Graduate Student Grants

Graduate students must be Affiliates of the Buffett Center. Regular participants in the Center’s Graduate Student Colloquium series with strong proposals will receive preference in both grant competitions.

Graduate Student Conference Travel Award

Because of an unexpected increase in the number of applications, we will not be able to award grants to all deserving students this year. We encourage students to apply early for full consideration.

Conference Travel Awards fund Northwestern PhD students working on international and comparative topics relevant to important contemporary political, economic, and/or social issues. The maximum award is $300, and students are limited to one conference travel award per academic year.

Applicants should submit proposals by email to Krzysztof Kozubski (kozubski@northwestern.edu) providing:

1. conference name, location, and date;
   
   
2. copy of invitation or conference program;
   
   
3. presentation title and abstract; and
   
   
4. estimated budget, including other potential sources of funding.

Applicants are typically notified within two weeks of submission.

Graduate Student Dissertation Research Travel Awards

Graduate Student Dissertation Research Travel Awards provide funding for fieldwork outside the United States for Northwestern doctoral students writing dissertations on comparative and international topics relevant to important contemporary political, economic, and social issues. The maximum award is $2500.

All Northwestern University PhD students at any stage in their dissertation research are eligible to apply. Applications from students conducting exploratory thesis research are particularly encouraged. These awards may not be used for language study programs, expenses in the United States, special equipment such as tape recorders, or fees for transcription or translation. Awards are normally granted for work during the summer, but exceptions can be made if warranted.

All applicants are expected to concurrently seek research support from other sources. Applicants who have previously received a Graduate Student Dissertation Research Travel Award must also demonstrate that they have applied for funding from a source outside of Northwestern.

Applicants should submit:

1. APPLICATION FORM
   
   
2. 2-3 page, single-spaced, proposal letter, which provides a brief description of the thesis project, an account of proposed activities, and an explanation of how those activities will contribute to the thesis research;
   
   
3. an estimated budget and a statement about other funding sources that are being sought and for what amount; and
   
   
4. one letter of recommendation written by an advisor/mentor.

Award information: The number and distribution of funded projects will be determined by the number of proposals received and the funding requested by applicants. All awards will be made as scholarship awards and will be paid out through the University’s payroll system.

Deadlines: February 15, 2012 (primary deadline) and October 14, 2012 (a limited number of awards will be reserved for this deadline).

Selection process and notification: Awards will be decided by a committee organized by the Buffett Center. Award notification is expected 4-6 weeks after each deadline.

Submit applications to Buffett Center, 1902 Sheridan Road, and mark your envelope to the attention of Buffett Center Graduate Student Dissertation Research Travel Awards. Faculty letters of recommendation may be submitted separately to the same address or emailed by the recommender directly to Frances Lowe (f-lowe@northwestern.edu).