Description

The Graduate Student Research Fund is designed to assist graduate students in long-term research projects toward the completion of a doctoral degree (i.e., Ph.D., S.T.D., D.Min., D.M.A., etc.). The fund will reimburse travel (including airfare, taxi, and trains) hotel, food, and copying/paper/archival/related expenses. Other reimbursable funds could include software used for research or paying study participants. Documentation of all reimbursed expenses will be required. Those awarded the grant will be expected to give a brief presentation for the GSA regarding how they used their funding at the beginning of next fall semester. 

Eligibility

All activity-fee paying graduate students in a doctoral program are eligible to apply for the spring dissertation/research grant. 

Previous recipients of the award are not eligible (effective since 2017-2018 academic year).

Selection Guidelines

Selection will be based on the strength of the applicant's personal statement, CV, letter of recommendation from advisor, as well as how critical the project is to the completion of the dissertation or thesis, and how the funding will help the student complete the project.

How to Apply

To apply, please fill out this form in the Nest. Applications will be accepted from December 15, 2023 through March 15, 2024. Your recommendation letter may be sent to cua-gsadissertation@cua.edu. If you have further questions, please contact cua-gsadissertation@cua.edu. 

You will need to prepare the following information to attach to the form:

• Statement of purpose (300-500 words) outlining your research as a whole in a way that is accessible to a broad audience; what you have already completed for your dissertation; and how the reception of these funds would address a specific need necessary to the completion of the dissertation. Projects which seem likely to result in a completed dissertation within a year are usually prioritized.

• PDF of an itemized list of projected expenses, including a "total" line, that you foresee undertaking to complete this part of your project. Briefly explain each of these expenses and their necessity for your project.

• Your curriculum vitae

Additionally, your advisor will need to send a letter of recommendation with the following information to cua-gsadissertation@cua.edu before the March 15 deadline.

• How long has the student been contemplating or working on this project?
• Do you anticipate this student finishing their project and subsequently finishing their degree?
• What is the background of the student’s research?
• What other sources of funding is the student receiving? [are there departmental funds available to assist?]
• Will this funding significantly help the student in completing their project?