IRTL Grants & Fellowships Workshop Series
Part I: Introduction to Grants & Fellowships
Institute for Research on Teaching and Learning
Doctoral Student Research Support
September 2015
Qiana Green
Doctoral Student
Higher, Adult & Lifelong Education
Graduate Assistant
Institute for Research on Teaching & Learning
Audience members…
Introductions
1. Learn about grants.
Learning Objectives
1. Learn about grants & grant writing in general.
2. Explore dissertation grant opportunities.
3. Understand funding opportunities.
4. Identify resources to find appropriate funding and refine grant applications.
Learning Objectives
1. IRTL
2. Grants & Fellowship Basics
3. Grant Components
4. Finding Funders / Resources
5. Funding Opportunities Overview
6. Q&A
Today’s Plan
Institute for Research on Teaching & Learning
IRTL supports doctoral students in the College of Education by enhancing their knowledge of funding opportunities and grant writing.
We are available to discuss funding opportunities; assist in conceptualizing, writing, and revising a grant proposal; or assist in preparing a competitive budget request.
http://education.msu.edu/irtl/grad
What is IRTL?
• Workshops, sessions for groups and classes• Overview of grants & fellowships; Grant proposal
writing; Budget development; RCR; and more!
• One-on-one consultation• in person, over the phone, Skype/FaceTime, email
• Web resources (http://education.msu.edu/irtl/grad/)• Sample proposals, budgets, timelines, resources
• Monthly newsletters (sign up on our website)• Announcements, workshops, resources, funding
opportunities
• Facebook updates (facebook.com/MSUIRTL)
What does IRTL do?
IRTL
Grant & Fellowship Basics
Grant Components
Finding Funders & Resources
Funding Opportunities Overview
Q&A
• To focus on research and/or writing
• To advance knowledge in your field
• National recognition and prestige
• A lifetime professional network
• Professional development opportunities
• To demonstrate your ability to win grants for academic job applications
Doctoral student grants & fellowships can allow you:
• Grants can be used for training, travel, work buy-outs, supplies, hourly staff, tuition, graduate assistantships.
• Funds can be used to complete a dissertation or conduct small research projects.
• Funding agencies exist to advance research and/or practice within an area.
• Foundations are required to spend their funds.
• Start small, “earn” your way up to larger awards.
What role can grants (or other external funds) play in my career?
A little
planning
An exciting
idea
A support
network
• If you’re seeking funding for your dissertation, you will do or have already done (most of) the work.
• Grant writing skills are valued no matter your role.
• Turning your idea into a competitive grant proposal takes:
Why not?
Your opportunity should match with these four areas:
Money
research funding is available
Eligibility
you’re ready and meet
requirements
Fit
your research interests
connect with funder
Time
a competitive proposal can be written in the time available
Internal Funding
• Your department / college / program / organization
• Research entities on campus (grant administration, other departments)
• Institution-wide opportunities
External Funding
• Databases
• Regional foundations
• Professional organizations & associations
• Government entities
Money… is there research funding available?
IRTL’s Focus
Early Stage
Funds tuition and fees, as
well as a stipend for living for
early doctoral students
Pre-Dissertation
Funds research
and experiences
that aid research, such as travel,
language study, and supplies
Dissertation
Funds research and experiences that aid research, such as language
study, travel, supplies, facility
use, and/or stipend for living after the defense
of the dissertation proposal to completion
Analysis & Write-Up
Funds tuition and
fees, stipend for living
expenses to concentrate mostly or only on
writing and completing
the dissertation
Postdoctoral
Funds opportunities
toward the development
of an academic
career
Eligibility …are you ready?
Think one step ahead!
• Citizenship?
• Comprehensive exams and/or coursework complete? Degree obtained?
• Dissertation proposal defense complete?
• Full-time employee vs. faculty member vs. student?
• Faculty advisor’s “OK”
• Pilot program complete? Collaboration in place?
Eligibility…do you meet the sponsor’s requirements?
