing center, and your mentor.

There is not a space in the application to specify if you are working with a co-author. This is a detail that can change up to the manuscript due date.

I am preparing a manuscript for a peer-reviewed research journal in my field. Can I prepare a manuscript for Reuleaux presenting the same work?

In general, it would be unacceptable to publish the same paper to two different journals. However, this does not mean that you cannot publish in Reuleaux, a peer-reviewed journal, and another peer-reviewed journal. This exception is largely due to Reuleaux’s scope and intended audience.

 

This all said, we want to offer you a few suggestions that will help you prepare a manuscript for Reuleaux without negatively impacting the other publication. When preparing a manuscript for Reuleaux:

 

  • Please note, the article you prepare for Reuleaux will not look the same as the manuscript you prepare for a different scientific research journal. With Reuleaux, you will be presenting your research for a broader audience rather than just the scientific research community. The article will generally focus on the importance of your work, hypothesis, experiments (both those that worked and those that did not work), and the future implications. Ultimately, you will have the opportunity to reflect on, “why does my work matter?”  You may not have this freedom with traditional scientific journals.

 

  • Please understand, with Reuleaux, you’ll have the opportunity to bring powerful graphics that help tell the story in an impactful way. Our editors will help you with this process. Most scientific research journals have restrictions on the images and figures in the manuscript.

 

  • You will have the opportunity to focus on the successes and challenges of your work, rather than just presenting the important results of your work. This process can be very rewarding and distinguishes Reuleaux from other journals.

 

  • You will be the first author. This not only provides a platform for recognition, but also allows you to expound on your unique contribution to the project!

 

We encourage you to discuss information listed above with your mentor, and we hope you and your mentor can recognize the benefit in preparing a manuscript for Reuleaux.