Guidelines for Baker Fund
The Baker Fund is designed to promote research and travel to professional meetings by graduate students in the Biological Anthropology Program at The Pennsylvania State University. Funds are awarded on a competitive basis. In general, doctoral research takes precedence over pilot studies and travel to professional meetings to present papers. Students should note that there are separate guidelines and applications for research and travel funds.
Guidelines for Research
Purpose: The Baker Fund can be used to fund doctoral research or a pilot project designed to evaluate a potential doctoral topic.
Requirements: To be eligible you must meet the following requirements.
- Be a biological anthropology student enrolled in the graduate program
- For doctoral research, the student must have passed the comprehensive exam, the proposal must be approved by the doctoral committee, and a proposal must have been submitted to an external granting agency
- For a pilot project, the student must have a MA degree (candidacy exam passed, etc.), and the student’s doctoral committee chair must approve the proposed project
- Submit a proposal in paper form to the Graduate Secretary
- The request must be signed by the student’s advisor
Deadline: The deadline is the third Friday in March.
Awards: Students can apply for up to $3000 for doctoral research and $2000 for pilot projects.
Priorities: The grants are competitive, and not every request will get funded. Requests will be based on, but not limited to, the following priorities, which are listed below in no particular order.
- Merit of the research as laid out in the proposal
- Doctoral research, in general, has a higher priority than a pilot project
- Student progress through the program
- Student initiated projects, in general, have a higher priority than offshoots of ongoing faculty research
Proposal: Use the attached form. The application can be no more than two pages long: one for the text, and the other for the budget. Applicants must address what will be done, why it is significant, and the methods and materials that will be used. Clear and concise linkages must be made between objectives, methods, and materials.
Budget Justification: Any unusual features of the Budget must be explained. In addition, discuss how any shortfalls in funding will be made up through other grants, personal funds, and the like.
Accounting: Save receipts for reimbursement, see budget officer, in 415 Carpenter.
Baker Fund Doctoral Research Request
Name:
Student ID#:
Email: Highest Degree:
Institution:
Coursework for the Master’s Degree Completed (semester):
Coursework for the Doctoral Degree Completed (semester):
Dissertation Proposal Approved (semester):
Comprehensive Exam Passed (semester):
Project Title:
Significance of Project: Objectives of Project:
Methods and Materials:
Research Dates:
Budget:
- Personal vehicle:
- Air:
- Other:
- Lodging (__ days @ __ per day):
- Meals (__ days @ __ per day):
- Equipment:
- Expendable supplies:
- Other expenses (itemize):
- Total:
- Amount requested:
Budget Justification:
List all previous or current grants from Penn State or external sources:
Guidelines for Professional Meeting Travel
Requirements: To be eligible you must meet the following requirements.
- Be a biological anthropology student enrolled in the graduate program
- Present written confirmation of acceptance to present a paper at a conference
- Submit a proposal in paper form to the Graduate Secretary
- The proposal must be signed by the student’s advisor
Deadline: The deadline is the ___ ___ in ___.
Awards: Students can apply for up to $300 for domestic meetings and $600 for international ones.
Priorities: The grants are competitive, and not every request will get funded. Requests will be based on, but not limited to, the following priorities, which are listed in no particular order.
- Doctoral research and pilot projects also covered by Baker funds normally take precedence over professional meeting travel
- Students close to finishing their degree who are on the job market
- Student progress through the program
- Students who have defended their proposals (i.e., completed the comprehensive exam)
- Students who actually present the paper or poster (either as sole author or the individual who presents a co-authored paper)
- Students who are presenting their own work at a major meeting
- Students who are presenting research of high quality (preferably work completed while at Penn State)
- Promising new students pursuing topics directly related to planned doctoral research
- Students who are in good standing in the department and are making rapid progress towards their degree
- National meetings rather than local or regional meetings
- Meetings that specifically advance the student’s research
Proposal: Use the attached form.
Successful Proposal Requirements: Successful applicants will occasionally be requested to present their research at either a Department Colloquium or the biological journal meeting. Poster presenters may be requested to provide a poster for display in the department or museum.
Accounting: Save receipts for reimbursement. If traveling within the United States, you will need to keep receipts for airline tickets, car rentals, and lodging. If traveling outside the United Sates, you will use the standard Federal M&IE to claim reimbursement. If you anticipate incurring expenses other than car rentals, airline tickets, and lodging, see budget officer, in 415 Carpenter Building. If desired, students with assistantships can receive a travel advance, please see the budget officer on the process. Airline tickets must be purchased through Penn State, so students should see budget officer, as soon as an award is made.
04/30/2008
Baker Fund Professional Meeting Travel Request
Name:
SS#:
Email:
Highest Degree:
Institution:
Degree Sought:
Coursework for the Master’s Degree Completed (semester):
Coursework for the Doctoral Degree Completed (semester):
Dissertation Proposal Approved (semester):
Comprehensive Exam Passed (semester):
Conference Name:
Justify why conference is important (to your graduate career and field in general):
Location of conference:
Travel Dates:
Presentation format (paper, poster, etc.):
Title: Authorship (sole, senior coauthor, junior coauthor):
Is the paper Invited or Volunteered:
Is the work is related to your doctoral research:
Abstract (no more than 400 words, and include research significance, methods, and results):
List all previous or current grants from Penn State or external sources:
Budget:
- Personal vehicle:
- Air:
- Other:
- Lodging (__ days @ __ per day):
- Meals (__ days @ __ per day):
- Other expenses:
- Total:
- Amount requested:
