Funding Resources
The Research office provides support to faculty in identifying external funding opportunities and developing grant proposals to support their research activities.
Additionally, the Research office can help build partnerships with colleagues at our Evanston campus, other Education City universities, and beyond. Please reach out to the Research office (research@qatar.northwestern.edu) to further discuss grant proposals and collaborations.
Qatar National Research Fund: National Priorities Research Program (NPRP)
NPRP is the flagship funding program of QNRF. Every year it funds proposals ranging in value from US$20,000 to US$300,000 annually, for research project periods of one, two or three years. The grants offered through the National Priorities Research Program (NPRP) will:
- Build human capital in Qatar
- Fund research to benefit the nation, the region, and the world
- Raise Qatar’s profile within the international research community
Qatar National Research Fund: Undergraduate Research Experience Program (UREP)
The Undergraduate Research Experience Program (UREP) promotes 'Learning by Doing' and 'Hands-On' mentorship activities as effective methods for undergraduate education. In addition to a research-based education, students gain experience with team-based research collaboration with faculty, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and other undergraduates or research staff in Qatar.
Conference and Workshop Sponsorship Program (CWSP)
The Conference and Workshop Sponsorship Program (CWSP) aims to connect researchers in Qatar to their peers and colleagues, both at home and abroad, by exposing researchers or students to new research directions, findings, and education techniques. The CWSP provides a hub for informing scientists from abroad about research opportunities in Qatar through interaction with their counterparts here, and encourage them to explore the potential for collaboration.
Undergraduate Research Assistant Program
URAP offers faculty members the opportunity to hire an undergraduate student to work with them on their research or creative projects. Students are paid an hourly wage ($10/hour) for their work.
Upcoming Deadline: TBD
Eligibility: Full-time Northwestern University faculty. Neither graduate students nor post-docs may apply. Undergraduate students may work in a URAP position until graduation.
What it is: URAP projects should offer substantial experiences for the undergraduate with mentoring and inclusion in the research process as key elements. The experience should be mutually beneficial. URAP-funded activities help student assistants develop the skills and expertise that will later make them good candidates for Undergraduate Research Grants, which provide funding for independent projects.
Academic Year Undergraduate Research Grants
Academic Year URGs provide up to $1,000 to pay for your research expenses to do an independent academic or creative project in any field. The project is connected to an independent study or thesis seminar.
Deadlines: Five times per year, typically October, November, December, January, February
Eligibility: Northwestern University undergraduates. Seniors may not apply to conduct projects after graduation. Only one Academic Year URG may be awarded per student during their academic career.
What it is: Your own project. Use the money for research expenses: lab materials, travel to archives or field sites, study participant compensation, or something else – you decide. While your project may relate to a faculty member’s research or develop from work within a lab, you must design and execute the project independently, with advisory assistance from your faculty mentor.
Summer Undergraduate Research Grants
Summer URGs provide a $3,000 stipend to cover living and research expenses for full-time eight week independent academic and creative work in all fields of study under faculty supervision.
Upcoming Deadline: TBD
Eligibility: Northwestern University undergraduates. Seniors may not apply to conduct projects the summer following graduation. Only one Summer URG may be awarded per student during their academic career.
What it is: Your own project. Full-time (40 hours/week). Eight weeks. $3,000 lump-sum grant paid to you up front to cover your living and research expenses. While your project may relate to a faculty member’s research or develop from work within a lab, you must design and execute the project independently, with advisory assistance from your faculty mentor.
Undergraduate Language Grants
ULGs provide up to $5,000 (up to 75% of total expenses) for the intensive and experiential learning of foreign language during the summer.
Deadline: Late January 2016 for Summer 2016 study.
Eligibility: Undergraduates who will be returning to Northwestern in the fall following the summer language study. Students cannot receive ULG funds to participate in language programs following graduation from Northwestern.
What it is: You identify a summer language-learning program, and this grant helps defray the costs of attending (up to $5,000 and up to 75% of total expenses). Language programs must be at least six weeks in duration, and language instruction must be the predominant (if not the sole) aim of the program. ULGs fund students who plan to use the summer language training in the pursuit of specific academic and/or professional goals. In your application, you’ll explain how your chosen language program will help you meet those goals.
Conference Travel Grants
CTGs fund 50% of your expenses (up to $500) to present your research or original creative work at a conference.
Deadline: Submit your application at any time during the academic year, but before the actual travel takes place.
Eligibility: Open to all Northwestern University undergraduate students. Students cannot receive funds to attend conferences following graduation.
What it is: Money to help you go present your scholarly and creative projects. Going to conferences can help you communicate your research findings, network with other researchers, and expand your understanding of the scope and nature of academic research. Plus, it is great experience in learning to effectively present your work to others.
Buffett Institute Crown Family Middle East Research Travel Awards
Travel awards for research projects, scholarship, or creative activity in the Middle East.
2015 Deadlines: February 15; May 1; and October 14.
Eligibility: Northwestern University undergraduates. Undergraduates must submit a letter of recommendation from a faculty member (sent to Buffett Institute, 1902 Sheridan Road or emailed by the recommender to Jeff Cernucan at j-cernucan@northwestern.edu).
What it is: Funds travel awards for research projects in the Middle East by Northwestern undergraduates. Research proposals for individual and group projects are invited in all disciplines of the humanities and social sciences. Proposals indicating collaboration with institutions and colleagues in the Middle East will be given priority.
Buffett Institute Keyman Modern Turkish Studies Research Grants
Grants for research projects, scholarship, or creative activity on modern Turkey.
Deadline: Mid-February 2016
Eligibility: Northwestern University undergraduates. Undergraduates must submit a letter of recommendation from a faculty member (sent to Buffett Institute, 1902 Sheridan Road or emailed by the recommender to Jeff Cernucan at j-cernucan@northwestern.edu).
What it is: Research proposals for individual and group projects are invited in all disciplines of the humanities and social sciences. Applicants may place the proposed work in an interdisciplinary context by explaining its relevance to modern Turkey. Projects may build on the work of existing research or they may be an entirely new initiative, as long as they are on modern Turkey. Proposals indicating collaboration with Turkish institutions and colleagues will be given priority.
Buffett Institute Davis Projects for Peace
A $10,000 Undergraduate Social Action Fellowship to design a grassroots “project for peace” to address a social issue.
Deadline: Mid-January 2016 for summer 2016.
Eligibility: Northwestern University undergraduates who are returning to campus the fall after their summer project work. (Seniors are not eligible to apply.) Individuals or small groups of 2-4 students may apply.
What it is: The grant funds a summer project with a nonprofit focused on some dimension of enabling peace in a global world. Many student projects will revolve around direct volunteerism, philanthropy, or development work. The project can be driven by research or a more applied experience, so long as it connects the participant with an established organization. Preference for applicants with strong host-country language skills with demonstrated interest in or knowledge of the country and/or region is preferred. This may be expressed through language study, area studies coursework, time abroad – but time in the country of application is not required.