FUNDING YOUR DISSERTATIONInstitute for Research on Teaching and LearningDoctoral Student Research SupportSeptember 2013

GETTING INSIDE THE

GRANT PROCESS

INTRODUCTIONSMegan Drangstveit

mdrangst@msu.edu

Doctoral Student

Higher, Adult & Lifelong Education

Graduate Assistant

Institute for Research on Teaching & Learning

Audience members…

LEARNING OBJECTIVES1. Learn about grants.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES1. Learn about grants.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES1. Learn about grants & grant writing in general.

2. Explore dissertation grant opportunities.

3. Identify resources to find appropriate funding and refine grant applications.

TODAY’S PLAN• Target proposals: Money, Eligibility, Fit, Time

• Finding funders

• Examples of dissertation funding opportunities

• Resources

• Q&A

WHY? Focus on research and/or writing Advance knowledge in your field National recognition and prestige Lifetime professional network Professional development opportunity Shows ability to win grants for academic job

applications

WHAT IS IRTL?Institute for Research on Teaching & Learning

We hope to be a valuable reference source and accommodate the busy lives of all doctoral students.• Workshops and other activities

• Overview, writing, budgets, RCR, etc..• Sessions for groups and classes• Sample proposals and budgets on the website• One-on-one consultation• Budgeting, text review

http://education.msu.edu/irtl/grad

AUDIENCE POLL (THINK, PAIR, SHARE)1. What are grants and how can they help me?

2. Who has grant experience (writing, reviewing, etc.)?

3. What types of things are you hoping to fund?

4. Where would you expect to look for funding?

5. What assumptions do you have about the external funding process?

GETTING STARTED

WHAT ROLE CAN GRANTS (OR OTHER EXTERNAL FUNDS) PLAY IN MY CAREER?• Grants can be used for training, travel, work buy-

outs, supplies, hourly staff, tuition, graduate assistantships.

• Funds can be used to complete a dissertation or conduct small research projects.

• Funding agencies exist to advance research and/or practice within an area.

• Foundations are required to spend their funds.• Start small, “earn” your way up to larger awards.

A littleplanning

An excitingidea

A support network

WHY NOT?If you’re seeking funding for your dissertation, you will do or have already done (most of) the work.

Grant writing skills are valued no matter your role.

Turning your idea into a competitive grant proposal takes:

TARGET THE PROPOSAL AT THE INTERSECTION WHERE:

Moneyresearch funding is available

Eligibility

you’re ready and meet

requirements

Fityour research interests map

to RFP

Timea competitive proposal can be written in

the time available

MONEY… IS THERE RESEARCH FUNDING AVAILABLE?INTERNAL FUNDING• Your department / college

/ program / organization• Research entities on

campus (grant administration, other departments)

• Institution-wide opportunities

EXTERNAL FUNDING• Databases• Regional foundations• Professional

organizations & associations

• Government entities

IRTL’s Focus

ELIGIBILITY …ARE YOU READY? Think one step

ahead!Early Stage funds tuition and fees, as well as a stipend for living for early doctoral students.

Predissertation funds research and experiences that aid research, such as travel, language study, and supplies.

Dissertation funds research and experiences that aid research, such as language study, travel, supplies, facility use, and/or stipend for living after the defense of dissertation proposal to completion.

Write-Up tuition and fees, stipend for living expenses to concentrate mostly or only on writing and completing the dissertation.

Postdoctoral funds opportunities towards the development of an academic career.

ELIGIBILITY…DO YOU MEET THE SPONSOR’S REQUIREMENTS?• Citizenship?

• Comprehensive exams and/or coursework complete? Degree obtained?

• Dissertation proposal defense complete?

• Full-time employee vs. faculty member vs. student?

• Faculty advisor’s “OK”

• Pilot program complete? Collaboration in place?

FIT…DOES YOUR PROJECT MATCH THE FUNDER’S GOALS AND PRIORITIES?

Many sponsors have websites with helpful information:

• What are the sponsor’s goals and priorities? What have they funded in the past?

• What is their program focus?population? method? Issue?

• Who can I contact for informationfor assistance, guidance, or advice?

• What are the review criteria?

• Do they have sample proposals?

TIME... CAN A COMPETITIVE PROPOSAL BE WRITTEN IN THE TIME AVAILABLE?

• Start early.• Assess your timeline.

• When will you complete doctoral program requirements? collect data? conduct analysis? write up?

