Graduate Research Fellows

Southern Connecticut State University is pleased to announce that funds are available to support graduate research fellows for full time faculty members during the Fall and Spring Semesters AY 2026-27. This will be a one year appointment. This initiative, Graduate Research Fellows, is funded by the SCSU Foundation through the Office of the Provost. Grants of up to $3,000 per semester will be awarded to Faculty Members to support one graduate research fellow to assist with the faculty member’s research in any academic discipline represented on the SCSU campus.

Faculty members who wish to apply for this grant will submit proposals stating the objectives of the research project on which they plan to employ a graduate fellow, stating exactly what the responsibilities of this student will be, and they will include an itemized budget. The budget may include line items such as a stipend for students or travel expenses for students to conduct research. This grant cannot be used for travel expenses for students to present at conferences (see GSAC and RSAC websites for grants for conference travel expenses) or for supplies for the research project (Faculty Members expected to provide supplies required for the research project).

The purpose of this program is to expand opportunities for faculty and graduate student collaboration in research by providing support for faculty to mentor graduate students in ongoing or planned research projects.

To be eligible, a faculty member must:

• Be a full-time tenured or tenure track faculty member at SCSU;
• Have completed one full year as a full-time faculty member at SCSU by the end of Spring
  semester 2026;
• Have a research project that would gain additional benefit from the support of a graduate
  research fellow.
• And, if relevant to the discipline, add to the opportunity to pursue additional external funds at any level (i.e. from small regional private grants to major competitive national initiatives)

For projects involving human participants or animal subjects, approval from the SCSU Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) must be obtained before submitting the proposal and evidence of approval from IRB and/or IACUC must be submitted with the proposal.

The application must be submitted via the Kuali portal using this link: Faculty Request for a GRA by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, November 3, 2025. Without exception, incomplete applications will not receive consideration nor will late applications.

The electronic application will require:

1. Identifying information as a cover sheet
2. A PDF attachment of your Statement of research: using a maximum of five pages (single-spaced, 11-point Times New Roman font), please describe the:
   • Research problem;
   • Research design (methodology and status of IRB and/or IACUC clearances, if applicable);
   • Research resources (e.g. laboratory access, equipment, libraries, etc.);
   • An outline of anticipated expenses relative to the project, and
   • A detailed description of the responsibilities of the graduate research fellow and their anticipated, specific contribution to the applicant’s research.
3. A PDF attachment of your full CV
4. A PDF attachment of your IRB or IACUC application if such is needed

Members of the Research and Scholarship Advisory Committee (RSAC) will review proposals and recommend awardees to the Provost.

A report of no more than 2 pages is due one month after the end of the project. Relevant professional “products” (peer reviewed publications, other published works, national/international presentations, SCSU Graduate Research Conference presentations, relevant productions or works, etc.) are an expectation of this scholarship.

Questions regarding the application process or other issues may be directed to C. Michele Thompson at ext. 2-5614 or via e-mail to thompsonc2@southernct.ed

Questions regarding the electronic form can be directed to the SPAR office, spar@southernct.edu