Research Grants

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The Office of the Provost, Academic Grants Office administers student research grants awarded by the Committee on Grants (COG) from proposals submitted throughout the academic year. This funding program enables students to work with faculty mentors on research projects in arts and humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.

The Committee on Grants (COG), a standing committee appointed by Faculty Council, provides funds in support of faculty and student research. The main purpose of COG grants is to provide seed money for projects, which will eventually attract outside funding, or to support work where outside funds are not available. COG is also responsible for assuring ethical conduct of research that involves human subjects or animal subjects.

During the 2007-2008 academic year, the Committee on Grants (COG), awarded more than $85,000 to support 59 student research projects. An additional $195,728 supported 63 student research projects during the summer of 2008 from the Hackman Summer Scholars, Bonchek, Eyler, and Rockhold funds.

The Autumn and Spring Research Fair provides an opportunity for each student to bring together the tangible results of the collective research effort conducted over the past summer and academic year.

Types of funding available through the Committee on Grants :

1) Leser - for outstanding research projects in the natural sciences, up to $1,000.

2) Nissley fund - for outstanding research projects in the arts, humanties, or social sciences, up to $1,000.

3) Marshall Scholars Program - up to $3,000 available to Marshall Scholar recipients for research projects.

4) Student Resarch Grants- provide additional support for student research projects whose need exceeds the resources of departmental funds, up to $400.

5) The Hackman Summer Scholars Program provides student summer stipends for faculty mentored research projects. This program is supported by the following endowments:

• Bonchek fund - student summer stipends for faculty/student research.
• Eyler fund - student summer stipends for faculty/student research in biochemistry, biology, or chemistry.
• Hackman fund - student summer stipends for faculty/student research.
• Rockhold funds - student summer stipends for economic research in developing countries.

The COG Application Form is available online during the open enrollment periods. Typically, there are five application deadlines for COG funding:

• Early October
• Late November or Early December
• Mid-February (for Hackman Summer Fellowships)
• Early March
• Mid-April

Details on these opportunities can be found at COG Facts & Figures.

Howard Hughes Medical Institute Funding Opportunities

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute Committee awards stipends for students conducting research in bioinformatics. Faculty apply for the funding which is awarded throughout the academic year and during the summer.