• Can you continue operations until funding would be received?• Do you have time to complete the application?• How long does it take for a decision? When will the funds become

available?• Can you reapply?

TARGET THE PROPOSAL AT THE INTERSECTION WHERE:

Moneyresearch funding is available

Eligibility

you’re ready and meet

requirements

Fityour research interests map

to RFP

Timea competitive proposal can be written in

the time available

FIND FUNDERS

FINDING FUNDERSIt’s never too early or too late to start searching, but you will need to cut through the clutter and be a “smart searcher”

To be successful, you will need to:

Search in the right places

Know relevant agencies

Learn grant cycles

1. SEARCH IN THE RIGHT PLACES• Start local. • Talk to faculty members, people on campus with

similar interests, supervisors, colleagues, those who work in grant-funded programs.

• Talk with your librarians.• MSU Libraries, Jon Harrison• http://staff.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/index.htm

• Consider any on-campus funding search resources.

MSU LIBRARIES

1. SEARCH IN THE RIGHT PLACESOther people of interest may include:

• Grant administrators• Statisticians or those in charge of databases• Budget staff• Development/Fundraising/Advancement staff• Outreach office• Technology staff (data management, resources,

etc..)

1. SEARCH IN THE RIGHT PLACESFocus on community organizations or other entities located in your area.

Network responsibly.

Possible options in this area:• Skillman for Detroit schools• Ford Foundation• BCBSF of MI

1. SEARCH IN THE RIGHT PLACESIRTL Selected Funding Opportunities

• Instantly search IRTL selected funding opportunities on the IRTL website.

• Videos, slideshows, sample materials• Planning stage, budgeting, writing information• Subscribe to the IRTL monthly funding alert

newsletter, if you have not already.• http://education.msu.edu/irtl/grad/Subscribe.asp

MSU LIBRARIES

1. SEARCH IN THE RIGHT PLACESDatabases.

• Foundation Center

• Foundation Directory Online Professional

• Foundation Grants to Individuals Online

• Foundation Directory Free **NEW**

• GrantSelect

• GuideStar

2. KNOW RELEVANT AGENCIES

Links to specific orgs are in the Notes for this slide

2. KNOW RELEVANT AGENCIESGovernment databases & agencies

• Government databases (e.g. grants.gov)• Government agencies (NSF, NIH, etc..)• State governments (michigan.gov)

Example search• www.grants.gov• Search Grants Basic Search “Graduate

Student”

3. LEARN GRANT CYCLESGrants and other funding sources typically follow a regular cycle.

Plan ahead so you can prepare your materials on time, rather than waiting (perhaps a year) until the next deadline.

Fall

Spring

Summer

Sept: APA, AERA, Fulbright,

NSF

Oct: Spencer, IRA, NSF

Nov: AAUW, SSRC, IRA, Ford, Wenner-Gren, AERA, ETS, AIR

Dec: AAUW, Boren, ETS

June: Fulbright

Jan: AIR, AERA, APA, NSF, SSRCFeb: ETS, NSF,

JKCooke

Apr: NSF

May: Wenner-Gren

SELECT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FALL 2013

AERA DISSERTATIONGRANTSDissertation data collection, write-up

The research project must include the analysis of data from at least one of the large-scale, nationally or internationally representative data sets such as those supported by NCES, NSF, and the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the National Institutes of Health. Additional data sets may be used in conjunction with the obligatory federal data set. If international data sets are used, the study must include U.S. education.

Citizenship: Any | Award: ~15; $20,000 | Deadlines: 9/5/13; 1/?/14 (TBA)

FULBRIGHT PROGRAMSFor students to conduct research in other countries in foreign languages and area studies for periods of 6 to 12 months.

Fulbright-Hays (DDRA). For Ph.D. candidates only. Proposals focusing on Western Europe are not eligible. Projects deepen research knowledge and help the nation develop capability in areas of the world not generally included in U.S. curricula.

Fulbright IIE. For anyone with a Bachelors and allows for individually designed study/research in a single country. A list of eligible countries is available on the Fulbright IIE website.

Must apply through MSU. Contact: Frank D’Itri in ISP.

Citizenship: U.S. | Award: ~1,200, $ varies | Deadline: MSU 9/23/13, IIE 10/15/13

NATIONAL ACADEMY OF EDUCATION / SPENCER DISSERTATION AWARDDissertation write up

To encourage a new generation of scholars from a wide range of disciplines and professional fields to undertake research relevant to the improvement of education while bringing fresh and constructive perspectives to the history, theory, or practice of formal or information education anywhere in the world. Fellowships support final analysis of the research topic and the writing of the dissertation.

