Overview of the Graduate Student Small Research Grants

The Race & Ethnic Studies Institute (RESI) is offering a number of research grants to current Texas A&M University graduate students. This is, essentially, a major project grant to support the research enterprise leading to successful completion of some component of the doctoral dissertation, masters thesis, or a major publication. In general, applicants should be advanced in their degree program and the projects should be in advanced stages; but RESI will consider proposals for research at preliminary through advanced stages. As this award is also intended to provide students with grant-writing experience, students are expected to work closely with their advisors on a project description, the rationale for the grant, and budget. Advisors are expected to provide feedback on a draft proposal and write a confidential letter directly to RESI.

ELIGIBILITY: To be eligible, applicants must be full-time graduate students in good standing at Texas A&M University. Students may apply for both the RESI-Cantú Graduate Research Fellowships and Graduate Small Research Grants; but if a student is offered both, the student may only accept one or the other. If a student applying for the Graduate Student Small Research Grants has previously had a project funded through another RESI program, they must have completed all requirements of that program, including reporting. Students must have the approval of both their Director of Graduate Studies and their Department Head.

STIPENDS AND FINANCIAL AID:The Race & Ethnic Studies Institute annually funds a number of Graduate Student Small Research Grants up to $1,000 each. There will be two competitions – one in the Fall and one in the Spring. Please check with the financial aid office to confirm that your financial aid will not be affected by receipt of this or other awards.

FUND DISBURSEMENT: By default, the awards run for roughly one calendar year. We expect Fall awards to be announced in October and Spring awards to be announced in March. Funds will be set to expire and be returned one year after the funds have been awarded. Exceptions can be made; we just ask that any such requests are communicated to us in a timely manner (ideally as part of the application process). Funds will be given as a bursary to be managed by the student’s home department.

BUDGET CRITERIA: The budget might include (but not be limited to) fieldwork, travel to archives, research materials, data sets, survey instruments, and participant incentives. The grant is not intended solely as a small grant to attend a conference, although proposals that include (or will lead to) presentations at conferences and workshops are strongly encouraged. The budget may not include stipend/salary, publication support (for which there are separate programs at places like the Glasscock Center), or tuition of any sort. For any questions about how the funds may be used, please contact RESI well before the deadline.

GRANT EXPECTATIONS: The primary outcome should be a definable portion of the doctoral dissertation, master’s thesis, or a major publication. Awardees should acknowledge the Race & Ethnic Studies Institute in any resulting publications, presentations, or other work products funded; and will be asked to submit updates on their progress and products.

FUNDING PRIORITIES: The Race & Ethnic Studies Institute is dedicated to fostering, celebrating, and producing cutting edge research related to race and ethnic studies. A wide range of research projects that examine the salience of race and ethnicity are of interest to RESI, however, proposals connecting to the RESI HSI Research Initiative portfolio are particularly encouraged. Texas A&M University is amongst the largest and most well resourced (in terms of total annual research expenditures) Hispanic-Serving Institutions in the country. RESI is strongly committed to building our university’s profile in HSI-related research. To best focus our research investment, we expect that somewhere between half and two-thirds of grants made will be channeled into the HSI Research Initiative portfolio.

The 2023-2024 application cycle is currently closed. Dates for the 2024-2025 cycle are forthcoming. 

Graduate Student Small Research Grants Application

Students should complete the application and upload the signature form with approval from their Director of Graduate Studies and Department Head.

The application will include a number of questions for you to answer. You will also be required to upload three PDFs:

1. A complete project narrative and budget. This should not exceed 1,500 words (approximately 5 pages). It should be in a standard 11-12 point font with 1” margins. It should include the following elements:
   1. Title
   2. Abstract (50 words)
   3. Description of the research project and expected outcomes at the end of the grant period.
   4. In addition to the general topic, include the research aims, methodology, sources and the contribution the work makes to your field(s) and race/ethnic studies generally. In other words, how will you accomplish your research and what is its impact? Use language that a scholar not working in your field might understand.
   5. Provide as detailed a budget as possible so that we can assess how the funds will be used.
2. CV (not to exceed 4 pages)
3. Signature form from your Department Head and Director of Graduate Studies