Details and Requirements

Awards are based on the quality of the research, your personal essay, a bibliography, and a letter of support. 

These awards range from $250 to $1000 for notable work in the following categories:  

  • Outstanding First-Year Research Project
  • Innovation in Research and Creativity
  • Team Award for team-based projects
  • Maize Awards for single-term projects 
  • Blue Awards for multi-term projects

The award is named for former U-M Librarian Pamela J. MacKintosh, a longtime advocate of students’ work, who created a fund to support this program in perpetuity.

Application requirements

Your application must include:

  • A personal essay. Describe the library resources used to prepare or complete your research project.
    • For group submissions, members should collaborate on their essay to explain each member's contribution.
    • Essays should be about 750–1,000 words for general applications, and 300–500 words for First-Year Research Project applications.
    • See tips for applicants for more details.
  • Bibliography. Include all the sources that supported your research.
  • Letter of support contact information. Provide the name and email address of an instructor, research supervisor, or faculty member who has agreed to write you a letter of support. See our letter of support guidelines.
  • Copy of the project. Attach your completed project of any length. If your project is not in a format that can be emailed, please get in touch with us at libresearchaward@umich.edu to make alternative arrangements.

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