Grants
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Micro-Grants

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Micro-Grants

Who may apply?
·  Applicant must be a graduate student in Oceanography at TAMU (College Station or Galveston).
·  Applicant must be enrolled full-time (minimum of nine semester hours for Fall or Spring semester, six hours for Summer semester).
·  Applicant must be a TAMU employee at time of travel to be eligible for reimbursement of travel expenses. Students on fellowships who are not employees cannot be reimbursed for travel expenses (food, per diem, transportation, hotel), but supplies for presentations and registration fees can be reimbursed.

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Fundable Activities:

·  Travel to a regional or national meeting for the primary purpose of presenting a paper or poster based on thesis or dissertation research. Any such presentation must be held prior to receipt of degree by applicant.
·  Attending a regional or national meeting with no paper presented (can be funded one time only during the applicant's tenure at TAMU).
·  Attending an intensive seminar-type academic course or workshop.
·  For unfunded research (data acquisition, including travel to obtain same, or data analysis).

Note that all funds awarded for the above activities are granted with the requirement that the applicant give a presentation at an approved seminar at Texas A&M (e.g. CORALS). This presentation may be a practice talk for a conference, a post-conference report, a cruise report, a workshop report, a talk on the student's current research, etc.

·  To cover the career center fees ($35 per semester) but out of the $750 possible award per year.
·  To cover the thesis/dissertation binding fee required for graduation also out of a $750 possible award per year.
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Non-Fundable Activities:

·  Travel to foreign countries to attend/present research at a conference or for any other reason.
·  Salary support for applicant.
·  Capital investment (e.g. lab equipment).

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Application and Rules:

·  Mini-Grants are for modest amounts; the maximum is usually $500-750 per year.
·  For travel expenses associated with conferences, a non-presenting student can receive up to $500 once during her tenure at TAMU. If a non-presenting student receives $500 to attend a scientific meeting, she can apply for the additional $250 that year if she is presenting at another conference or for unfunded research. A presenting (poster or oral presentation) student can receive up to $750 per year. The $750 can be divided among multiple conferences, if desired.
·  For conferences in expensive locations (e.g. Hawaii, Alaska) or under extenuating circumstances, a student can apply for an exception to the $750 limit. The maximum amount of the exception is $1000. The student must apply 60 days in advance of the travel for exceptions, must show that he has attempted to secure matching funds, and must be trying to minimize cost (e.g. by sharing a room). Below is a table with four cases showing limits if a student receives an exception as well as the Standard no exception case:

Case

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Standard (no exceptions)

$750

$750

$750

$750

Case 1

$1000

$500

$750

$750

Case 2

$ 0

$1000

$500

$750

Case 3

$500

$1000

$500

$750

Case 4

$0

$750

$1000

$500

·  Students can use mini-grants to attend workshops with maximum amount of $750 per year.
·  The beginning of the year coincides with the beginning of fall semester.
·  Students can apply for up to $750 once to pay for supplies for unfunded research or travel associated with unfunded research.
·  The applicant should clearly indicate the nature and specific objectives of the proposed activities, with emphasis on how the requested funds will be used.
·  The budget should be brief, but must list the specific items for which support is requested, giving evidence that the amount requested is realistic and the result of thoughtful planning. The applicant should not simply list a convenient figure or an overestimate. All travel expenses must fall within state limits (here is a link that gives rules and maximum per diem, hotel, and travel rates). Expenses should generally fall WELL below these maximum limits--each applicant is expected to make a serious effort to keep costs in check by sharing a room, keeping food expenditures to a minimum, etc.
·  Proof of matching funds (if available) must be presented.
·  Funds awarded must be expended within twelve month or they revert to the OGC.
·  Funds will not be awarded to cover expenses on a retroactive basis.

 
     
   
Federico Alvarez, January 2007