Graduate Student Grants

University of Arkansas graduate student Amber Tripodi is exploring various nesting box designs to determine which best supports bumblebee colonies and is economically feasible for growers.

ATTENTION: When applying for this grant, please refer to the guidelines in the Call for Proposal and carefully follow the application procedures.

You can download the Call from the "Apply for a Grant" page.

SARE Graduate Student Grants are one of the few sustainable agriculture research funding opportunities open to Master's and PhD students.

A candidate may receive only one Southern SARE Graduate Student Grant during his or her graduate student career. The Southern SARE program will only consider proposals submitted, and to be conducted, by graduate students (Master’s and PhD) enrolled at an accredited college or university in the Southern region. The graduate student must be considered full-time (according to his or her institution’s requirements) at the time of proposal submission.  

Who can apply?

Full-time Master's or PhD students at accredited institutions in the Southern region.

What activities are eligible?

Research projects that address issues of sustainable agriculture of current and potential importance to the Southern region and the nation.

How much will the grant fund?

A project maximum of $11,000 for up to three years work on the student's project.

Successful proposals include:

• A clear and well-defined research topic.
• A research topic that contributes to a better understanding of sustainable agriculture.

USE OF FUNDS

Funds MAY NOT be used for the following purposes:

1. Graduate student stipends (see below)

2. Travel to scholarly meetings or any international travel;

3. Preparation of thesis copy;

4. Publication costs;

5. Purchase of classroom books or payment of tuition; and

6. Permanent capital improvements (e.g. land, buildings, etc.).

Funds MAY be used for the following purposes:

1. Supplies, including software;

2. Equipment (any equipment obtained becomes the property of the university that the funded graduate student attends);

3. Labor (The graduate student project investigator may receive up to a maximum of 50 percent of the project total. This is actual identifiable work on the project and NOT a general graduate stipend);

4. Special texts not readily available;

5. Farm equipment rental or operating charges;

6. Travel and per diem necessary for the project (use your university per diem rules).

Southern SARE administers several grant opportunities. The Graduate Student Grants call for proposals is released each March.