Competitive Grants to Support Learn by Doing

Baker and Koob Endowments

The Warren J. Baker Endowment for Excellence in Project-Based Learning and the Robert D. Koob Endowment for Student Success support hands-on, project-based learning opportunities for individual students and groups at Cal Poly. Because of their similar purpose, distributions of the two endowments will be pooled and used to fund multiple student projects via a competitive process that utilizes a single application.

Funds may be used for, but are not limited to, student support, student and faculty travel, student and faculty expenses associated with participation in student research, group projects, conferences, competitions, and equipment and materials related to student research.

The use of funds is not restricted to a specific major or college, but rather is intended to support multi-disciplinary, cross-college collaborative Learn by Doing activities. In addition, the Koob Endowment seeks to support students with financial need.

2022-23 Awarded Projects 

Project Title	Student Researcher	Student Department
Deep Ocean Vehicle (DOV) Research + Improved Design Development	Nichole "Nikki" Arm	Mechanical Engineering (CENG)
Sexual Health Education Canvas Module	Alexa Asson	Biological Sciences (CSM)
EfSynthetic Design and Anisotropic Conductivities of Polymeric Mixed Ion-Electron Conductors	Nika Bondar and Jachin Boaz Clarke	Chemistry and Biochemistry (CSM)
Acoustic Release/Reciever System for Hydrophone	Evan Brown	Mechanical Engineering (CENG)
Determining the Tidal Prism in Morro Bay	Kaden Caliendo	Civil and Environmental Engineering (CENG)
Moving through Monoracism: Critical Dance-making with Multiracial College Students	Jacob Campbell	Higher Education Counseling and Student Affairs (CSM)
Climate Change and Alpine Plant Community Turnover in Yosemite National Park	Rachel Friesen	Biological Sciences (CSM)
Design and Test the Effectiveness of Interpretive Signs Using Eye Tracking and Biometric Data	Hadara Gordon and Wendy Miyazaki	Experience Industry Management (CAFES) and Communication Studies (CLA)
Can population-level differences in metabolic physiology inform us about climate resilience in desert pupfishes?	Teresa Guerre	Biological Sciences (CSM)
Rapid Composter Senior Project	Lukas Kolbl	Mechanical Engineering (CENG)
Herbie and the Magic Caboose: Exposing Cal Poly Preschoolers to STEM Concepts	Garrett Kunkler	Mechanical Engineering (CENG)
Perfumo Creek Restoration	Tommy Melilo	Biological Sciences (CSM)
Wearable Lumbar Spine Posture-Monitoring Device for Back Pain and Injury Prevention	Aaron Rosen and Emma Jacobs	Computer Engineering (CENG) and Biomedical Engineering (CENG)
Effects of dietary fatty acides on hippocampal injury and memory formation in juvile pigs with metabolic syndrome	Macy Rowe	Biological Sciences (CSM)
Education and Land Management on the Pacific Crest Trail Phase 4	Ben Sherman and Audrey Gregg	Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (CAFES) and Experience Industry Management (CAFES)
Chemical and sensory effects of fermentation temperature and cap mgmt techniques on cool climate Syrah from the Edna Valley AVA of CA	Emily Stoffel	Food Science & Nutrition (CAFES)
JPL University Projects	James Truman	Mechanical Engineering (CENG)

Who may apply

All Cal Poly undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to apply. Some restrictions apply:

• Applicants that have projects currently funded through an Instructionally Related Activity (IRA) from Academic Programs and Planning are not eligible.
• Applicants that have projects currently funded through another university endowment (e.g., CPConnect) are not elgibile.
• Only one project for an individual student or group will be funded in a given year.

All applications must name a faculty advisor and include a letter of support from this advisor.

How To Apply

To apply for funding, students must complete the Baker/Koob cover page and proposal and obtain a letter of support from the faculty advisor named in the proposal. Complete instructions and additional information is available in the Request for Proposals (PDF) file. 

The application period for the 2022-2023 Baker/Koob grants is now closed. 

Critical Documents

• Request for Proposals (PDF)
• Application Template Cover Sheet (docx)
• Application Template (docx)
• Final Report Template (docx)

2022-23 Baker/Koob Grants Faculty Review Committee

Name	Department
Amanda Johnston	Mechanical Engineering (CENG)
Ajay Kathuria	Industrial Technology & Packaging (OCOB)
David Kirby	Interdisciplinary Studies (CLA)
Sean C. Lema	Biological Sciences (CSM)
Jeff Ponitz	Architecture (CAED)
Gordon Rees	Natural Resources Management & Environmental Sciences (CAFES)

Recognizing Learn by Doing Scholars

The Learn by Doing Awards recognize outstanding faculty contributions to Cal Poly’s signature pedagogy of Learn by Doing. In 2022, these awards are evolving to emphasize the impact of Cal Poly’s distinctive educational approach by translating learning into practice to make a difference in disciplines and industries across California and around the world. Successful applications will provide compelling evidence of the impact of Learn by Doing through curriculum-related instructional and research/creative activities, as well as demonstrate an academically rigorous and student-centered approach to learning. Two awards will be presented, each accompanied by a cash prize of $2,000.

For more information, please visit the Learn by Doing Scholar Awards webpage.