COSMOS SCHOLARS
A Grant Program of The Cosmos Club Foundation
In Support of Young Scholars
(Graduate Students)
2008-2009
Purpose
The purpose of the program is to provide small grants to meet specific research needs not covered by other supporting funds. Examples of appropriate needs are small items of equipment (ordinarily expendable), special supplies, travel to research facilities or to attend relevant meetings, etc. Specifically excluded are general financial support, tuition, living expenses (except in connection with supported travel), and expenses that should have been foreseen and provided for in planning the degree program. Funds for work already done, or scheduled to be done so soon that our support could not be directly applied to it, should not be requested.
Scope of Program
The number of grants to be awarded is not rigidly fixed, but is expected to be at least fifteen. Size of awards will be determined individually, but are contemplated to be in the range of $1,500 to $5,000. There is no restriction as to academic field, but the project should be focused on scholarly research rather than commercial or political activity, social activism, or other non-academic goals. Successful applicants will be designated ‘Cosmos Scholars’.
Eligibility
Applicants must be enrolled in a program leading to a graduate degree (Masters or Doctoral) in a member institution of the Consortium of Universities, on a full-time or part-time basis or conducting research for thesis/dissertation after completion of required course work for the degree.
Application Procedures
Please note: The Application Procedures have changed from those in previous years. The entire application must now be submitted online. The deadline for application is November 3, 2008.
The research proposal application will consist of the following:
- Basic Data Form,
- Curriculum Vitae (one page maximum),
- A one-page statement not to exceed 500 words with title describing the research project. Goals, method, schedule, relevance, importance and cost should be included here. A detailed budget is not required, but the proposal must indicate the specific use(s) to which the requested funds would be put, and the amount requests. Costs should be explained with care.
The revised Application Form for 2008-2009 is now available for online completion.
All fields with an asterisk (*) must be filled in (N/A where appropriate). The C.V. and research proposal must be files in MS-WORD, PDF, or Rich Text Format (RTF) format. Please note that WordPerfect and other word processors permit saving document files in at least one of these formats. These files will be forwarded automatically by entering their full paths in the designated fields, or by clicking the “browse” button and uploading them in the online form. Please take care to comply with the length restrictions specified above.
Proposals that do not adhere to these guidelines will be rejected without further consideration.
Questions may be sent as e-mail messages to grants@cosmosclubfoundation.org.
Evaluation and Selection
Successful proposals will be selected by the Cosmos Club Foundation after evaluation and recommendation by panels selected by the Foundation. Proposals will be judged on both substance and presentation. The Foundation may make awards in amounts different from those requested. Decisions of the Foundation are final and not subject to review. Winners’ names will be posted on the Foundation website, no later than February 6, 2009. Recipients of grants will also receive a letter requiring a reply to the Foundation; funds will then be disbursed.
Conditions of Award
Successful applicants will be expected to provide a summary report of the results of the project in support of which they have received awards, indicating how the award contributed to the project. This report will be expected within one year of the date of the award, and the Foundation may post it on its web site. Awardees (to be designated ‘Cosmos Scholars’) may also be invited to present their results at a special Cosmos Club Foundation function organized to recognize them and their accomplishments. Publications resulting from this research must acknowledge the Foundation’s support.