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Funding for Students

 

 
  • Haley Richards

    Haley Richards ’20 used mini-grant funding to help her complete an unpaid internship where she conducted research and development of a wearable biomechanical energy harvesting device. 

Irving Institute Student Mini-Grants

The Irving Institute offers mini-grants up to $1,000 for enrolled undergraduate and graduate students who are advancing the Institute's mission of transforming humankind's understanding of energy issues, and driving the creation of ideas, technologies, and policies that improve the availability and efficient use of energy for all people.  The purposes of the program are to: 

  • Support student initiative in energy and society
  • Foster learning through experience
  • Inspire creativity, and 
  • Directly involve students in accelerating transitions toward socially and environmentally sustainable energy futures

During this period when opportunities to participate physically in internships, lab work, and conferences are constrained by public health measures, we invite you to think creatively! Propose your own idea or consider some of these examples of remote-based projects to take on:

  • Review extreme energy efficiency training materials and help convert for undergraduate education 
  • Explore potential updates to energy-focused sections of existing Dartmouth courses 
  • Research carbon accountability to help plan a future Irving Institute symposium
  • Explore/expand menu of energy immersion trips in a post-COVID-19 world
  • Investigate grid-edge economics — is there a way to serve residences with an "off grid" power service
  • Support energy efficiency projects on campus
  • Gather and create content for the Irving Institute's Energy 101 seminar series
  • Pursue remote internship opportunities at local community partners
  • Create energy and society videos: current research, Dartmouth student and faculty activities, Dartmouth's energy system history, or pitch your idea! 

Mini-Grant Deadlines

  • Wednesday, February 17: Complete spring term mini-grant applications due by 5 p.m. ET

NOTE TO APPLICANTS

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. 
 

Grant Types

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. 

Eligibility

NOTE:  Funding for the 2020-21 academic year is only available for remote/virtual opportunities. In keeping with Dartmouth policy during the COVID-19 pandemic, mini-grants will not support travel.  Please review other College guidelines for undergraduate student research during the 2020-21 academic year. 

  • You must be a current Dartmouth undergraduate or graduate student in good standing.
  • Your opportunity must be unpaid.
  • If applying for funding from other Dartmouth organizations, such as the Dickey Center, UGAR or the Center for Professional Development, you may accept only one grant from Dartmouth per term.
  • Grant funding is to be used to supplement one's own resources to offset the cost of eligible living expenses, including housing, food, transportation to and from the internship or research location, and daily commute costs.
  • No retroactive funding will be provided.
     

Application Process

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 .

Notification of Decisions

  • 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.