Candidates should be interested in pursuing further research in education once the doctorate is attained.

Citizenship: Any | Award: ~25, $25,000 | Deadline: 10/4/13

WOODROW WILSON DOCTORAL DISSERTATION FELLOWSHIP IN WOMEN’S STUDIESDissertation data collection, write-up

Focus on issues related to women, gender, women’s studies or feminist/gender/LGBTQ theory.

Award can support travel, books, microfilming, taping, and computer services.

Citizenship: Any | Award: up to $3,000 | Deadline: 10/15/13

SOCIETY FOR THE STUDY OF SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY DISSERTATION GRANT AWARDSDissertation data collection, write-up

The purpose of the Society of School Psychology Dissertation Grant Awards is to promote excellence in research training in school psychology, thereby enhancing the capability of students to pursue a productive research career that advances the science of school psychology. Although not all quality proposals submitted can be funded, each student will receive feedback intended to contribute to the student’s enthusiasm for and competence in research.

Citizenship: Any | Award: 4, up to $5,000 | Deadlines: 10/17/13, 3/?/14 (TBA)

MELLON/ACLS DISSERTATION COMPLETION FELLOWSHIPDissertation write-up

Supports a year of research and writing to help advanced graduate students in the humanities and related social sciences in the last year of Ph.D. dissertation writing.

Citizenship: Any | Award: 65, $33,000 | Deadline: 10/23/13

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION DISSERTATION RESEARCH IMPROVEMENT GRANTSDissertation data collection, write-up

These grants provide funds for items not normally available at the university level, allowing the doctoral student to undertake data-gathering and field research that would not otherwise be possible.

Proposals are judged on their scientific merit, importance of the research question and appropriateness of proposed data and methodology.

Citizenship: Any | Award: ~200-300; $2.5m available | Deadline: varies by program

IRA HELEN M. ROBINSON GRANTDissertation data collection

Given annually to assist doctoral students at the early stages of their dissertation research in the area of reading and literacy. Focus on instructional interventions.

Must be IRA members. Must have dissertation proposal successfully defended in order to apply.

Citizenship: Any | Award: $1,200 | Deadline: 11/1/13

IRA STEVEN A. STAHL RESEARCH GRANTPre-Dissertation: Research Grants; Dissertation: Data Collection

This award is intended to encourage and support promising graduate students in their research. All applicants must have at least three years of pre-K-12 teaching experience. The research must be conducted in the classroom(s), it must be focused on improving reading instruction and children’s reading achievement, and it must be empirically rigorous. Research must be completed within two years.

Eligibility: IRA members | Citizenship: Any | Award: $1,000 | Deadline: 11/1/13

IRA JEANNE S. CHALL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPPre-Dissertation: Research Grants; Dissertation: Data Collection, Write-Up

This fellowship is a grant established to encourage and support reading research by promising scholars. Its special emphasis is to support research efforts in the following areas: beginning reading (theory, research, and practice that improves the effectiveness of learning to read); readability (methods of predicting the difficulty of texts); reading difficulty (diagnosis, treatment, and prevention); stages of reading development; the relation of vocabulary to reading; and diagnosing and teaching adults with limited reading ability.

Eligibility: IRA members | Citizenship: Any | Award: $6,000 | Deadline: 11/1/13

IRA ELVA KNIGHT RESEARCH GRANTPre-Dissertation: Research Grants; Dissertation: Data Collection, Write-Up; Post-Dissertation: Postdoctoral Fellowship

Supports research in reading and literacy. Projects may be carried out using any research method or approach so long as the focus of the project is on research in reading or literacy. Activities such as developing new programs or instructional materials are not eligible for funding except to the extent that these activities are necessary procedures for the conduct of research. Projects should be completed within two years.

Eligibility: IRA member | Citizenship: Any | Award: $8,000 | Deadline: 11/1/13

NACADA ACADEMIC ADVISING RESEARCH SUPPORT GRANTResearch grant; Dissertation data collection

Research support is intended to facilitate research related to academic advising. Quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methodologies are welcome. Program assessment is not funded. Practicing professionals and graduate students from any institution (U.S. or international) seeking support for research in academic advising are eligible to apply. NACADA has a particular interest in soliciting proposals that document the outcomes of different advising models.

