Student Research Support

In 2007, the Department of Linguistics established the Student Research Fund to advance the professional development of its most promising students. The purpose of the fund is to support fieldwork, other data-collection efforts and the presentation of papers at linguistics scholarly conferences. Department faculty will serve as the selection committee, and applications can be made only during the academic year (not during the summer). Any application involving travel must be made prior to the start of travel.

Eligibility

Only students enrolled in the graduate program in the Department of Linguistics during the time of the planned research project or conference may apply.

For fieldwork and data-collection support

• Deadline. As of Fall 2008, applications for fieldwork and data-collection support must be received by February 15.
• Application Process. Fill out the Graduate Student Fund Application form. This form requires you to provide an itemized budget for the proposed project. It also requires a 1-2 page, double-spaced description of your project, stating the goal, the scope, the method and the expected results. You must also explain how the fieldwork or data-collection effort relates to your dissertation or thesis topic. Finally, you must indicate whether you have been awarded or applied for funds for this project from another funding source. If so, indicate how much money you have requested or received from that source.

For presentation of a paper at a conference

• Deadline. Funds will be disbursed on a rolling basis in each academic year until the funding cap for that year has been reached.
• Application process. Fill out the Graduate Student Fund Application form. The form requires you to provide an itemized budget. It also requires a 1-2 page, double-spaced statement of purpose. In this statement, you must describe the conference, how participation will contribute to your professional development and the contents of your paper (stating the problem, your hypothesis, and the paper’s contribution to the state of the art).
• Abstract. Attach the abstract of your paper.
• Budget. On a separate page, itemize and explain the expenses of your proposed travel.
• Confirmation of acceptance. Attach a copy of the letter or email confirming inclusion of your paper in the conference program.

Other sources of support

Students are urged to apply to other sources on campus for travel/research funds. Evidence that you have applied for or received matching funds from other sources strengthens your case for funding from the Linguistics department. Other funding sources include:

• The Institute of Cognitive Science. The Institute provides funding for students enrolled in the ICS certificate or joint PhD programs to travel to explicitly interdisciplinary conferences or to conduct cognition research. Students in any member department may apply for funds, whether the student is presenting at or simply attending an interdisciplinary conference.
• The Graduate School. The Graduate School offers partial funding for graduate students to present research findings at meetings or conferences outside Colorado. The Graduate School provides a travel grant of $300 for domestic conferences and $500 for international conferences. Funds are applied directly to your tuition account.
• United Government of Graduate Students (UGGS). The UGGS Travel Grant, with deadlines at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters, sponsors graduate students who are planning to attend an academic conference. Graduate students are only eligible to receive travel aid once in their tenure at CU.