Information and Instructions for the CPUB Student Research Grant Application

A. Applicant Eligibility Requirements

1. Any undergraduate or graduate student currently enrolled in a degree program at a SSHE school is eligible, provided that the applicant:

a. is in good academic standing, according to the requirements stated in the graduate/undergraduate catalog of the student’s institution.

b. is at least a sophomore, according to the requirements stated in the undergraduate catalog of the student’s institution (not applicable to graduate students).

c. performs his or her research under the direct supervision of a SSHE faculty member.

B. Project Expenditures

1. Allowable Research Expenditures:

a.  Funds may be used to defray the cost of consumable materials, specialized services and/or durable equipment that is not available in the Biology department at the student’s institution. Examples:  purchase of specialized chemicals, purchase of test kit chemicals for toxicity testing, purchase of photographic supplies, purchase of boat time for aquatic sampling, or purchase of live specimens.

b.  Purchase of specialized apparatus/equipment not generally available in existing facilities. Examples:  specialized lenses for microscopes, software for phylogenetic analysis, sample storage containers (e.g. vials, specimen jars).

c. Travel costs incurred as part of the research are eligible for funding. Such costs may include transportation to field stations or museums, lodging, and meals.

2. Ineligible Expenditures:

a. Grant monies cannot be used to purchase supplies or materials that can reasonably expected to be available in Biology departments at SSHE universities. For example, pH meters and common laboratory chemicals such as sucrose are not allowable expenses.

b. Travel expenses associated with attending professional meetings are not eliglible for funding under this grant.

c. Grant monies cannot be used to pay salaries, stipends, or consulting fees.

C. Additional Information

1. The maximum amount for a research grant is $200 for supplies/equipment or travel. The committee may elect to fully fund, partially fund, or not fund a proposal.

2. Student grant recipients shall be limited to one research award per academic year.

3. CPUB member faculty may sponsor one research grant proposal per academic year.

4. Each proposal may have only one student author.

5. Research fund proposals may be submitted at any time prior to conducting the experiments for which funding is being sought

6. Reapplication for funds for on-going research (research that has been approved and funded in a prior academic year) may be submitted. 

7. All materials or equipment purchased will become the property of the SSHE member institution.

8. Research projects must be carried out at academic institutions within the State System of Higher Education. Exceptions may be made for research conducted at a field station or museum, provided that the research is directly supervised by a CPUB member.

9. Students whose proposals are funded are required to submit a report describing the results of their research. The format for the report will be sent to successful applicants with the notification of funding.

10. Grant recipients are strongly encouraged to present the results of their research at a CPUB Annual Meeting.

D. Preparation of the proposal

            1. Introduction

a. The introduction should contain background information to help the reviewers understand the significance of the project.

b. Literature relevant to the proposed research should be briefly reviewed.

c. The major question posed in the research should be clearly stated.

2. Materials and methods

a. This section should begin with a paragraph listing any non-standard materials or reagents, and the source(s) from which these will be obtained.

b. The methods must be described in sufficient detail that the reader can follow the procedure, and determine that it has been thoughtfully designed.  Describe any controls used in the experiment.

            3. References

a. This section must contain a minimum of three journal articles relelvant to the project.

            4. Detailed budget

                        a. The budget should list all anticipated expenditures for the project.

b. The source used to determine the cost of each item must be clearly listed (i.e. 6-methyl purine, SIGMA Chemical Co., Cat. # M6502, 25 mg, $10.00).

c. The budget should list any additional sources of funding for the project.

Checklist for Preparing the CPUB Student Research Grant Application

The application packet must contain 6 copies of each of the items listed below.

r Cover letter requesting funding

r  Proposal:  The proposal must have the following sections.

            Introduction

            Materials and methods

            References

            Detailed budget

r Student’s resume/C.V.

r Letter of support from CPUB faculty mentor