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Independent Research Grants


Independent Grants support independent research and scholarly projects by undergraduate students in any field of the Humanities, Arts, and Sciences.

The projects should be independent inquiries led by the undergraduate student with the required support of an Emory mentor.

During the grant review process, emphasis is given to how well prepared the student is for the project (based on the proposal, previous coursework, and the faculty letter of support) and how well the student is supported by his/her faculty mentor and the mentor's expertise. Students may apply for funding to support research conducted in the fall, spring, or summer.

Partnerships

The Halle Institute for Global Research promotes and enhances scholarship across Emory University’s nine schools. It supports individual and collaborative research, short and long term visits from distinguished international scholars, and students engaged in research outside of the United States.

From creating digital historical maps to exploring whether reprogramming common somatic cells will provide a viable alternative to stem cells, the Halle Institute for Global Research and Learning fosters ambitious scholarly work in alignment with Emory’s global strategies, including leading the university's efforts in its five priority countries: Brazil, China, Ethiopia, India, and South Korea.

The Halle Institute for Global Research supports graduate and undergraduate students in their pursuit of international scholarship.

The Halle Institute - FCHI Undergraduate Global Research Fellows Program awards fellowships to up to ten undergraduate juniors each year who propose research outside the United States for their honors theses or senior capstone projects.

What to Know Before Applying for a Grant

Supported Research Expenses*

Research Expenses NOT Supported*

  • Travel (housing, food, transportation) to libraries, archives, or research sites

  • Purchase of laboratory reagents

  • Payments to human participants or purchase of animals

  • Photocopies of research documents at research site

  • Production costs for creative arts project

  • Photocopies taken at research site and approved books

  • Long distance phone calls or postage

  • Photocopying costs of materials from the Emory library or a local library

  • Purchase of equipment i.e. cameras, computers, printers etc.

  • Books or materials available at Emory’s library or through interlibrary loan.

  • Funds are not provided for 'general purpose' research supplies shared by multiple users or projects

  • Research funds cannot be used to support research at another university

  • Printing and production of honor’s thesis

  • Travel to conferences

  • Lessons or professional development fees

*Not an exhaustive list

Some applicants will need to submit additional documents depending on the components of their research.

If you are travelling to a space outside of Emory or need access to special documents or equipment, you will need to obtain the proper permissions in advance. Consider the following:

  • Do you have written permission to access archives, materials, records and works in a research space, museum or facility?

  • Do you have an established contact in the research space you plan to access for your research project?

If your project involves human subjects, you will need to obtain either IRB approval or an exemption dependent on your proposed project.

Human subject is defined as a living individual about whom an investigator conducting research obtains:

  1. Data through intervention or interaction with the individual, or

  2. Identifiable private information.

If you are unsure whether your research project requires IRB review you may utilize the IRB determination tool.

If your project involves animal subjects, you will need to obtain either IACUC approval or an exemption dependent on your proposed project. You are responsible for completing all relevant online and in-person trainings prior to work with animals. If you are unsure about IACUC protocol and procedure, talk with your mentor, and also review the IACUC website.

International Travel

Students may use Independent Grants to partially cover the cost of international travel to participate in field research or visit library and museum collections that are not available to view online.

Students requesting funding to travel or conduct research abroad should contact the Office of International and Summer Programs to determine if there are any travel restrictions involving undergraduate travel to the location.

For those proposing a project involving international travel, be sure to address the additional issues listed below in your proposal. The proposal may be as long as 4 pages in order to allow you to address these topics.

Describe how you will make contact, gain access, and establish living arrangements at your research location, including:

  • Your contacts with members of the local community, researchers, and institutions who may be of assistance in your research or with logistics.

  • Where you will reside, with whom, and how local logistics will be arranged with those familiar with your site.

  • Describe how you will realistically gain access, make contact, and establish ongoing relations with the persons during your overseas study. If you are planning to interview people, how will you locate them, inform them about your research, and obtain their permission to participate?

  • How will you maintain records and documents of your experience in a way that maintains and protects the confidentiality of your informants?

  • If your project involves archival, textual, or material cultural materials, describe where and how you will effectively gain access to and use of these materials, including photo reproduction or other permissions.

  • Describe and explain your prior cultural understanding, background, and experience with the culture or culture area in question. Include but do not limit yourself to description of relevant academic training.

  • Are you aware of culturally sensitive topics in traveling and researching in this site? If so, please describe and explain how you would address these issues.

  • What guide books, travel guides or other information have you used to familiarize yourself with the country/area, and how have you used or will use these sources?

If you are not fluent in the local language, how will you circumvent or otherwise deal with this limitation? To what extent will translators or language helpers be needed, and how will such persons be recruited and compensated?

  • Do you have any personal characteristics - such as gender, national or ethnic identity, or otherwise- that will pose special challenges to your research given the cultural and social characteristics of your research location? How will you respond to these challenges?

  • Are there any special challenges of safety or security that your research poses? How will you address these to reduce your risk to an acceptable level?

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