Citizenship: Any | Award: up to $5,000 | Deadlines: 11/1/13, 3/15/14

WENNER-GREN DISSERTATION FIELDWORK GRANTSDissertation data collection

Grants are awarded to aid doctoral or thesis research. The program contributes to the Foundation’s overall mission to support basic research in anthropology and to ensure that the discipline continues to be a source of vibrant and significant work that furthers our understanding of humanity’s cultural and biological origins, development, and variation.

Citizenship: Any | Award: up to $20,000 | Deadlines: 11/1/13, 5/1/14

AERA MINORITY DISSERTATION FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM IN EDUCATION RESEARCHDissertation data collection

The purposes of the program are to advance education research by outstanding minority graduate students and to improve the quality and diversity of university faculties. This program offers doctoral fellowships to enhance the competitiveness of outstanding minority scholars for academic appointments at major research universities by supporting their research and by providing mentoring and guidance toward completion of their doctoral studies.

Citizenship: U.S. | Award: $12,000 | Deadline: 11/1/13

MELLON INTERNATIONAL DISSERTATION RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP (IDRF)Dissertation data collection

The program invites proposals for dissertation research conducted, in whole or in part, outside the U.S., about non-U.S. topics, for a minimum of nine months of research outside of the United States. Applicants must complete all Ph.D. requirements except on-site research by the time the fellowship begins or by December 2013, whichever comes first. The IDRF program will not support study at foreign universities, conference participation, or dissertation write-up.

Citizenship: Any | Award: 80, $20,000 | Deadline: 11/5/13

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM (GRFP)Fellowship

The purpose of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is to help ensure the vitality and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce in the United States. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees in fields within NSF's mission. The GRFP provides three years of support for the graduate education of individuals who have demonstrated their potential for significant achievements in science and engineering research. STEM Education & Learning Research.

Citizenship: U.S. | Award: 2,000; $32,000 annually (+$12,000 tuition), 3 years | Deadline: 11/7/13

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN DISSERTATION FELLOWSHIPSDissertation data collection, write-up

Dissertation fellowships support women doctoral candidates completing dissertations. Candidates are evaluated on the basis of scholarly excellence; the quality and originality of project design; and active commitment to helping women and girls through service in their communities, professions, or fields of research. Open to applicants in all fields of study. Scholars engaged in researching gender issues are encouraged to apply.

Citizenship: U.S.| Award: $20,000 | Deadline: 11/15/13

CHARLOTTE W. NEWCOMBE DOCTORAL DISSERTATION FELLOWSHIPDissertation write-up

The fellowships are designed to encourage original and significant study of ethical or religious values in all fields of the humanities and social sciences, and particularly help Ph.D. candidates in these fields complete their dissertation work in a timely manner. Dissertation must be completed during the tenure of the award and submit completed dissertations by August 2015.

Citizenship: Any | Award: ≥21, $25,000 | Deadline: 11/15/13

FORD FOUNDATION DISSERTATION FELLOWSHIPSDissertation data collection, write-up

Focus on achieving excellence in college and university teaching. Awards will be made to individuals who have demonstrated superior academic achievement, are committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level, show promise of future achievement as schools and teachers, and are well prepared to use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students.

Citizenship: U.S. | Award: ~35, $21,000 | Deadline: 11/15/13

DR. SUSAN R. KOMIVES RESEARCH AWARDDissertation data collection, write-up

The purpose of this award is to support the creation of new knowledge focusing on the area of student leadership programs in higher education. This award is intended to support professional, doctoral, and masters-level scholarly research. Recipient will submit an article about their research to the SLP-KC newsletter in order to disseminate their findings to the KC membership and beyond. Award recipients will be recognized at the national conference.

Citizenship: Any | Award: unspecified | Deadline: 11/29/13

ACLS DISSERTATION FELLOWSHIPS IN EAST EUROPEAN STUDIESDissertation data collection, write-up

The ACLS offers support for dissertations in East European studies in all disciplines of the humanities and social sciences. There are two types of fellowships: Research fellowships for use in Eastern Europe to conduct fieldwork or archival investigations and Writing fellowships for use in the U.S. to write the dissertation after research is complete.

