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Graduate Research Mini-Grants

Graduate Research Mini-Grants at the Research Institute of the Center for Comparative Studies in Race & Ethnicity (CCSRE) support research on race or ethnicity by Stanford doctoral students in any field, program, or school. Mini-Grants are awarded in the amount of $1500. Applicants seeking support for international research and travel may request up to $2500 in total funding. Funds are expected to be used in the designated Grant Quarter. For Fall applicants, Mini-Grants can be used to reimburse work already completed in this fall quarter (on or after September 23, 2024) or to support research expenses that are still in process or upcoming (up to December 15, 2024).

Funded activities must be directly connected to a student’s dissertation project. Grants may be used to support fieldwork; conference travel to present research findings; research supplies and material costs; costs of data analysis, transcription services, translation services; and archival work. Funds may not be used to pay tuition, cover general living expenses, or hire student support. Students should only apply to support research that they are personally spearheading and should not apply to support faculty-led projects.

At the conclusion of the Grant Quarter, students are expected to provide a brief account of their research to be published on the Center website and newsletter. They are also expected to attend the Research Institute Open House in Spring Quarter to present on their mini-grant research. Grantees are expected to include an acknowledgment about CCSRE Research Institute’s financial support in all written deliverables.

Eligibility and Requirements

  • All current Stanford doctoral students from any field, program, or school are eligible to apply. Preference will be given to current or past CSRE PhD Minors, CCSRE Graduate Fellows, and CCSRE instructors.
  • Grant recipients must be registered students during the quarter in which they receive funding.
  • Applicants' research or initiatives must advance the study of race and/or ethnicity.
  • Prior applicants may reapply for funding for different projects or may resubmit improved versions of earlier submissions.
  • Applicants should not request grant funds for expenses already covered by other sources and they should disclose any pending applications that request funding to cover the same expenses (see application form).
  • Budgets should be estimated using Stanford’s current standard rates for allowable travel expenses (e.g., per diem meals, hotel, mileage rates) published online in the business expense desk guide. Budget items from other expense categories should be supported with links to the items and cost, when available.
  • Mini-Grants can be used to support research anytime during the designated Fall Grant Quarter: September 23 - December 15, 2024.
  • All funds awarded for Fall must be used and mini-grant supported research completed by December 15, 2024.
  • Successful applicants are expected to provide the requested deliverables, including preparing a final report and participating in the Research Institute Open House in Spring 2025.
  • Final reports for Fall awards must be submitted by March 6, 2025.

Application Process

Important Fall Application Dates

  Submit All Application Materials: October 25, 2024 by 5:00pm (PT).

  Fall Grant Quarter: September 23 - December 15, 2024.

  Award Processing: December 6, 2024.

  Final Report Due for Fall Mini-Grants: March 6, 2025 by 5:00pm (PT).

  Open House Presentation: Spring 2025 (date TBA).

Submission

Applicants should use the online forms to submit the required information and provide links to their supporting materials. Forms are accessible by clicking Apply Here.

Apply Here 

Required Materials

  • Application: online form requesting applicant’s information, project details (title, short summary), dates for research or travel, other sources of funding, contact information for the recommendation letter-writer, and supporting materials
  • Project Proposal: 1-page project proposal summarizing the project’s research questions, methods, and emerging findings (if applicable), as well as a plan for using the grant funding.
  • Budget & Justification: itemized budget of all expenses to be supported by the Mini-Grant and an explanation justifying each expense and its amount.
  • Resume/CV: document with the candidate’s professional accomplishments, demonstrating fit for this award (2 pages maximum)
  • Unofficial Transcript (current)
  • Letter of Recommendation: submitted independently by the applicant’s dissertation advisor or dissertation committee member

Recommendation Letters

An application will not be considered complete until all supporting materials are received, including the letter of recommendation. The applicant is responsible for ensuring that their letter of recommendation is submitted directly by the recommender.

Upload Letters of Support Here

Taxes

  • International students may have taxes deducted before stipend funds are released.
  • Stipends may be considered taxable for the recipient. The tax obligation varies according to the student’s total income, dependency status, treaty status for international students, and individual circumstances.
  • Residents of certain countries may be able to claim a tax treaty benefit for reduced federal taxation.
  • For assistance with tax withholding, tax treaty and tax form issues, submit a Support Request and visit this Student Services website page for more tax information.
  • Student Financial Services, the Bechtel International Center, and Stanford’s Fingate provide additional information regarding tax considerations.

Questions?

If you have any questions or need assistance with your application, please contact Kenia Blanco Álvarez, Research Institute Coordinator, at keniab [at] stanford.edu (keniab[at]stanford[dot]edu).