Many sponsors have websites with helpful information:
• What are the sponsor’s goals and priorities? What have they funded in the past?
• What is their program focus?population? method? Issue?
• Who can I contact for informationfor assistance, guidance, or advice?
• What are the review criteria?
• Do they have sample proposals?
Fit…does your project match the funder’s goals and priorities?
• Start early.
• Assess your timeline.
• When will you complete doctoral program requirements? collect data? conduct analysis? write up?
• Can you continue operations until funding would be received?
• Do you have time to complete the application?
• How long does it take for a decision? When will the funds become available?
• Can you reapply?
Time... can a competitive proposal be written in the time available?
• Work on and develop your research topic and ideas
• Talk with faculty members about existing grant and funding opportunities
• Utilize College of Education fellowship process (spring)
• CoEd Summer Research Fellowships (late fall)
• CoEd Summer Research Renewable Fellowships (2 years, late fall)
• CoEd Summer Research Development Fellowships (1st year students only; January)
• Utilize departmental professional development funds, COGS grants
Preparing for External Funding – Years 1-2
• Coming to an end in courses and have narrowed down topics to one or two potential dissertation ideas.
• 1-2 years from dissertation proposal.
• Begin exploring funding options.
• Consider what you might need funding for (e.g., data collection) and what point in the dissertation process you will need that funding.
• Continue conversations with faculty members about opportunities.
• CoEd fellowship process (spring)
• Identify possible funders and opportunities to catch in next year.
• Utilize departmental professional development funds, COGS grants.
Preparing for External Funding – Years 2-3
• Most dissertation funding proposal due dates are approximately 6 months to 1 year prior to dispersion of funds. Plan ahead within your own work to time application process.
• Work on and submit proposals approximately 6 months prior to the due date. Prioritize good quality. Get advisor on board.
• For international research projects, begin working on funding proposals 6 months to a year prior to the due date (e.g, affiliation letters, courses, language evaluations).
• During data collection/practicum, apply for Research Practicum/Research Development Fellowship (mid fall).
• When nearing completion, consider CoEd Dissertation Completion Fellowship (late fall).
• Utilize departmental professional development funds, COGS grants.
Preparing for External Funding – Years 3-5+
• International Research: Preparing proposals for international research funding is likely to take more time due to the requirements, begin early. Consider enrolling in fall seminar – International Social Science Research (1-3 cr.)
• Working students: Students who work fulltime should be aware that many of the larger are only for fulltime students. Be sure to explore whether or not this is a requirement when searching for grants.
• International Students: Some grants are only available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents (e.g., government grants—NSF, Fulbright, NIH). Be sure to explore whether or not this is a requirement when searching for grants.
Preparing for External Funding – Notes
IRTL
Grants for Individuals
Grant Components
Finding Funders & Resources
Funding Opportunities Overview
Q&A
“There is no amount of grantsmanship that will turn a bad idea into a good one, but there are many ways to disguise a good one.”
William Raubformer Deputy Director, NIH
• Title
• Project summary / Abstract
• Narrative
• Bibliography
• Support materials
• Biographical narrative
• Letters of recommendation
• Budget
Typical grant components
What makes a grant proposal successful?
• start early
• contact with funding sponsor
• research matches funding announcement
• aligned with priorities of sponsor
• written with the review process in mind
• captures reviewers’ attention
• well-organized, engaging language
• clear focus
• follows the instructions precisely
• applicant seeks outside review before submitting
• compelling idea that advances the science
• not too ambitious or unrealistic
• no typos, grammatical errors
• reasonable and accurate budget
• submitted on time
• Keep in mind that the reviewers may not be in your same discipline / functional area.
• Write clearly in a way that is accessible to non-academics.
• Grab their attention right away – title, intro sentence, etc..
• Websites may provide information on past/current reviewers. Use this knowledge to inform your writing.
Reviewers
• Talk to colleagues about any past experiences as reviewers.
• What did they look for?
• What impressed them?
• What were basic mistakes they saw?
