The purpose of these awards is to support graduate student work on avian research.
Eligibility
Any QCNR graduate student performing relevant work on avian research. Preference will be given to proposals focused on the Wilson's Phalarope.
What the Fund Will Support
The research award will provide funds up to $2,000, directed toward project-related costs including travel, equipment, materials, and student stipends.
Project Duration
Projects are expected to last a year.
Deadlines
The deadline for proposal submission is July 15, 2026. Expect the committee to require revisions of your proposal before an award is made. You will be given 48 hours to submit any required revisions.
Proposal Guidelines
The application will be uploaded as a single .pdf file.
A complete application must include:
Cover Page
- A title (maximum 100 characters)
- An abstract (maximum of 250 words)
- Name, A number, major, and signature of student
- Proposed project start date and end date
- Identification of name, title, and department of faculty advisor
Section 1: Project Narrative
The narrative section has an absolute limit of 2 single-spaced pages (excluding Literature Cited). This section must have 1-inch margins on all sides and use a minimum of 11-point font. Include:
- Introduction: Provide the rationale or justification for the proposed research, including citations to relevant previous work.
- Objectives, Hypothesis, or Study Questions: These should follow logically from your Introduction and lead logically into your Methods. This section should be very succinct (perhaps a single sentence or set of bullets).
- Methods: Describe your methods of data collection (if applicable) and data analysis. The phases described should mirror those in the Time Line (e.g., literature review, development of research protocols, site selection, sample collections, data analysis, final report writing, etc.).
- Time Line: Specify when you will be conducting various phases of your research. Include an estimate of the average hours per week you expect to commit to each phase.
- Personal Statement (not more than 250 words): Describe how the proposed research experience will further your future professional goals.
- Literature Cited: Include citations to support your project narrative using a consistent citation style matching that of any scientific journal. This section may appear on a third page.
Section 2: Budget Justification
Provide a budget detailing the anticipated costs of the research and the amount by category (e.g., travel, supplies, laboratory analyses, etc.). Any item with a value of $50 or more should be individually identified in the budget.
Following the budget sheet, include a Budget Justification section (1 page or less) that clearly justifies each line item.
Section 3: Letter of Support
The graduate student advisor must provide a letter which:
- Supports the research described in your application
- Confirms that he/she will be supervising your research activities
- Documents what assistance she/he will provide (e.g., use of laboratory space, matching funds, use of a field vehicle, assistance with data analysis and interpretation, etc.)
The faculty mentor must also work with you to prepare this grant request, providing guidance and feedback on early drafts.
Application Process
To apply, students are required to complete the application form linked below. Applications are due on July 15, 2026.
The application form requires the following details:
- Project Title
- Applicant's Name
- Department
- Program
- Stage in Program
- PDF file following the proposal guidelines described above
Evaluation of Proposals
Proposals will be evaluated by a committee of QCNR faculty based on the following criteria:
- Preference will be given to proposals focused on the Wilson's Phalarope
- The logic behind the proposal
- How well the study is justified and explained
- Whether the methods are feasible and will lead to an answer to the proposed questions
- Evidence of strong support from the faculty advisor
Award Administration & Reporting Requirements
Pre-Project Requirements
Students who are awarded funding must:
- Report to the QCNR Business Service Center to review procedures for expenditures (e.g., P-card authorization, handling receipts, travel authorization).
- Submit a photo and project description summary for posting on the QCNR website. The summary must consist of two brief paragraphs — one providing an overview of the research and one discussing broader implications. Submit to Associate Dean Juan Villalba at juan.villalba@usu.edu.
Final Report
A final report is required within 1 year of project funding and must be reviewed by the faculty advisor prior to submission. The report must include:
- A 1-page report describing what was accomplished, how it corresponds to the proposed work, the significance of the results, and recommendations for further study.
- A figure or other visual depiction of the research findings.
- A photo from the project (e.g., of the student engaged in research activities).
- Copies of any products (e.g., PDF of a research poster), including a list of paper and/or poster presentations to conferences.
- A single-page itemized budget report including the amount spent on each item, total expenditures (must be equal to or less than the proposed budget), and verification that all receipts have been submitted to the QCNR Business Service Center.
- A short, layman's-style paragraph describing the project written for an undergraduate student audience, with a title and relevant photograph, for posting on the QCNR Undergraduate Research website.
- A thank you letter to Dr. Tex A. Sordahl.
All reports should be submitted to Associate Dean Juan Villalba (juan.villalba@usu.edu) in electronic format, copied to the faculty mentor.
Questions?
