Graduate Students

Research Grants for Research Doctoral Students

Purpose

Research Grants for Research Doctoral Students (RGRDS) awards small grants on a competitive basis to support research/projects initiated and conducted by students of the SIUE EdD, DNP, PharmD, and the co-operative PhD programs to enhance their academic progress. Although faculty advisors oversee the research, the purpose of this program is to support the research of doctoral students.

Application Deadlines

The application will open on the first business day of May and the application deadline is July 1 at 4:30 p.m. (or the following business day when July 1 falls on a Saturday or Sunday). Only complete proposals received by the deadline will be reviewed for funding.

Eligibility

EdD, DNP, PharmD, and cooperative PhD students may submit a proposal for RGRDS funding if they meet the following conditions:

• Good academic standing (Minimum Cumulative Graduate GPA of 3.0)
• At least six completed hours in the graduate program prior to application (not eligible to apply during your first term of enrollment in the program)
• Enrollment as a degree-seeking doctoral student during the academic term for which they are seeking funding

Previous RGRDS recipients are ineligible for a second grant. All eligible candidates are encouraged to apply.

Awards

Applicants may request up to $1,000; total award money available is $15,000 annually. Awards may be granted for the full amount requested or for a lesser amount, depending upon availability of funds and the appropriateness of the amount requested. Meritorious applications are funded up to the limits of the RGRDS funds available for each year. Students must maintain good academic standing and enrollment during the tenure of the grant. Students may be allowed up to one year to expend grant funds. Awards are for future expenditures only. Recipients cannot request funds to reimburse money spent before the RGRDS is awarded.

Please note the following:

• Funds are distributed to the student's department of study for their expenditures.
• Purchases related to this award may begin when students have received their award notification and are to be charged to your department or school's ICR account.
• All funds awarded must be expended within one calendar year or are forfeited.
• It is the responsibility of the individual researcher to expend funds only for approved items and to submit all receipts for expenditures to the department.  If budget revisions are needed, approval must be received in advance by emailing graduateschool@siue.edu.

Research Compliance

Federal statutes establish mandatory training for all researchers. Any research involving human subjects, animals, biohazardous materials, or recombinant DNA must comply with university policies and regulations. Protocols must be approved by the appropriate board prior to any data collection. Research involving human subjects must be reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) before any aspects of the research commence. If your research contains human subjects, you will need to log into the Kuali Online IRB Protocol System to create and submit your protocol. Visit the IRB and Kuali website for more information regarding IRB and Kuali.

Application Procedure

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• Background and Significance (no more than approximately 2 pages, double spaced)
  
  • The problem to be solved, or the need to be met
  • Significance of the research
  • Hypothesis and objectives
  • Discussion of the related literature
• Procedure/Methodology (no more than approximately 2 pages, double spaced)
  
  • Design of the study; nature, sources, method of collection of the data and analysis of data; and the availability of facilities, equipment and materials. Clearly describe how items requested in the budget are to be used in conducting the research
  • Timetable for conducting the project
  • Anticipated results
• Budget Narrative & Budget Details
  
  • Provide a short narrative justifying the budget and itemize each budget item. The budget request should not exceed $1,000. See the “Allowable and Unallowable Costs” section below for examples of appropriate and inappropriate requests. All requested items should be clearly related to the project that is to be conducted. You may not request funds to reimburse departments or other entities for money spent on this project prior to the receipt of the award.

Allowable and Unallowable Costs

Follow these guidelines when preparing the budget form and narrative. List and justify each budget item.

Examples of appropriate requests

• Commodities: Project-specific chemicals, supplies, software
• Travel for the purpose of gathering data which could not be obtained otherwise: Mileage, commercial fare, lodging and per diem.
• Contractual Services: Photocopying, postage, participant incentives, transcription services needed to execute research
• Equipment: Laboratory, field 

*Please note that any equipment purchased with the RGRDS grant funding is the property of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The purchases must be returned to your department once you graduate and are no longer affiliated with the University.

Examples of requests which will not be funded are:

• Equipment maintenance
• Supplies which ordinarily could be obtained through the department
• Funds for attendance at professional conferences
• Salaries and wages
• Reimbursement for money spent prior to the award
• Editing services of research paper

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be reviewed by a committee made up of faculty from doctoral programs. In recommending proposals for funding, the award committee will consider the following criteria based on the RGRDS rubric:

• The significance and impact of the proposed research
• The clarity and feasibility of the research methodology
• Appropriateness of the proposed budget
• The overall clarity and composition of the project description. Proposals should be written so that they can be understood by an educated lay audience.

Fiscal Regulations

Funds will be transferred to an ICR account within the academic department. It is the responsibility of the individual researcher to expend funds only for approved items. The unit and major advisor are responsible for overseeing the appropriate use of the funds in a timely manner.