• How did they evaluate proposals with others from different specializations?
• If possible, take advantage of opportunities to serve as a reviewer for grants, awards, etc. within your field.
Reviewers
Create Your Support Network
You
Colleagues & Classmates
Friends & Family
Research Administration Staff
Advisor, Committee & Faculty
IRTL
Grants for Individuals
Grant Components
Finding Funders & Resources
Funding Opportunities Overview
Q&A
• It’s never too early or too late to start searching, but you will need to cut through the clutter and be a “smart searcher”
• To be successful, you will need to:
Finding funders
Search in the right places
Know relevant agencies
Learn grant cycles
Start local.
• Talk to faculty members, people on campus with similar interests, supervisors, colleagues, those who work in grant-funded programs.
• Talk with your librarians.
• MSU Libraries, Jon Harrison
• http://staff.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/index.htm
• Grant Advisor newsletter
• http://er.lib.msu.edu/location.cfm?location=WWW
Search in the right places
Consider any on-campus funding search resources.
• College of Education fellowships
• http://education.msu.edu/resources/financial/fellowships.asp
• The Graduate School
• http://grad.msu.edu/funding/
• International Social Science Research Seminar• http://grad.msu.edu/funding/docs/ISSR_Fall_2014.pdf
Search in the right places
IRTL Resources
• Instantly search IRTL selected funding opportunities on
the IRTL website (update coming soon – filterable!).
• Videos, slideshows, sample materials
• Planning stage, budgeting, writing information
• Subscribe to the IRTL monthly funding alert newsletter.
• http://education.msu.edu/irtl/grad/Subscribe.asp
• Like our Facebook page for other updates through the month
Search in the right places
Other people of interest may include:• Grant administrators• Statisticians or those in charge of databases• Budget staff• Development/Fundraising/Advancement staff• Outreach office• Technology staff (data management, resources,
etc.)• Focus on community organizations or other
entities located in your area.• Network responsibly.
Search in the right places
Databases.
• Foundation Center http://www.foundationcenter.org
• Foundation Directory Online Professional *MSU Library
• Foundation Grants to Individuals Online *MSU Library
• Foundation Directory Free **NEW** http://fdo.foundationcenter.org
• GrantSelect, GuideStar *MSUNetID required
• http://er.lib.msu.edu/location.cfm?location=WWW
Search in the right places
Government databases & agencies
• Government databases (e.g. grants.gov)
• Government agencies (NSF, NIH, etc..)
• http://staff.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/federal.htm
• State governments (michigan.gov)
• http://staff.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/state.htm
Know relevant agencies
Know relevant agencies
Links to specific orgs are in the Notes for this slide
Sept: APA, AERA,
FullbrightIIE, NSF Oct: Spencer,
IRA, NSF
Nov: AAUW, SSRC, IRA, Ford, Wenner-Gren, ETS, AERA MDF, NSF GRFP,
Soros
Dec: AAUW, Boren, ETS
Jan: AERA, APA, NSF, SSRC, FLAS
Feb: ETS, NSF, KCP
Mar: WARC, Tinker
Apr: NSF, NIJ
May: Wenner-Gren
June: Fulbright DDRA
July: AIR
Aug: NSF, NCAA
• Grants and other funding sources typically follow a regular cycle.
• Plan ahead so you can prepare your materials on time, rather than waiting (perhaps a year) until the next deadline.
Learn grant cycles
Fall
Spring
Summer
Funds may be out there … we just need to hunt for them.
