91·çÃùÄñ³ª

Deadline for submission: Friday, May 15, 2026 by 5 p.m.

In support of research on the University’s Whittell Forest & Wildlife Area, Research & Innovation is pleased to offer two graduate research grants for the 2026-2027 year. A total of $10,000 (two $5,000 awards) is available to support graduate students enrolled in any academic program at the 91·çÃùÄñ³ª, who are able to leverage Whittell to advance their graduate work.

Grants will be awarded on the basis of:

• Merits of proposed research, including problem importance, originality and study design.
• The feasibility of successfully completing the proposed work.
• Preference given to students lacking funding and from underrepresented disciplines.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be graduate students enrolled in a Master’s or Ph.D. program at the 91·çÃùÄñ³ª.
• Candidates must use the Whittell Forest & Wildlife Area or the Little Valley Research Station as a core research or innovation site.
• Students from all departments and disciplines are eligible and encouraged to apply.

Allowable expenses

• Salaries and stipends
• Travel to/from the field site
• Field, lab, computing, or other supplies
• Funds must be spent in the fiscal year awarded
• Professional development trainings are not approved costs and the panel may reject purchases that do not directly support project or thesis/dissertation advancement

Application procedure

1. A complete application contains the following:
   • Cover letter, not to exceed one (1) page, detailing personal motivations for research as well as rationale for a $5,000 grant
   • Project description, not to exceed three (3) pages in length, including the following:
     • Significance of research
     • Study objectives and/or research questions
     • Brief review of relevant literature
     • Study design
     • Timeline
     • Itemized budget for a $5,000 award
   • Curriculum vitae
   • Letter of recommendation from supervising faculty advisor indicating support of proposed research and addressing the merits for funding this research
   • Copies of appropriate collecting permits, where applicable.
2. Compile all application materials into a single PDF and email to sbisbing@unr.edu.
3. Applications will be reviewed by a subcommittee, which may include members of the Whittell Forest Advisory Committee.
4. Funding support requires periodic reporting to Research & Innovation, including a brief presentation to the Advisory Committee during the 2026-2027 academic year as well as a final report of progress, spending, and preliminary results by the end of the summer 2027 field season (September 1, 2027).