PoP Grant for Student Affiliates

The Proposal or Pilot (PoP) Grant is designed to assist CISLL graduate student affiliates in three ways:

  • Aid in the collection of pilot data for dissertations, theses and other large-scale projects that are part of a student's program of research.
  • Aid in the collection of pilot data for a grant proposal to support a dissertation or thesis, and/or
  • Provide the student with a guided experience of writing a grant and conducting research.

These PoP Grants are intended to help students on specific research projects that are in an early stage.

Award Eligibility

Requirements

  • Must be pursuing a master or doctoral degree.
  • Must be a student affiliate of CISLL.
  • Have a CISLL Affiliate faculty who will mentor them throughout this process.

Award

Award amounts may vary depending on need, with a maximum amount per award of $2,000. PoP Grant award monies may be used for costs related to conducting a pilot study or to support attendance at workshops for seeking external funding, travel and attendance costs for conferences or purchase of supplies including software. Other expenditures will be considered, but are subject to evaluation. However, no equipment can be purchased from these funds.

Note: All funds awarded for the CISLL PoP Grant must be spent by May 31 of the academic year in which the grant was awarded.

Expectations

All awardees will be expected to:

  • Share an informal report of progress including empirical findings at the CISLL summer. retreat (typically held in May or June).
  • Submit a final report on project by the beginning of the next academic year.
    • Include information about activities completed and findings.

Committee Review

The PoP Grant Committee will review applications based on the following criteria:

  • Importance of the project including its purpose and significance/broader impact.
  • Methodological rigor of the research plan.
  • Potential for future external funding and dissemination of the associated scholarship.
  • Relevance to CISLL’s mission.
  • Feasibility of completing the proposal for external funding in the stated time period and relevance of the budget request to the stated objectives.
  • Interdisciplinary team proposals will receive special consideration.
  • Applications will be rank ordered by the committee. Funding will be allocated in rank order based on the committees' recommendations until the maximum amount the CISLL budget has designated for these PoP Grants has been committed. Any future proposals for external funding following receipt of this award must list CISLL as an interdisciplinary unit associated with the project.

Application Submission and Deadline

A completed application must be submitted by Oct. 2, 2023. Applications for the CISLL PoP Grant are limited to three pages, single-spaced with one-inch margins and no smaller than a 12-point font.  Applications must include the following: 

  • A brief statement of the purpose of the project 
  • A brief narrative that describes the project (significance, methodology, analyses)
  • The anticipated outcomes of the project (e.g., thesis, dissertation, or grant proposals)
  • The contribution to the mission of CISLL and your scholarly agenda
  • An anticipated timeline for completion of this project 
  • An itemized budget of expenses associated with developing the project.

Contact Us

Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Language and Literacy
Gabel Hall 156
cisll@niu.edu