Citizenship: Any | Award: $18,000 | Deadline: 12/1/13

NSEP DAVID L. BOREN GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPSInternational research

Boren Fellowships support adding an international and language component to graduate education through specialized area study, language study, or increased language proficiency. Fellowships support study and research in areas of the world that are critical to U.S. interests. Applicants should identify how their projects, as well as their future academic and career goals, will contribute to U.S. national security, broadly defined. NSEP draws on a broad definition of national security, recognizing that the scope of national security has expanded to include not only the traditional concerns of protecting and promoting American well-being, but also the challenges of global society, including sustainable development, environmental degradation, global disease and hunger, population growth and migration, and economic competitiveness.

Citizenship: U.S. | Award: up to $30,000 | Deadline: MSU – 12/1/13, Final – 1/28/14

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIPSDissertation data collection, write-up

International Fellowships are awarded for full-time study or research in the U.S. to women. Recipients are selected for academic achievement and demonstrated commitment to women and girls.

Citizenship: Non-U.S.| Award: $20,000-30,000 | Deadline: 12/1/13

DORIS DUKE FELLOWSHIPS FOR THE PROMOTION OF CHILD WELL-BEINGDissertation data collection, write-up

These fellowships are designed to identify and develop a new generation of leaders interested in and capable of creating practice and policy initiatives that will enhance child development and improve the nation’s ability to prevent all forms of child maltreatment.

Citizenship: U.S. | Award: 15, $25,000 | Deadline: 12/15/13

PREPARE PROPOSALS

“There is no amount of grantsmanship that will turn a bad idea into a good one, but there are many ways to disguise a good one.”

William Raubformer Deputy Director, NIH

TYPICAL GRANT COMPONENTS• Title• Project summary / Abstract• Narrative

• Bibliography• Support materials

• Biographical narrative• Letters of recommendation

• Budget

WHAT MAKES A GRANT PROPOSAL SUCCESSFUL?• start early

• contact with funding sponsor

• research matches funding announcement

• aligned with priorities of sponsor

• written with the review process in mind

• captures reviewers’ attention

• well-organized, engaging language

• clear focus

• follows the instructions precisely

• applicant seeks outside review before submitting

• compelling idea that advances the science

• not too ambitious or unrealistic

• no typos, grammatical errors

• reasonable and accurate budget

• submitted on time

REVIEWERS• Keep in mind that the reviewers may not be in your

same discipline / functional area.• Write clearly in a way that is accessible to non-

academics.• Grab their attention right away – title, intro sentence,

etc..• Websites may provide information on past/current

reviewers. Use this knowledge to inform your writing.

REVIEWERS• Talk to colleagues about any past experiences as

reviewers. • What did they look for? • What impressed them? • What were basic mistakes they saw? • How did they evaluate proposals with others

from different specializations?• If possible, take advantage of opportunities to serve

as a reviewer for grants, awards, etc. within your field.

CREATE YOUR SUPPORT NETWORK

You

Research Administration

Staff

Colleagues & Friends

Advisor & Committee

WHAT NOW?

MOVING FORWARD …•What do you want to fund?•Where can you find funding?•Who can be part of your support network?

QUICK CHECK IN• Can you name any experiences or

responsibilities that have similar processes, tasks, or expectations?

• What related skills do you already possess?

• Does anyone want to share any of their experiences related to what was covered today?

• What is your next step?

SELECT RESOURCESMSU Libraries – Jon Harrison:

• http://staff.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/index.htm

• Grants for Individuals• National / Michigan /

Lansing Area / International & Foreign Grant Makers

• Newsletters, blogs, books, other resources.

IRTL Resources List:• http://education.msu.e

du/irtl/grad/search.asp• IRTL Resources• MSU Resources• Funder Resources• Funder Databases• Resources from Other

Institutions

CITATION MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP: WHAT’S ACTUALLY HELPFUL?Friday, October 4, 201310:30 - 11:30 a.m.252 Erickson HallCurious about keeping track of all of your articles, books, and other research? Join current doctoral students and MSU librarians to discuss citation management systems / bibliographic software (Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote, and more), including demonstrations. Maximize the functionality of these programs in coursework and research and figure out what's best for you. Learn more about training resources on campus.Let me know if you're interested in serving on the panel.

QUESTIONS?Institute for Research on Teaching and Learning2nd Floor, Erickson Hallhttp://education.msu.edu/irtl/grad

Bob Floden, Director floden@msu.edu Marcy Wallace, Associate Directorwallacem@msu.eduMegan Drangstveit, Graduate Assistantmdrangst@msu.edu

Thank You!