April 16, 2015

Pictured above: Members of Sigma Xi’s Grants-in-Aid of Research Committee volunteer two weekends each year to read grant applications and select recipients. If you are a Sigma Xi member who would like to volunteer, please email giar@sigmaxi.org.

Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society has once again become a pillar of support for the next generation of researchers by awarding grants to young scientists. In the spring 2015 cycle of its Grants-in-Aid of Research program, the Society selected 185 undergraduate and graduate students to receive a total of $135,999. 

Sigma Xi has posted a list of the latest grant recipients.  

Sigma Xi members who volunteer on the Society’s Grants-in-Aid of Research Committee read and evaluated 1,121 applications sent in by students hoping to receive a grant. The committee met April 10–11 at the Sigma Xi Center in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, to select the recipients. 

The recipients may use their grants to pay for travel expenses to a research site or to purchase non-standard laboratory equipment that is necessary for their research project. Often, Grants-in-Aid of Research is the first grant a young scientist receives.

“It allowed me to have a lot of confidence in myself and it helped me just realize that people also thought the work I was doing was valuable,” said Michelle Chiu, who received a grant through last year’s spring cycle.

The Grants-in-Aid of Research program is financially supported by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) as well as Sigma Xi donors. Grants of up to $1,000 are awarded to students from all areas of the sciences and engineering. Designated funds from NAS allow for grants of up to $5,000 for astronomy research and $2,500 for vision-related research. Students from any country are eligible. The Society has awarded grants since 1922. 

The application deadlines are March 15 and October 15 annually. To learn more, visit the Grants-in-Aid of Research webpage and watch the video below. 

You can have a direct impact on encouraging young people who wish to pursue a research career by making a donation to the Grants-in-Aid of Research program.