Student Grants

Newcomb Institute research grants support students in the pursuit of independent research projects, and the proposed independent research must align with the Newcomb Institute’s core focus on gender equity research and scholarly outputs.

Research grants encourage the collaboration of undergraduate students and faculty in the production of new knowledge through individual and/or group research. Sometimes the research takes place in a laboratory; sometimes it requires a library or an interview with an expert; at other times, fieldwork is necessary to the data collection that precedes analysis. Research grants should articulate what the output or product from this work will be, such as co-authorship on a professional presentation, an honors thesis, or a manuscript for peer review.

Research involving human subjects (including conducting interviews) must be approved by the university's Internal Review Board (IRB), a process that might take up to three months. Students are urged to consider the possible three-month wait period when developing a timetable for a project. When submitting a proposal for an Independent Research grant, a student must include verification that the student has completed the online CITI course if applicable. Discuss this with your faculty sponsor or collaborator for the grant and be sure they will assist you with the IRB procedure. Review the Human Research Protection Program page for more information about IRB and the CITI course.

Please note: If a student is assisting in a faculty member's lab or on a faculty member's project and the research is primarily the faculty member's, the faculty member should apply for the grant and name the student as an assistant who can be paid a stipend. If the research is that of the student with the faculty member providing guidance or collaboration, then the student should apply for a grant to cover research expenses but cannot receive a stipend from the grant award.

Full-time, undergraduate Tulane University students are eligible to apply for funding from Newcomb Institute.

Grant proposals may be submitted to the Newcomb Institute during either of these cycles: 

• Fall cycle – Submission deadline of October 15, 2024.
• Spring cycle – Submission deadline of March 15, 2025.

Application 

Guidelines:

• Funded projects must have academic merit and connect to the Newcomb Institute’s core focus on gender equity. The project proposal should clearly describe the project and how it aligns with Newcomb Institute’s mission.
• The maximum amount of funding available for a research grant is $4000.
• We anticipate funding 8-10 student grants this round.
• Research grants should articulate what the output or product from this work will be, such as co-authorship on a professional presentation, an honors thesis, or a manuscript for peer review.
• Please become familiar with IRB and CITI course requirements, if applicable, before submitting your proposal packet.
• We do not fund tuition or fees for courses for which academic credit is received.
• We do not fund structured, participatory programs such as Study Abroad, or programs where a student pays a fee to participate in community service or to complete an internship.
• Independent research grants are to support academic research projects; they do not cover internships, start-up ventures, or service projects.
• Whenever possible, applicants are expected to seek funding from multiple sources.
• All work must be completed in the period of funding, and a grant report is due at the conclusion of the grant-funded time period. Future grant funding decisions may take into consideration the completion and quality of research as reflected in this report.
• All grants involving international travel must be to countries cleared from the U.S. Department of State travel warning list.
• Please note that all travel funded by Tulane must be booked through Concur. We cannot provide reimbursement for plane tickets purchased outside of the Concur travel system.
• Items that would become the personal property of the grant recipient (books, laptops, clothing) are not funded. If you are seeking funds to purchase scientific equipment, please include a statement about the lab's ability or inability to purchase this equipment. Funding for scientific supplies is typically given a higher priority than funding for equipment.
• If the end product of your research is a production (theatre, musical, readings), you must demonstrate in your proposal how your research will inform all aspects of the production. In other words, you are requesting funding primarily for your research to develop your production, rather than funding for the costs of the production- although you may include those costs in your proposal.
• Reimbursements may not exceed the grant award. If costs run over, the grant recipient is responsible for covering any costs that exceed the awarded amount.
• If a student is assisting in a faculty member's lab and the research is primarily the faculty member's, the faculty member should apply for the grant and name the student as an assistant who can be paid a stipend. If the research is that of the student with the faculty member providing guidance or collaboration, then the student should apply for the grant to cover research expenses but cannot receive a stipend from the grant.
• Students seeking funding for independent research projects to be conducted over the summer may include a request for reasonable living expenses in the project budget. Depending on funding availability, living expenses may or may not be funded.

These grants will fund travel expenses for undergraduate students who present papers, participate in a panel, or attend professional academic meetings, with a focus on gender equity. Applications for conference presentations may be accepted and considered outside of the regular grant cycle.

Full-time, undergraduate Tulane University students are eligible to apply for funding from Newcomb Institute.

Grant proposals may be submitted to the Newcomb Institute during either of these cycles:

• Fall cycle – Submission deadline of October 15, 2024.
• Spring cycle – Submission deadline of March 15, 2025.

Depending on the timing of your conference, applications for conference
presentations may be accepted and considered outside of the regular grant
cycle. Please email lwolford@tulane.edu for out-of-cycle grant application review.

Application

Guidelines for Conference Grants:

• The maximum amount of funding available for a conference grant is $2000
• We prioritize funding travel expenses for undergraduate students who present papers or posters, participate in a panel, or otherwise present at professional academic meetings/conferences. Conferences and conference presentations must have a connection to the gender equity mission of the Newcomb Institute.
• Limited conference grant funding is also available for students to attend conferences for professional development. Applicants must clearly outline how their attendance at a conference is substantively connected to the gender equity mission of the Newcomb Institute.
• Preference is given to presenters or panel participants over conference attendees. If attending and not presenting, the applicant must describe how attendance at the conference is important to their academic work.
• Students may apply for funding after their conference paper has been submitted but before acceptance, and funding may be conditional upon acceptance of the paper. The student should indicate if they will attend the conference regardless of the acceptance of their paper.
• Students must complete travel prior to graduating from Tulane University.
• Please note that all travel funded by Tulane must be booked through Concur. We cannot provide reimbursement for plane tickets purchased outside of the Concur travel system.

These grants fund projects focusing on service to a community, with a focus on issues affecting gender equity. An essential component of the project is the involvement of a local organization, and a letter of support from that organization must be included with the proposal. In addition, the projects must, in some way, directly involve undergraduate students at Tulane and benefit the local community.

Full-time, undergraduate Tulane University students are eligible to apply for funding from Newcomb Institute.

Grant proposals may be submitted to the Newcomb Institute during either of these cycles:

• Fall cycle – Submission deadline of October 15, 2024.
• Spring cycle – Submission deadline of March 15, 2025.

Grant recipients must credit Newcomb Institute in papers, presentations, or publicity connected with the funded project.

Application 

Guidelines for Community Engagement Grants:

• These grants fund projects focusing on service to a community. An essential component of the project is the involvement of a local organization, and a letter of support from that organization must be included with the proposal. In addition, the projects must, in some way, directly involve and benefit the academic preparation of undergraduate students at Tulane and benefit the local community.
• The maximum amount of funding available for a community engagement grant is $2000.
• A community service project team must be developed and must include: (a) a Tulane faculty member, (b) student applicant(s), and (c) a local grassroots organization. Documentation of an agreement between the faculty member, student(s), and local grassroots organization must be submitted with the proposal. The agreement should include a time frame of the community service project and the roles/responsibilities of the faculty member and of each student at the volunteer site. The agreement should also include the role of the local grassroots organization at the volunteer site. The faculty member and each student involved MUST sign the agreement. The application packet should include one copy of a short resume of student applicant(s)/grant coordinator and one copy of the short cv of the faculty member involved with the project.

• Fall 2023
• Spring 2023
• Fall 2022
• Spring 2022
• Fall 2021
• Spring 2021
• Fall 2020
• Spring 2020
• Fall 2019
• Spring 2019
• Fall 2018
• Spring 2018
• Fall 2017
• Spring 2017
• Fall 2016