Predissertation Research Grants
Predissertation Grants of up to $1,500 offer early career doctoral students the opportunity to evaluate the feasibility of planned dissertation research, generate pilot data, or establish the necessary networks to carry out future dissertation research, among other activities. The aim is to help students gather information, answer questions, or solve problems related to their dissertation research design--these grants are NOT designed to fund dissertation research itself but rather to help you complete activities that will leave you well-positioned to begin your dissertation research after you complete your prospectus.
Who Is Eligible?
UMass doctoral students enrolled in a campus-based doctoral program who have completed at least one semester in their doctoral program at UMass Amherst at the time of application are eligible to apply. If you are enrolled in a joint master's/doctoral program you must complete your master's degree and one semester in your PhD program prior to applying for a Predissertation Grant.
Students are eligible to receive a Predissertation Grant only once. Applicants who were not awarded a grant in a previous application cycle are eligible to reapply, provided they still meet the eligibility requirements. Students may accept only one research grant of any kind from the Graduate School in the same academic year.
Awardees must complete all activities funded by the Predissertation Grant prior to presenting their dissertation prospectus.
Funds could support expenses related to:
- Preliminary research, including gathering pilot data, demonstrating proof of concept, or testing feasibility of research question(s) or method(s)
- Identifying dissertation research site(s)
- Initiating or strengthening research contacts to support future dissertation research
- Evaluating scope and content of potential research resources, such as archival records
Deadlines
Application deadlines are October 15 and February 15 each year. Applicants should plan the timing of their application based on the funding period outlined below:
- Applications submitted for the October 15, 2023 deadline should include research expenses that begin on January 1, 2024 or later. Awardees must secure all necessary research permission (IRB approval, IACUC approval, travel registry approval) and complete relevant online CITI training in Responsible Conduct of Research no later than May 24, 2024 or the Predissertation Grant will be forfeited.
- Applications submitted for the February 15, 2024 deadline should include research expenses that begin July 1, 2024 or later. Awardees must secure all necessary research permission (IRB approval, IACUC approval, travel registry approval) and complete relevant online CITI training in Responsible Conduct of Research no later than May 24, 2024 or the Predissertation Grant will be forfeited.
The application deadline is 11:59 PM on the posted due date—all required materials (including the advisor’s letter of recommendation) must be received by this time. Award notifications will be made by the end of the semester in which the application was submitted.
How to Apply
To allow for sufficient planning time, we recommend students submit an application for a Predissertation Grant at least three months before funds are needed. A completed application includes:
- A Predissertation Grant Application. You will login to the application using your UMass email. You may revise the text entry portions of your application by logging back in; PDFs cannot be edited once they are uploaded.
- A Budget Table (use this template; upload the completed Budget Table as a PDF with the Predissertation Grant Application. See tips below for preparing your Budget Table and Budget Justification.)
- A Budget Justification, which provides details on how you arrived at the amounts listed in the Budget Table (uploaded as a PDF with the Predissertation Grant Application; use the tips below and review this sample Budget Table and Budget Justification to understand how these documents should be prepared.)
- A letter of recommendation from your faculty advisor (see instructions below)
Include your first and last name in the file name for every document you upload to the Predissertation Research Grant Application.
Tips for preparing your Budget Table and Budget Justification
- Review the list of eligible and ineligible expenses below.
- Include enough detail in your Budget Justification for a reviewer to understand how the amounts in your budget table connect with the research activities described in your Project Description.
- Consult the UMass Controller's Office website for standard mileage amounts and other travel expense guidelines.
- For travel outside the United States estimate living expenses based on your previous experience in that country or use the Fulbright-Hays Maintenance Allowance guide (use the Monthly Stipend column to estimate monthly living expenses in that location).
Instructions for Faculty
The faculty advisor reviews the completed Budget Table and Budget Justification, writes a letter of recommendation, and submits it online. Note: Faculty do not receive a prompt to submit a letter; applicants must provide them with the link above and the instructions below. Faculty should login using their UMass email to access the submission portal; non-UMass faculty should contact researchgrant [at] grad [dot] umass [dot] edu (Heidi Bauer-Clapp) for submission instructions.
Please include the student's first and last name in the file name. The letter of recommendation should address the following:
- The student’s ability to carry out the activities proposed in the Predissertation Grant application.
- The student’s progress in degree program and general academic qualifications.
- The merit of the intended dissertation research and how activities proposed in the Predissertation Grant application will support eventual dissertation research.
Review Criteria
Awards will be made based on the clarity and quality of the application and the potential for activities funded by Predissertation Grants to provide a strong foundation for the student's future dissertation research. Proposals written in clear language, with realistic and cost-efficient budgets, are more likely to be funded. Applications will be read by people from a variety of fields who are not working in your field of study--avoid technical language and jargon.
Expenses
Eligible expenses include, but are not limited to:
- Research-related travel (e.g. transportation, lodging)
- Costs associated with specialized training not available at UMass, including travel or fees (requests for specialized training or language instruction available at UMass or within the Five College network will not be funded)
- Payments to research participants
- Fees to use libraries, archives, or databases
- Purchasing research-related software NOT available through UMass Amherst
Ineligible expenses under this grant include:
- Salary for the graduate student applicant
- Salary or other payments made directly to research assistants, consultants or other personnel (payments to research participants are allowed)
- Transcription
- Purchase of computers or tablets
- Food (with the exception of meals during research-related travel)
- Costs to attend or present at conferences or meetings
- Routine laboratory or office supplies (these include items considered standard for your department/laboratory, i.e. things routinely in stock)
- Purchase of books
- Fees or other costs associated with publication
- Fees or other costs associated with membership in professional associations
In most cases, award funds will be disbursed as reimbursements, although some expenses such as equipment purchases must be paid directly by the University. Students should be prepared to pay for expenses out-of-pocket and received reimbursement when activities are completed. Awarded funds are managed by the student’s department; awardees must communicate with their department’s business manager prior to spending any grant funds. Grant recipients will be required to submit a brief report at the end of the grant period to account for how grant funds were spent.
Supplements for Public Engagement or Travel with Children
Applicants for Graduate School Grants are eligible to apply for supplements to cover costs associated with Public Engagement projects or childcare/travel with children during research. Please review the criteria and application information in the Public Engagement and Travel with Children pages.
Questions on the Graduate School Predissertation Grant should be addressed to researchgrant [at] grad [dot] umass [dot] edu (Heidi Bauer-Clapp).