The Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry offers mini-grants (up to $500) to undergraduate students to support their research endeavors in two categories:
- Funding to support research-related travel (examples included attending a conference to present research or design during a poster session or oral presentation). This may include registration fees, airfare, lodging, etc.
- Funding to support research-related purchases for an ongoing project. This may include purchasing supplies, data access, membership fees, etc.
*YOU MAY BE AWARDED A MINI-GRANT ONE TIME PER ACADEMIC YEAR*
To apply, please complete the following application. Be prepared to include:
- Title of project or poster
- Copy of abstract submitted to conference OR summary of research project
- Statement on why funding is relevant to you academic or career goals
- Resume
- Letter of support from mentor/advisor
Timeline Requirements for Funding:
Travel-Related Purchases
Students must apply for travel-related funding no later than the first day of travel. Funding will only support lodging, airfare, train or bus tickets, registration fees, or a per diem. OURI will not support ride shares or individual meal purchases. Students will need to submit proof of conference attendance. Purchases may be made before students apply for Mini-Grant. Students must submit attendance proof no later than 30 days after travel. Failure to submit proof will result in forfeit of award.
Research-Related Purchases
Students must apply for (and be awarded) funding to support research-related purchases BEFORE making purchases. Students will not be paid for purchases made prior to applying for the mini-grant. Upon award confirmation, students have 30 days to make purchases and to submit proof. Failure to submit receipts after 30 day will result in forfeit of award. OURI will not pay labs or research groups.
Inquiry Weeks Requirement:
All awardees must present at Inquiry Weeks during the corresponding academic year. Century Scholars and students in the Rice Undergraduate Scholars Program (RUSP) are not eligible.
Review process:
Applications have a rolling deadline and will be reviewed on the last Thursday of each month. Funding will be equally distributed between the Fall and Spring semesters. Note that funding is not guaranteed and may run out.
Disbursement process:
For travel-related purchases, mini-grant award money is disbursed as a one-time award AFTER travel has completed. Students are required to submit proof of conference presentation or participation. Only after proof is submitted, will the money be distributed. Students are not paid mini-grant awards in advance. Students have 30 days after travel concludes to submit proof. After that time, the award is forfeited.
For research-related purchases, money is distributed as a one-time award AFTER proof of purchase is submitted. Students have 30 days from the time of award notification to make the purchase and submit the proof.
Awards are not reimbursements. Awards may be subject to tax implications. Applications will not be reviewed in between cycles. To be included in monthly review, applications must be submitted BEFORE the last Thursday of the month. Applications submitted on the day of review will not be considered.
Questions? Email Abby Schuh at as60@rice.edu.