Goal:  To support research and creative activity undertaken by students in the pursuit of a graduate degree.

Summary:  The Provost’s Graduate Student Research Award invites applications from graduate students enrolled at Oakland University (OU) who are in the process of carrying out a research or creative project. Selection is based on the academic strengths of the student applicant in conjunction with the quality, significance and potential impact of the proposed project.

The purpose of the competitive award is to support student research and/or creative activity particularly as it relates to the completion of a thesis or dissertation.  In this context, research is broadly defined as any creative, critical, scholarly or empirical activity that expands, develops or clarifies knowledge or artistic abilities.  Allowable expenses include the cost of supplies and materials, travel to research primary sources, and such other items that will advance the project under consideration. Equipment purchased with grant money reverts back to the unit/department at the end of the research project period. 

The faculty mentor is responsible for submitting the project through the Research Application Manager System and completing required review processes for any research that involves human participants, and/or animals, biosafety or radiation safety issues.

Application Guideline:

• Complete and submit an online application (Online Application)
• Submit faculty mentor’s endorsement and evaluation (Mentor Endorsement Form)
• All attachments must be attached to the online application as one file.
• The abstract must be jargon-free and written in layman's terms.
• Include a brief bio about yourself as well as your GPA, keeping it within the page limit requirement.
• Methods for your specific aims need to be detailed, especially when they are part of a bigger project.
• Provide justification for the budget.
• Applicant not funded may revise and resubmit his/her proposal for the next competition

Regulatory Compliance: 

If the proposed project involves the use of human subjects, animals, or hazardous/radioactive materials, approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB), Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), and/or Radiation Safety Committee (RSC) must be obtained before work can be initiated or else the applicant must clearly state why this approval is not required. The Principal Investigator (PI) is allowed to submit the compliance approval after the application is submitted.  Confirmation of compliance approval is required before funding is received.  For assistance, contact the Regulatory Compliance Officer in the Office of Research Administration at (248) 270-2762.