IRTL
Grants for Individuals
Grant Components
Finding Funders / Resources
Funding Opportunities Overview
Q&A
• Summer Research Fellowships• ~20, $6,000, full-time support, no classes
• Summer Research Renewable Fellowships• 8-10, $6,000 each of two summers, full-time support, no classes
• Summer Research Development Fellowships• ~15, $5,000, first year students only, no classes
• Research Practicum/Research Development Fellowship• For advanced doctoral students, develop your own budget
• Dissertation Completion Fellowships• ~20, $6,000, max of ¼ time assistantship, complete Ph.D. during
funding period
• Professional Development Fellowships
• Annual competition for endowed scholarships/fellowships
College of Education Opportunities
• Departmental professional development funds• varies by department, may be renewable
• Bailey Scholars• http://www.bsp.msu.edu
• RCAH Graduate Fellows• http://rcah.msu.edu/people/graduate-fellows
• IIT / James Madison• http://grad.msu.edu/iit/
• COGS Professional Development funds
• Up to $300 available once during your time at MSU, lottery
• COGS Travel funds
• Up to $300 available once during your time at MSU, lottery
MSU Funding Opportunities
• TIAA-CREF Ruth Simms Hamilton Graduate Merit Fellowship
• MSU Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships
• King-Chavez-Parks Future Faculty Fellowship Program at MSU
• Tinker Field Research Grant
• Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS)
Scholarship for Undergraduate and Graduate Study Abroad
* Consider non-monetary support options as well
MSU Funding Opportunities
Consider non-monetary support options as well:
• Office space
• Parking permit approval/sponsorship
• Copying
• Printing
• Telephone
• Physical storage space
• Account management
• Equipment (computer, video, audio, transcription)
Non-Monetary Support
• AERA Dissertation Grants• Fulbright Programs• National Academy of Education / Spencer
Dissertation Award• Woodrow Wilson Doctoral Dissertation
Fellowship in Women’s Studies• SSSP Dissertation Grant Awards• Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion
Fellowship• Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship Program for
New Americans• NSF Dissertation Research Improvement
Grants• IRA Grants• NACADA Academic Advising Research
Support Grant• Wenner-Gren Dissertation Fieldwork Grants• AERA Minority Dissertation Fellowship
Program in Education Research• SSRC Mellon International Dissertation
Research Fellowship (IDRF)
• NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
• American Association of University Women Dissertation Fellowships
• Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship
• Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowships• NASPA Awards• ACPA Awards• AERA Awards• ASHE Awards• NSEP David L. Boren Graduate Fellowships• AAUW International Fellowships• Doris Duke Fellowships for the Promotion
of Child Well-Being• ETS Harold Gullksen Psychometric Research
Fellowship• AIR Dissertation Grants
External Funding Opportunities
• What do you want to fund?
• Where can you find funding?
• Who can be part of your support network?
• What related skills do you already possess?
• What is your next step?
Moving forward …
• Keep an eye out for additional workshops in this Grants and Fellowships series:• Budgets
• Citation Management
• International Research & Funding
• Preparing a grant proposal
• We are always excited for• Workshop topic ideas
• Web and newsletter content suggestions
• New award information
• Updates on your grant/fellowship applications
• Corrections on typos, spelling, and grammar.
Upcoming events
IRTL Doctoral Student Research Support• http://education.msu.edu/irtl/grad/
IRTL facebook page• https://www.facebook.com/MSUIRTL
MSU Reference Librarian Jon Harrison’s Grant Resources• http://staff.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/
MSU College of Education – Fellowships & Scholarships• http://education.msu.edu/resources/financial/
MSU Libraries – MSUNetID–available resources• http://er.lib.msu.edu/location.cfm?location=WWW
MSU The Graduate School – Funding• http://grad.msu.edu/funding/
International Social Science Research Seminar Resources List 2014• http://grad.msu.edu/funding/docs/ISSR_Fall_2014.pdf
Main links from presentation
Institute for Research on Teaching and Learning2nd Floor, Erickson Hallhttp://education.msu.edu/irtl/gradhttps://www.facebook.com/MSUIRTLhttp://education.msu.edu/irtl/grad/Subscribe.asp
Bob Floden, Director, [email protected]
Marcy Wallace, Associate Director, [email protected]
Qiana Green, Graduate Assistant, [email protected](201C Erickson Hall)
IRTL – Doctoral Student Research Support
IRTL
Grants for Individuals
Grant Components
Finding Funders & Resources
Funding Opportunities Overview
Q&A