The SJU Chapter of Sigma Xi sponsors grants to support undergraduate and MS students conducting research in any of the disciplines within the mandate of Sigma Xi.  These small grants (up to $300 per student or student group) are meant to help defray the costs of obtaining equipment, supplies, software, reagents, etc. necessary for the completion of the research project.  These funds cannot be used as salaries or stipends, nor can they be used to support travel to meetings since other University funds are available for that purpose.
    Applications for these grants are due in the Fall semester of each year.  The exact deadline is announced early in the Fall semester. 

Applications require the following:

    1 - A one page description of the proposed research project written by a student.
            This description should include a brief background on the proposed research, a description of the question being investigated, the proposed procedures to be used and any relevant preliminary data.

    2 - A one page detailed budget with justifications for each expense.
            The anticipated costs of equipment, supplies, etc should be listed in as much detail as possible.  A brief description of what the items will be used for should also be included here.  The total budget must not exceed $300.  If the request is for funds for an item costing more than $300, the source of the balance of the required funds must be indicated in the budget.  Salary, stipends, travel to meetings, publication costs, etc are not allowed.

    3 - A letter of recomendation from the student's faculty mentor.
            This letter should address the students potential as a researcher.  It should also indicate what, if any, work the student has already done on the project.  Any other sources of funding currently available to the faculty member for this specific project must also be described in the letter.  Due to financial constraints, preference will be given to projects with no other sources of support.

All application materials should be submitted to the president of the SJU Chapter of Sigma Xi by November 9, 2007.

    Money from the awards will be deposited in an SJU departmental budget line specified by the faculty mentor.  It is the responsibility of the faculty mentor to maintain a record of expenses relevant to the award and to ensure that the funds are only spent in support of the proposed project.  Students who recieve an award are required to submit a brief (one to two pages) report on the progress of their research at the end of the Spring semester.  This report should also indicate exactly how the awarded funds were used.  These reports are to be submitted to the president of the SJU Chapter of Sigma Xi. Students will not be eligible for induction into the SJU Sigma Xi Chapter, nor will they be allowed to apply for an additional grant, until they have submitted their final progress report.  Faculty mentors of students delinquent in submitting final reports will not be eligible to sponsor other student grant applications the following year.
    Questions regarding the grant program should be addressed to the SJU Sigma Xi secretary.

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