Guidelines for the Grants-in-Aid of Research Program

Submission deadlines:
March 15 and October 15

March 15 applicants will be notified about funding by the end of May.
October 15 applicants will be notified about funding by the end of December.
Checks are mailed as soon as possible after the notification date.

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Eligibility Requirements

1. Only undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in degree seeking programs may apply.
2. Undergraduates who are graduating seniors must plan to complete their research prior to graduation.
3. While membership in Sigma Xi is not a requirement for the program as a whole, the majority of the funds (75%) are designated for use by individuals whose primary advisors are Sigma Xi members or who are Sigma Xi student members themselves.
4. An applicant seeking support for a new project or a continuation of a previously supported project must submit a new application and new letters of recommendation. Each application is evaluated independently. To receive additional funding, the applicant must have submitted a completed report of their previous research funded by Sigma Xi.
5. Applicants are eligible to receive a total of two Grants-in-Aid of Research from Sigma Xi headquarters in their lifetime.
6. There are no citizenship restrictions. International students and non-U.S. citizens are encouraged to apply.
7. Individual applications are accepted from co-workers on the same project. Each applicant must demonstrate how the applicant's work is a unique contribution to the larger project. Where possible, each co-worker's application should request funding for expenses related to that applicant's work only.

Funding Restrictions

1. Research grants may be used to support scientific investigation in any field.
2. Funding may be used for:
   • Purchase of specific equipment necessary to undertake the proposed research project.
   • Travel to and from a research site.
   • Reimbursement for human subjects (only for psychology studies).
3. The following expenses are not supported:
   • Purchase of supplies and equipment that is considered standard and should normally be available in an institutional research laboratory (i.e. common laboratory chemicals, petri dishes, agar, floppy disks, pipettes, glassware, etc).
   • Computer equipment and software are not generally funded. However, an applicant who demonstrates a particular need for such items may receive funding. Detailed budget justification should be provided.
   • Travel to scientific meetings or symposia.
   • Educational programs, tuition, room and board, textbooks, curriculum development.
   • Salaries or stipends for applicants or assistants.
   • Institutional or departmental equipment use or analytical services. Except in the fields of astronomy, mathematics and computer science, fees for using institutional or departmental equipment and facilities are not generally funded. However, an applicant who demonstrates a particular need and who can demonstrate support from the applicant's institution or department for other aspects of the project may receive funding. Detailed budget justification should be provided.
   • Manuscript preparation and publication costs.
   • Indirect costs or institutional administrative fees.
   • Requests for a third Grant-in-Aid of Research.

Funding Amounts:

• Grants amounts range from $100 to $1,000 (with an average award of $600) except as noted below:
• Astronomy: grants in this field are awarded up to a maximum of $5,000.
• Vision Related Research: grants in this field are awarded up to a maximum of $2,500.

Applications for Grants In Aid of Research are accepted through an online form only. Deadlines for all application material are March 15 and October 15 annually and are available online two months prior to the deadline (January 15 and August 14 respectively). If the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, applications will be accepted on the next business day. For questions or additional information you may send e-mail to giar@sigmaxi.org. Applicants are notified by e-mail of the Committee's decisions within twelve weeks after each application deadline.

Emma Creaser, Chair