After a pause in the CSMS student research awards due to "pandemic problems," the Society is pleased to announce the 2024 program is up and running. These awards are to encourage and support original research by undergraduate students. Please see the application below. Questions may be addressed to Mike Nelson at csrockguy@yahoo.com
2024
COLORADO SPRINGS MINERALOGICAL SOCIETY UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH GRANTS
Committee
Chair: Dr. Michael Nelson
csrockguy@yahoo.com
The primary goal of the Colorado Springs Mineralogical
Society (CSMS)) Student Research Grant Program is to promote and support
original research on Colorado geology by undergraduate
students. The grant program does not seek to cover all of the researcher's
expenses but instead should be viewed as a professional endorsement of the
research endeavor. Requests for grants are judged on how well the proposed
research will advance the science of geology and its related branches within the State of Colorado. Since the
grant program budget is not anticipated to be large enough to fund every research
proposal, the grants will be awarded on a competitive basis. The policy for
applying for and awarding grants is outlined below.
Eligibility
Undergraduate students who are undertaking original
research projects on Colorado geology are eligible to apply for CSMS research
grants. CSMS research grant applicants
need not be members of the Colorado Springs Mineralogical Society. Undergraduate
students must be currently enrolled in a Colorado degree-granting
institution and their research must be part of a degree program (an
academic course granting credit and a grade). Institutions may not request that
overhead costs be added to budgets. The Colorado Springs Mineralogical Society
strongly encourages women, minorities, and people with disabilities to
participate fully in this research grant program. The research proposals
will be evaluated on the basis of the feasibility and scientific merit of the
project, the abilities of the researcher, and the reasonableness of the budget.
Students are eligible for only one CSMS Student Research Grant per degree
pursued.
Research Grant Guidelines
Individual grants will not ordinarily exceed $700, although a higher sum may be
awarded based on merit and number of grant applications received. One
confidential letter of recommendation from the student’s research advisor is
required for each grant applicant. This letter should be either sent directly
to the Committee Chair via Email (csrockguy@yahoo.com) to preserve
confidentiality.
Due to different schedules at different institutions,
research should be scheduled to begin within 4 months of the grant award
(anticipated by early May). For 2024, CSMS anticipates that research will begin
during summer 2024.
Rules for the Use of CSMS Research Grant
Funds
Grants are to be used for expenses directly associated with the research
proposed. For example, research funds may be used for field expenses (travel, some
meals, lodging), materials and supplies (sample bags, base maps, air photos,
film and developing costs, etc.). Travel to professional meetings will not be
funded. CSMS will not fund research by
undergraduate students that relates directly to a thesis or dissertation by a
graduate student.
Funds requested for equipment, computer time and
software, thin-sections, chemical and isotopic analyses, and the purchase of
services must be fully justified. Research grants may not be used for salaries
or tuition. Upon completion of the research, equipment and materials purchased
with a CSMS research grant become the property of the department in which the
student is enrolled and are expected to be available to help additional
students with their research.
Responsibilities of Recipients
Grant recipients are encouraged to present their results at professional
meetings as well as to publish them. In both cases, support by the CSMS should
be acknowledged. Recipients who cannot undertake or complete their project must
return any unused funds along with a written explanation of expenses incurred.
Grants may be subject to tax by the IRS and the grant recipient and advisor are
responsible for determining this point. Within 1 year of receiving their
grant, all CSMS research grant recipients are expected to 1) submit a written report
documenting results of their research;
the Society prefers that the grant recipient submit a short article for
publication in the CSMS Pick & Pack (a newsletter; see www.csms1936.com).
Applications
A research grant application follows. The Research Grant Committee of the CSMS will
review each application. The decisions of this committee are final.
COLORADO
SPRINGS MINERALOGICAL SOCIETY
Student
Research Grant Program Application
Please follow the format below and submit a signed
application postmarked (email attachment) by the 2024 deadline: APRIL
28
1. Name
of Applicant:
Temporary Address:
Permanent Address:
E-mail:
Telephone numbers and hours that are best to reach
you:
2. College/University
enrolled:
Expected
degree completion date:
Project
supervisor and address:
Email:
3. Project
title:
4. Statement
of problem. Please include in your
statement how this work will further our understanding of Colorado
Geology.
5. Concisely
state how you plan to accomplish your investigation.
6. Give a
brief bibliography of the most important papers related to your proposed
research (no more than five).
7. Duration
of investigation (dates):
8. Budget:
9. Budget
justification:
10. Other
support for this project, both applied for and received. For support applied for, include dates you
expect to know outcome:
12. Sign
(electronic signature is valid) and date the submittal:
Signature
Date
Please send completed application, via Email
attachment to: csrockguy@yahoo,com