Research Grants - Graduate Student Grant, Info & Application

A - Application procedure

The Mazamas Graduate Student Research Grants are intended to help graduate students cover travel, per diem, supplies, and other costs of conducting master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation research.  Applications for 2008 Graduate Student Research Grants must be received by February 1, 2008 for Graduate Students with a Last Name starting with A thru M; for Graduate Students with a Last Name starting with N thru Z Applications must be received by February 4, 2008.

Submit one complete copy electronically via e-mail. Additionally, submit one complete (identical) copy via regular mail (Postmarked no later than February 4, 2008).

Please download the following PDF file with detailed instructions on how to submit a Mazamas Standard Research Grant:
Graduate Research Grant Instructions

Applications should include:

1. A cover page with the project title, applicant’s name, affiliation, mailing address, and other contact information (phone, fax, e-mail). Please indicate that you are applying for a Graduate Student Grant.
2. A 250-word abstract of the proposed project.
3. A description of the proposed project including its objectives, justification, and likely practical impact, background, methodology, expected results, and planned means of disseminating the results.  Maximum length of the application, including coverage and abstract, is not to exceed 7 (seven) pages.  Additional information may be submitted as separate attachments. Use #12 font, may be single or double spaced.
4. An itemized budget for the funds requested with appropriate justification for each item. Personal gear and institutional overhead are not allowable items. Identify matching funds or other sources of support that are available to the project. No indirect costs are funded by the Mazamas. (1 page)
5. A copy of the student’s resume (1-4 pages).
6. A letter of recommendation from the applicant’s thesis or dissertation advisor. This letter may be attached to the proposal or mailed separately. Please have both hard and email copies of the letter of support sent. If mailed separately, please indicate who is sending it.
7. To keep our mail box from exploding, submitted files must not exceed 3 megabytes in size.

B - Evaluation of proposals

The Mazamas Research Committee evaluates Graduate Student Research Grant proposals using the following criteria:

1. Scientific merit as judged by the originality, reasonableness, and potential significance of the project’s goals and methods.
2. Relationship to Mazamas’ goals of conserving mountain environments (particularly relating to the Pacific Northwest), encouraging the scientific exploration of the natural world, and enhancing the enjoyment and safety of outdoor recreation.
3. Potential for compounded benefits, such as student career advancement and other forms of resource development.
4. Appropriateness of the proposed budget.

C. Award procedure

Proposals are thoroughly reviewed by the Mazamas Research Committee.  Since the number of applications may exceed available funds, the committee reserves the right to modify budgets or partially fund any request.  Recommended proposals are forwarded to the Mazamas Executive Council, which is responsible for final approval of all grants.  Applicants will be notified in April, 2008.  The maximum award for any proposal in this category will be $1,500.  Funds will be distributed in May, 2008.

D - Conditions of awards

Mazamas Graduate Student Research Grants are awarded under the following conditions:

1. Funds must be spent only on allowable costs.
2. An annual progress report is due November 1 of each year up to the time of project completion.  This report should detail work accomplishments and expenditure outlays associated with the study; submission of draft publications is not necessary.  This report must be cosigned by the applicant’s thesis or dissertation chair.
3. Upon completion, and no later than three years following awarding of the grant, the awardee(s) must submit a final report of the work performed for publication in the Mazamas Annual Journal.  This report should include a 2,000-word summary of the project, its results and benefits, and be worded for a lay audience.  Illustrations are encouraged and may consist of black-and-white photographs or figures.  A sample copy of the Journal can be provided to the awardee(s) to aid in determining content and style.  The Mazamas Research and Publication Committees reserve the right to edit this report to conform to the style of the Journal but will not alter meaning or basic content.
4. Any publications resulting from the grant must be forwarded to the Mazamas for inclusion in the Mazamas Library Archives.  Any such publication must acknowledge Mazamas support but Mazamas’ endorsement of results or conclusions should not be implied.
5. Equipment exceeding $100.00 becomes the property of the sponsoring institution, usually a university.

Please address your application to:

Mazamas Research Committee
527 SE 43rd Avenue
Portland OR 97215
(503) 227-2345
More questions?