Other Grant Opportunities

The American Association for the Advancement of Science manages and administers Science & Technology Policy Fellowships in five program areas to provide the opportunity for accomplished scientists and engineers to participate in and contribute to the federal policymaking process while learning firsthand about the intersection of science and policy.

The program provides fellowships for women pursuing full-time study to complete dissertations, conducting postdoctoral research full time, or preparing research for publication for eight consecutive weeks.
The purpose of the Dissertation Fellowship is to offset a scholar’s living expenses while she completes her dissertation.

The intent of the APAGS Basic Psychological Science Research Grant is to fund innovative psychological science research projects. Students in all fields of psychology and neuroscience and are APAGS members are eligible to submit. Funds for this $1,000 scholarship must be used to support the proposed research. This grant may be used for thesis, dissertation, or other research.

The APS Student Caucus provides a funding source for APS Student Affiliates to conduct research that currently is in its initial development. The APSSC Student Grant Competition offers partial financial support for various research expenses (e.g., the purchase of research materials) prior to data collection. Up to three awards ($500 each) will be available to graduate student affiliates and up to two awards ($300 each) will be available to undergraduate student affiliates. Research proposals in all areas of psychological science are welcome.

The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics offers policy fellowships to graduate students and postdocs (up to four years after completing training).

The Cosmos Scholars Grant Program provides grants to graduate students at local Washington-area universities to meet unexpected and otherwise unsupported aspects of their research.

Previous IPN Cosmos Scholars:

2013

  • Sonya Dumains

2012

  • Patricia Washington

2011

  • Patrick Forcelli

2010

  • Lauren Ullrich
  • Patricia Washington

The F. J. McGuigan Dissertation Award, supports dissertation research that addresses any aspect of mental function (e.g., cognition, affect, motivation) and should utilize behavioral and/or neuroscientific methods. Proposed research should be compatible with Dr. McGuigan’s overall goals and may fall within any area of contemporary behavioral or brain science (including more recent forms of cognitive psychology).

Georgetown University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Effective Fall semester 2010 the Graduate School will provide tuition scholarships to graduate students in Main Campus programs who need to develop language skills for their research or to meet proficiency requirements. On the recommendation of the student’s Director of Graduate Studies, a scholarship will be provided to cover enrollment in one approved language course per semester.

GWIS Fellowships are intended to provide supplemental funding to women scientists conducting research in the natural sciences. The major component of the research can be either applied or basic. Fellowships amounts range from $1,000 to $10,000.

Grass Fellowships at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA, support a summer-long investigator-designed, independent research projects by scientists early in their career. Supported approaches include neurophysiology, biophysics, integrative neurobiology, neuroethology, neuroanatomy, neuropharmacology, systems neuroscience, cellular and developmental neurobiology, and computational approaches to neural systems. The Foundation also has a longstanding interest in epilepsy-related research.

The American Academy of Arts and Sciences established the Hellman Fellowship in Science and Technology Policy for an early-career professional with training in science or engineering who is interested in transitioning to a career in public policy and administration. While in residence, the Hellman Fellow will work with senior scientists and policy experts on critical national and international policy issues related to science, engineering, and technology. The focus of the work will be on one or more of the ongoing projects under the Academy’s Initiative for Science, Engineering, and Technology to which the Hellman Fellow will contribute substantively.

The Student Research Grants Program (SRGP) was initiated to give graduate students an opportunity to conduct small, independent research projects and to give graduate students an opportunity to write and review grants. Projects funded by this mechanism must be separate of any active ongoing research in your mentor’s lab.

To advance the scientific education of graduate students by promoting attendance at academic conferences and research forums. Travel grant winners are selected the semester before the trip is taken, but awards will not be distributed until after receipts are submitted.

The Global Health Disparities Research Training Program occurs every year and is funded by NIH (NCMHD). Minority students enrolled in or recently graduated from B.A., B.S., M.A., MPH, Ph.D., M.D. or other master’s or doctoral programs are eligible for the program. Interns will work on research projects for 12 weeks under the guidance of prominent international scientists in one of the countries in Latin America, Europe and Africa.

The Christine Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship Program is designed to engage graduate science, engineering, medical, veterinary, business, and law students in the analysis and creation of science and technology policy and to familiarize them with the interactions of science, technology, and government.

The NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship Program seeks to encourage a new generation of scholars from a wide range of disciplines and professional fields to undertake research relevant to the improvement of education. These $25,000 fellowships support individuals whose dissertations show potential for bringing fresh and constructive perspectives to the history, theory, or practice of formal or informal education anywhere in the world. Fellows will also attend professional development retreats and receive mentorship from NAEd members and other senior scholars in their field. This highly competitive program aims to identify the most talented emerging researchers conducting dissertation research related to education. The Dissertation Fellowship program receives many more applications than it can fund.

