Though the UW could be raking in stimulus money to fund scientific research, the money will ultimately do little to offset cuts that will affect undergraduate students.

The Seattle Times reported last week that the UW could get $300 million from the $21.5 billion earmarked for research and development under the federal stimulus package, reporting the money would be a “windfall” and a “once-in-a-lifetime boost.”

More funding might help with recent budget cuts, said Janice DeCosmo, director of the UW Undergraduate Research Program (URP) — but not by much. The American Association for the Advancement of Science reported that funding priority will be given to biomedical, energy and climate-change research.

“It’s not going to come close to offsetting cuts in undergraduate research funding that have resulted from decreased endowment values and cuts to university programs,” DeCosmo said of the stimulus money.

That is because while stimulus money rolls in for research, it is illegal to use most of it to fund the UW academic enterprise. This includes paying for teaching and TA positions, as well as other student services.

Vice Provost for Research Mary Lidstrom said the stimulus package is used for different programs. Some of the money will go to higher education, but a slice of those funds are for research only.

“The [money] in the stimulus package that is for research will mainly be allocated through a competitive proposal review process in federal agencies,” Lidstrom said. “It is this funding that cannot be used for academic services.”

DeCosmo said that after paying for faculty research, funding would mainly go to post-doctorate fellows, then graduate students. Undergraduates will benefit to some degree, but it probably won’t be a windfall.

Undergraduates might benefit from stimulus money given to faculty members who were denied research grants, said Jennifer Harris, associate director of the URP.

“Generally when faculty [members] get money [for research], they can hire more [students] to help them,” she said. “It’s not uncommon for faculty to include funding for undergraduate researchers in grants.”

With budget cuts slashing programs, it is likely that the URP will cut back on helping undergraduates find research opportunities. Along with less funding and little cushioning from the stimulus money, getting some research experience will probably be more difficult for undergraduates.

Swanson said that a loss of research opportunities would harm supplemental education at the UW because of the benefits it offers undergraduates.

“It’s the first time you can see where your education is headed,” Swanson said. “[Research] gives you the ability to make much better decisions about going to graduate school.”

Swanson is now a data analyst at the Allen Institute for Brain Science, a nonprofit medical research organization.

“The fact that I had a couple of years of research experience is the reason I got hired,” Swanson said.

Reach reporter Vivian Luu at news@dailyuw.com.