Funding for Students

Please make sure there is an explicit connection to energy in your proposal. If we do not see a direct linkage in your proposal to the impact on energy and society systems or how your work will advance the Institute's mission, we will not be able to fund your project or internship.  

When submitting your proposal, please consider the following questions:

• What part of energy and society systems (policy, culture, technology, economics, business….) are you hoping to impact through your research/internship?
• What are the specific impacts of your research/internship on energy and society?  
• How can the work you are proposing help us understand and/or improve energy and society systems?

For example, we often receive applications focused on climate change.  Climate and energy are tightly connected (eg, energy systems can contribute to/cause climate change).  It is entirely possible to focus specifically on climate change and not address how to change and improve energy and society systems. That is important work! But it is out of scope of the Irving Institute's energy funding, which is devoted to energy and society. So, if you are proposing a climate-related project, be sure that it includes work that will help us transform our physical and social energy systems to be more environmentally sustainable and just. 
 
Please email irving.institute@dartmouth.edu if you would like to discuss your proposal and its connection to energy and society prior to submitting your application. 
 

Irving Institute mini-grants are available in three categories:

• Independent Research/Project.  Identify an energy and society question or problem that you wish to investigate, with mentorship from a Dartmouth faculty member or post-doctoral associate, or Irving Institute staff member.
• External Internship.  Secure an unfunded energy internship with an external organization. 
• Professional/Educational Growth.  Possible opportunities include:
  • Presenting an energy-focused paper or poster at an academic or professional conference or major meeting
  • Attending an energy-focused academic or professional conference or event
  • Taking an intensive course/training in energy that's not offered at Dartmouth
  • Leading an energy initiative or event on campus

Scroll down for information about the application process and for links to each of these funding opportunities. 

If you need to travel for an internship or other mini-grant funded experience, please be sure to follow current Dartmouth travel guidelines. 

To apply for funding, complete the online application and submit all supplemental application documents (including references and a cover letter) by the deadline. The application will close at 5 p.m. (ET) on the deadline date. Applications that are received after 5 p.m. ET on the deadline will not be considered.

• An application is considered INCOMPLETE if it does not include all required items listed for the grant type for which you are applying.  
• Faculty recommendations are required for all mini-grant types – please give your faculty mentor adequate time to complete and submit their recommendation.
• Cover letters are required for all mini-grant types.
• We advise that you plan ahead and submit early and do not wait until the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered. 

If you have questions or concerns please contact us at irving.institute@dartmouth.edu.

NOTES:

• Grants may be considered taxable income by the Internal Revenue Service if you are a U.S. citizen. Please consult your tax professional for further information.
• For international students, grants awarded may be subject to taxes and fees that could be subtracted from your grant. Please consult with Dartmouth's Office of Visa and Immigration Services for further information.
• Grants are not transferable to a different project/internship/opportunity from what is listed on your application.
• If you need us to review your application prior to the application deadline date because of your project/internship/experience deadline, please complete the application process AND send an email directly to irving.institute@dartmouth.edu with subject line: "Mini-Grant Request for Expedited Review." Please include in the email an explanation for the reason for your request. 

SELECT THE RELEVANT APPLICATION TYPE .

• Independent Research/Project
  • Workplan tempate (for reference)
  • Application for mini-grant funding for your research/project
  • Faculty reference for research/project mini-grant
  • Cover letter should be emailed to irving.institute@dartmouth.edu
• External Unfunded Internship
  • Application for mini-grant funding for your unpaid energy internship
  • Faculty reference for internship mini-grant
  • Please note: Your internship supervisor must also submit a letter to us. 
    • The letter must:
      • Confirm the work arrangements outlined in your application, including hours, projects you will be working on and any deliverables;
      • Confirm that your internship is remote;
      • Acknowledge that the organization is not paying you for this internship;
      • Include the supervisor's contact information and be signed on letterhead;
      • Be sent as a pdf via email directly to irving.institute@dartmouth.edu
    • Cover letter should be emailed to irving.institute@dartmouth.edu
• Professional/Educational Growth
  • Application for mini-grant funding for professional/educational growth opportunities
  • Faculty reference for professional/educational growth opportunities
  • Cover letter should be emailed to irving.institute@dartmouth.edu

• Funding decisions are announced 2-4 weeks after the application deadline.
• This notification deadline is typically after the deadline to apply for D-plan changes. If you are applying for a leave term grant, consider the implications of receiving vs. not receiving a grant in terms of the impact on your D-plan. Refer to the Registrar's website for information and deadlines to submit a change of enrollment petition.
• If your plans change and you are not able to conduct the project in the term for which you received funding, you may not defer the funding to a subsequent term. If the project is unchanged, you do not need to submit a new application, but your application will be reviewed again, along with the applications for that next term.