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Dissertation Research Grants

Dissertation Research Grants

Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate School John J. McCarthy is pleased to announce a new program to offer modest support for graduate student doctoral dissertation research. Dissertation Research Grants will be offered through a competitive proposal process once each in the fall and spring semesters. At least 40 grants will be awarded in the first year of this program.

Eligibility is limited to doctoral students who have achieved candidacy at the time of application. Applicants must also be in good academic standing and currently enrolled (including “Continuous Enrollment/Program Fee”).

The purpose of the grants is to provide funding up to a maximum of $1,000 for expenses incurred in connection with the student’s doctoral dissertation research. Allowed expenses include but are not limited to research-related expenses associated with: travel to special library or museum collections; access to libraries, databases, or archives; hiring consultants; duplication, transcription, or translation of research materials; payments to subjects or undergraduate assistants; surveys; field work; and the purchase of software specialized equipment (which will remain the property of the University). Expenses not allowed on the grant include: paying oneself a stipend or salary; conference travel (which the Graduate School supports with block grants to the graduate programs); typing or duplication of the dissertation; normal living expenses except when on research-related travel; routine laboratory or office supplies; purchase of software or specialized equipment that is already available on campus; and purchase of computers or other routine or personal equipment.

Awards will be transferred to the applicant’s department. Normal rules and procedures for business expenses apply. The recipient’s department business office will be able to provide detailed information on how funds can be used to pay allowable expenses.

An applicant must submit the following materials:

  1. A completed application form, available here or in the sidebar of this page.
  2. A one-page description of the project. This description should include an explanation of why the expense is necessary and how it is linked with the applicant’s dissertation topic. It should be clear from your description what it is exactly that you are undertaking, how the work will proceed, and the overall plan, as appropriate for your academic discipline. If  your project involves experimentation or a similar form of data-gathering, you should be sure to describe your research design and methodology. The content should be understandable by faculty in other fields.
  3. A detailed budget, including source information for cost quotes or estimates. If the total budget exceeds the $1000 cap, the budget page should also describe any commitments or pending requests for funds from other sources.

The applicant’s advisor must also submit a confidential one-page letter of recommendation addressing the applicant’s merit and performance in the program, the significance of the project, and the project’s relationship to the applicant’s dissertation topic.

This is a completely paperless application process; all materials should be sent by email to researchgrant@grad.umass.edu. The deadlines are 15th October 2012 for the fall competition and 11th March 2013 for the spring competition.

A subcommittee of the Graduate Council will review submissions. Awards will be announced not later than the end of the semester. Questions should be addressed to David Lafond at djl@grad.umass.edu.