Doctoral Student Research Fund Application

Please complete this form and submit via email to oral Student Research Fund applications are accepted on a rolling basis and eligible proposals will be awarded until funds are exhausted.Please see the end of this form for application instructions and additional information. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Student Information:

Last Name: First Name: Middle Initial:

KU Email Address: Academic Program:

Title of Research Project:

Name of Faculty Advisor/Recommender:

Matching funds (optional); $ Source of matching funds:

Research Proposal:

Please provide a summary of the project and how research funds will support this project (not to exceed two pages).

Budget:

Please provide a total budget for the project, indicating what funds are being requested from the doctoral student research fund and what funds are being provided through other sources (if applicable).

Research Approvals:

Please complete the research approvals form. If your project requires HSCL / IRB / IACUC approvals, the approval number / information must be provided prior to receipt of award.

Letter of Support:

Your faculty advisor should provide a letter of support under separate cover to .

Departmental Endorsement:

The Director of Graduate Studies for your program or the Chair of the department should also email to indicate departmental support of your application.

Research Proposal:

(please paste your research proposal text into the box below)

Budget:

Please list budgeted items, and which items are to be supported by Doctoral Student Research Funds or other sources.

Supplies/Equipment/Materials:

Description of Item: / Doctoral Student Research Funds requested / Other funding amount if applicable / Total Cost

Research Expenses:

Description of Item: / Doctoral Student Research Funds requested / Other funding amount if applicable / Total Cost

Travel Expenses:

Description of Item: / Doctoral Student Research Funds requested / Other funding amount if applicable / Total Cost

Other Expenses:

Description of Item: / Doctoral Student Research Funds requested / Other funding amount if applicable / Total Cost
Total of all Categories (requested amount not to exceed 1,500 for pre-candidacy students or 2,000 for candidates) / Doctoral Student Research Funds requested / Other funding amount if applicable / Total Cost
Total Amount Requested

Information on allowable travel costs and rates may be found on this website:
Research Approvals

Applicant Name:

Every applicant MUST COMPLETE this form and include it with the application.

1. /
Human Subjects
a)Does this project involve human subjects? (includes interviews, questionnaires, surveys, and observations) / Yes / No
b)If yes, have you applied for approval from the Human Subjects Committee? (HSCL – David Hann, 4-4729) / Yes / No
c)Have you received approval? / Yes / No
d)HSCL / IRB number:
2. /
Animal Research
a)Does the project involve animals? / Yes / No
b)If yes, have you applied for approval from the Animal Care Committee?
(Jim Bresnahan, 4-5587) / Yes / No
c)Have you received approval? / Yes / No
d)IACUC number:
3. /
Radiation Safety
a)Does the project involve radiation sources? (includes x-rays, radioisotopes, etc.) / Yes / No
b)If yes, have you applied for approval from the Radiation Safety Committee? (contact the Environmental Health & Safety Office, 4-4089) / Yes / No
c)Have you received approval? / Yes / No
4. /
Kansas Ecological Reserves
a)Does the project involve Kansas Ecological Reserves? / Yes / No
b)If yes, have you applied for approval from the Director of the Kansas Biological Survey? (Ed Martinko, 4-7770) / Yes / No
c)Have you received approval? / Yes / No
5. /
Biohazards
a)Does the project involve Recombinant DNA or other biohazardous materials? / Yes / No
b)If yes, have you applied for approval from the Institutional Biosafety Committee? (contact the Environmental Health & Safety Office, 4-4089) / Yes / No
c)Have you received approval? / Yes / No
6. /
Blood-borne Pathogens
a)Does the research involve exposure to any blood-borne pathogens? / Yes / No

Doctoral Student Research Fund – Application Instructions

The Doctoral Student Research Fund promotes and supports doctoral level research funding on the Lawrence Campus.

Purpose

The Doctoral Student Research Fund is designed to support KU doctoral students who need assistance to carry out research that advances progress toward the degree.

Funding may be requested to cover:

  • supplies, material, equipment, if not possible to charge to a department or a research grant;
  • research related expenses (e.g., subject fees, access to specialized data sets, purchase of archival materials or images, laboratory supplies that will be consumed in the course of the project);
  • travel expenses in connection with research (requests for travel expenses must include a justification of the need to travel and a day-to-day or week-to-week schedule of specific research plans). Priority is given to requests to do on-site research where the facilities at the site are unique.
  • other research expenses such as funds to pay research participants or publication expenses for refereed books or articles will be considered.

Students are eligible for this funding to support research, performance or exhibition as required by their graduate program. In order to be eligible, the proposed activity must be central to the student's graduate studies and serve to contribute directly to his or her degree.

Requests for funds to travel to professional meetings will NOT be considered. Funds for this purpose can be requested from the Paper Presenter Fund. Funding also cannot be used as salary for graduate students, undergraduate research assistants, or others helping with the project. Funds may not be used to purchase laptop computers or other computer hardware.

Eligibility

Graduate students are eligible to apply to the Doctoral Student Research Fund if:

  • The graduate student is in good academic standing in a KU doctoral degree granting program, and
  • The proposed research project or activity directly relates to and helps achieve progress towards his or her doctoral degree.

A doctoral student is eligible for two DSRF awards during his or her graduate program, one before doctoral candidacy and one as a candidate.

Selection Criteria

Doctoral Student Research Fund proposals are accepted on a rolling basis and eligible proposals will be awarded until funds are exhausted.

Criteria for funding include the clarity and coherence of the rationale for the project, the significance of the research question being addressed, the value of the project for the student's graduate school and career goals, the qualifications of the student to carry out the proposed research, and the relevance and reasonableness of the budget request for the activities proposed.

Award Description

Pre-candidate doctoral students are eligible for an award up to $1,500

Doctoral Candidates are eligible for an award up to $2,000

Application Procedures

Students must submit:

  • completed application form, which includes the information page, research proposal, budget, and research approvals form
  • one letter of support (not to exceed two pages) from either the major advisor or the program’s Director of Graduate Studies.

Applications will be submitted in electronic format via . Paper applications will not be accepted.

The research budget should match the activities described in the proposal, and explain in detail the costs associated with each of the activities. Note that research assistance or transcription of notes or recordings will not normally be allowed unless there is a compelling explanation as to why the student cannot accomplish the task. If the anticipated costs are greater than the amount requested, explain what other resources are already available to support the remaining expenses. If funding is being requested from multiple sources, list those sources.