Mini Grants for Research
Detailed Information
With the aid of their faculty mentors, Bowdoin students are able to apply for mini grants for research – made possible with funding from the Davis, Roberts, and Koelln Funds – to support academic year undergraduate research and travel. Each fund has slightly different criteria, which are outlined below; however, the application process is the same for all three funds. The Student Fellowships and Research Committee makes awards based on the merits of the proposals and the funds available. Students are encouraged to submit reasonable budgets that are well-justified.
| Mini-Grant | Purpose | Typical Award |
| Davis Fund | To foster undergraduate interest in international affairs. |
Typically, one to three awards made annually, ranging between $50 and $300. |
| Koelln Fund | To support a faculty-student research team in the exploration of a topic that surmounts traditional disciplinary boundaries. The purpose of the fund is to encourage broad, essentially humanistic inquiry, and will be awarded with preference given to worthy projects founded at least in part in the humanities. |
Typically, one to three awards made annually, ranging between $200 and $500. |
| Roberts Fund | To support an underprivileged scholar to do research in any field. Please note that the Student Fellowships and Research Committee defines "underprivileged scholar" as a student who is currently receiving aid from Bowdoin and that these funds are earmarked to help students with senior honors research. | Typically, ten awards made annually, ranging between $200 and $800. |
Application Process. Complete applications must be delivered to the Office of Student Fellowships and Research, located in 108 and 109 Banister Hall. A complete application/request is comprised of the following:
- A one page, single-spaced description of the project. The description should be written by the student, be understandable to a non-specialist, and clearly state to which fund the student is applying
- An itemized budget and detailed budget justification, with all figures rounded to the nearest $10
- A printout of the student’s academic record/transcript from Bearings
- One original letter of support from the faculty mentor in a signed and sealed envelope
Application Deadline. The submission deadline is noon on the 15th of each month during the academic year, and applications must be delivered to the Office of Student Fellowships and Research, located in 108 and 109 Banister Hall. If the 15th falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the deadline will be extended to 8:00 a.m. on the following Monday. Mini grant proposals are reviewed by members of the Student Fellowships and Research Committee, and in most cases, applicants are notified of the committee’s decision within three weeks.
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