The NAEd/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship Program supports early-career scholars working in critical areas of educational scholarship. Fellows will receive $55,000 for one academic year of research, or $27,500 for each of two contiguous years, working half time. Fellows will also attend professional development retreats and receive mentorship from NAEd members and other senior scholars in their field. This fellowship is non-residential, and applications from all disciplines are encouraged. Up to twenty NAEd/Spencer Fellowships will be awarded.

The National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship is a highly competitive, portable fellowship that is awarded to U.S. citizens and nationals who intend to pursue a doctoral degree in one fifteen disciples, the most relevant including: Cognitive, Neural and Behavioral Science, Biosciences, and Computer and Computational Sciences. NDSEG confers high honors upon its recipients, and allows them to attend whichever U.S. institution they choose. NDSEG Fellowships last for three years and pay for full tuition and all mandatory fees, a monthly stipend, and up to $1,000 a year in medical insurance.

The Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) is a fellowship program run by NIH. The overall goal of the NRSA program is to help ensure that a diverse pool of highly trained scientists is available in appropriate scientific disciplines to address the Nation’s biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research needs. The purpose of the predoctoral fellowship (F31) award is to provide support for promising doctoral candidates who will be performing dissertation research and training in scientific health-related fields relevant to the missions of the participating NIH Institutes during the tenure of the award. The NRSA for Individual Predoctoral Fellows will provide up to five years of support for research training which leads to the Ph.D. or equivalent research degree, the combined M.D./Ph.D. degree, or another formally combined professional degree and research doctoral degree in the biomedical, behavioral, or clinical sciences.

The Society for Neuroscience Scholars’ Neuroscience Scholars Program (NSP) is a multiyear program designed to enhance career development and professional networking opportunities for underrepresented and diverse graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in the field of neuroscience.

The purpose of the postdoctoral fellowship (F32) award is to provide support to promising postdoctoral applicants who have the potential to become productive and successful independent research investigators. The proposed postdoctoral training must offer an opportunity to enhance the applicant’s understanding of the health-related sciences, and must be within the broad scope of biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research or other specific disciplines relevant to the research mission of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers. Applicants with a health professional doctoral degree may use the proposed postdoctoral training to satisfy a portion of the degree requirements for a master’s degree, a research doctoral degree or any other advanced research degree program.

The purpose of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is to help ensure the vitality and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce in the United States. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in fields within NSF’s mission. The GRFP provides three years of support for the graduate education of individuals who have demonstrated their potential for significant achievements in science and engineering research. The ranks of NSF Fellows include individuals who have made transformative breakthroughs in science and engineering research and have become leaders in their chosen careers and Nobel laureates.

Bearing the Presidential moniker, the PMF Program is a flagship leadership development program at the entry level for advanced degree candidates. It was created more than three decades ago by executive order and has gone through many changes over the years. The program attracts and selects the best candidates possible, but is really designed with a more narrow focus – developing a cadre of potential government leaders. It provides some sustenance during the first years of employment and encourages development of leadership capabilities. The PMF Program inculcates a lasting bond as well as a spirit of public service, ultimately encouraging and leading to a career in the government.

Research!America works to bring decision makers and advocates for medical and health research together to work on serving the public interest. The organization offers a summer science policy internship.

The Sigma Xi Grants in Aid of Research program awards grants of up to $1,000 to students from all areas of the sciences and engineering.

SfN frequently offers a short-term science policy fellowship in the summer or fall. Check their website for openings.

The core of the SPINES program is an intensive one-month experience that exposes trainees to neuroscience research, ethics and professional development opportunities including grant writing, teaching, public speaking, and work/family balance, and science-related careers.

This program is supported by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health that covers tuition, room and board, and travel for all enrolled students. The SPINES course is targeted to groups underrepresented in neuroscience to increase the probability of professional success, although applications from any qualified students are welcome.

Serving as an OSTP Student Volunteer provides a unique opportunity to work closely with senior White House officials and science and technology (S&T) policy analysts. Applicants are encouraged to apply for one of three terms (Fall, Spring, or Summer) and may apply early for future terms. Each term lasts no more than 90 days. These positions are without compensation; however, you may be eligible to receive academic credit from your college or university. Learn more here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ostp/about/student
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The Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings provide a globally recognised forum for the exchange of knowledge between Nobel Laureates and young researchers. The scientific programme comprises interdisciplinary platform discussions, lectures presented by the Laureates and seminar talks and is spread over several days. Young researchers from more than 60 countries attend any one Meeting. More information is available at the website.

Past IPN attendees: 2011: Sonya Dumanis and Evan Gordon; 2014: Valerie Darcey

External Funding Opportunities

Students have access to a myriad of external funding opportunities to help support their graduate education and research at Georgetown. Below is a list of some of the funding sources available. The external funding opportunities are organized based on their application deadline.