Michigan State University, College of Education, Institute for Research on Teaching and Learning, Doctoral Student Support. Dissertation and Research Funding: Grants and Fellowships 101. Quick slideshow to cover the basics of grants and fellowships for education doctoral students

1. IRTL Grants & Fellowships Workshop Series
Dissertation and Research
Funding: Grants &
Fellowships 101
Institute for Research on Teaching and Learning
Doctoral Student Research Support
April 2015

2. IRTL

3. Institute for Research on Teaching & Learning
IRTL supports doctoral students in the College of
Education by enhancing their knowledge of funding
opportunities and grant writing.
We are available to discuss funding opportunities;
assist in conceptualizing, writing, and revising a grant
proposal; or assist in preparing a competitive budget
request.
http://education.msu.edu/irtl/grad
What is IRTL?

4. • Workshops, sessions for groups and classes
• Overview of grants & fellowships; Grant proposal
writing; Budget development; RCR; and more!
• One-on-one consultation (mdrangst@msu.edu)
• in person, over the phone, Skype/FaceTime, email
• Web resources (http://education.msu.edu/irtl/grad/)
• Sample proposals, budgets, timelines, resources
• Monthly newsletters (sign up on our website)
• Announcements, workshops, resources, funding
opportunities
• Facebook updates (facebook.com/MSUIRTL)
What does IRTL do?

5. Grants &
Fellowships 101

6. • To focus on research and/or writing
• To advance knowledge in your field
• National recognition and prestige
• A lifetime professional network
• Professional development opportunities
• To demonstrate your ability to win grants
for academic job applications
Doctoral student grants &
fellowships can allow you:

7. • 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.
What role can grants (or other
external funds) play in my career?

8. • Travel (mileage to/from research sites;
gasoline; conferences; international
trips; car rental; etc.)
• Lodging/Meals
• Software
• Health insurance
• Recruiting subjects
• Research Assistant salary
• Interpreter (e.g., for international
projects)
• Undergraduate student hourly pay
(general—includes teachers, etc.,
working on the project)
• Printing
• Equipment/Technology (software; A/V
equipment)
• Supplies (e.g., stationery; video/audio
tapes)
• Tech support (e.g., processing
statistics)
• Services (e.g., mentor)
• Postage/telephone/fax/internet charges
• Transcription
• Publication/Dissemination of findings
• Incentives (participants/subjects)
• Stipend (i.e., salary)
• Training
• Tuition and fees
• Advisor? (i.e., her summer and/or
academic year salary—calculated by %
of faculty time dedicated to the
project, e.g., 25%). May be necessary if
advisor serves as Primary Investigator
or co-PI to project.
• Indirect costs (i.e., “overhead”)
What are Possible allowable project expenses? *
* These are general guidelines. For individualized assistance with questions on expenses
allowed by a particular funding agency, please consult IRTL staff and agency guidelines.

9. Your opportunity should
match with these four areas:
Money
research
funding is
available
Eligibility
you’re ready
and meet
requirements
Fit
your research
interests map to
RFP
Time
a competitive
proposal can be
written in the
time available

10. 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
Money
… is there research funding available?
IRTL’s Focus

11. Early Stage
Funds tuition
and fees, as
well as a
stipend for
living for
early doctoral
students
Pre-
Dissertation
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 the dissertation
proposal to
completion
Analysis &
Write-Up
Funds
tuition and
fees, stipend
for living
expenses to
concentrate
mostly or
only on
writing and
completing
the
dissertation
Postdoctoral
Funds
opportunities
toward the
development
of an
academic
career
Eligibility…are you ready?
Think one step ahead!

12. • 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?
Eligibility
…do you meet the sponsor’s requirements?

13. 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 information
for assistance, guidance, or advice?
• What are the review criteria?
• Do they have sample proposals?
Fit
…does your project match the funder’s goals and priorities?

14. • 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?
Time
... can a competitive proposal be written in the time available?

15. “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 Raub
former Deputy Director, NIH

16. • Title
• Project summary / Abstract
• Narrative
• Bibliography
• Support materials
• Biographical narrative
• Letters of recommendation
• Budget
Typical grant components

17. 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

19. • 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

20. Create Your Support Network
You
Colleagues &
Classmates
Friends & Family
Research
Administration Staff
Advisor, Committee &
Faculty

21. Links to budget creation resources at MSU:
http://education.msu.edu/irtl/grad/search.asp
Budget workshop slides:
http://www.slideshare.net/irtl/201502budgets
Sample budgets:
http://education.msu.edu/irtl/grad/pdf/IRTL_Bud
getSamples.pdf
Budget Resources

22. Links to grant writing resources:
http://education.msu.edu/irtl/grad/search.asp
Proposal Writing workshop slides:
http://www.slideshare.net/irtl/201503grantwriting
Planning your proposal:
http://education.msu.edu/irtl/grad/plan.asp
Writing your proposal:
http://education.msu.edu/irtl/grad/write.asp
Proposal Writing Resources

23. Funds may be out there … we just need to hunt for them.

24. Institute for Research on Teaching and Learning
2nd Floor, Erickson Hall
http://education.msu.edu/irtl/grad
https://www.facebook.com/MSUIRTL
http://education.msu.edu/irtl/grad/Subscribe.asp
Bob Floden, Director, floden@msu.edu
Marcy Wallace, Associate Director, wallacem@msu.edu
Megan Drangstveit, Graduate Assistant, mdrangst@msu.edu
(201C Erickson Hall)
IRTL – Doctoral Student
Research Support