Carnegie Mellon University

Departmental Grants

Margaret Carver Research Enrichment Grant

This grant of $5,000 for research enrichment will be presented to one Biological Sciences Ph.D. student or postdoctoral fellow annually. Funds will be used to enhance the awardee's research through activities such as buying time on instrumentation, attending advanced courses, traveling to collaborator's labs or other activities that can be demonstrated to enhance research that would otherwise not be possible. Applicants should provide a one-page description of the proposed activities and a short explanation of how these activities will positively impact their research. A current CV should also be included. The awardees will be selected based on their record of research accomplishment and the projected research impact of their use of the grant funds.

Recipients:
2023 – Corine Jackman (Hiller Lab)
2023 – Suzi Kim (Cai Lab)
2022 – Fiona Fitzgerald (Woolford Lab)
2022 – Meng Xu (Zhang Lab)
2021 – Ben George (Hong Lab)
2020 – Scott Keith (McCartney Lab)

Download Research Enrichment Grant Application (.pdf)

Stupakoff Graduate Student Research Enrichment Grant

This grant of $5,000 for research enrichment will be presented to one Biological Sciences Ph.D. student annually. Funds will be used to enhance the awardee's research through activities such as buying time on instrumentation, attending advanced courses, traveling to collaborator's labs or other activities that can be demonstrated to enhance research that would otherwise not be possible. Applicants should provide a one-page description of the proposed activities and a short explanation of how these activities will positively impact their research. A current CV should also be included. The awardees will be selected based on their record of research accomplishment and the projected research impact of their use of the grant funds.

Recipients:
2023 – Mo Zhu (Barth Lab)
2022 – Melissa Tosiano (McManus Lab)
2022 – Samantha Bryce (Lee Lab)
2021 – Karina Mueller Brown (Hinman Lab)
2020 – Sarah Boothman (Minden Lab)
2020 – Annie Meyer (Hinman Lab)

Download Research Enrichment Grant Application (.pdf)

Margaret Carver Grant for Enhancing Diversity, Equitability and Inclusion

This grant of $5,000 for enhancing diversity, equitability and inclusion will be presented to one Biological Sciences Ph.D. student or postdoctoral fellow annually. Funds will be used for any activity that is viewed to enhance diversity, equitability and inclusion in the department, CMU, Pittsburgh or the wider community. These activities could include workshops, symposia, social events, outreach with local students, website development, social media and/or resource development. Funds may be used to supplement activities undertaken for NSF fellowships or similar other grants. Applicants should provide a one-page description of the proposed activities and how they might enhance diversity, equitability and inclusion.

Recipients:
2023 – Sarah Oladejo (McManus Lab)
2022 – Gary Wilkins (Murphy Lab)
2020 – Alyssa Lawler (Pfenning Lab)
2020 – Sarah Werner (Hiller Lab)

Download Grant for Enhancing Diversity, Equitability and Inclusion Application (.pdf)

Stupakoff Outstanding Research Paper Grant

This grant of $1,000 will be presented to each of two Biological Sciences Ph.D. students annually who are judged to have the best research paper. Students should self-nominate by providing a copy of the submitted, accepted and/or published manuscripts to Ena Miceli. A short description of the student's role as an author on the paper and their CV should be included.

Recipients:
2023 – Christina Akirtiva (McManus Lab)
2023 – Brendan Gallagher (Zhao Lab)
2023 – Aleksandra Klimas (Zhao Lab)
2022 – Daniel Crosby (Lee Lab)
2022 – Karina Mueller Brown (Hiller Lab)
2020 – Dan Wilson (Woolford Lab)

Download Outstanding Research Paper Grant Application (.pdf)

Margaret Carver Outstanding Research Paper Grant

This grant of $1,000 will be presented to one Biological Sciences Postdoctoral Fellow annually who are judged to have the best research paper. Postdocs should self-nominate by providing a copy of the submitted, accepted and/or published manuscripts to Ena Miceli. A short description of the postdoc's role as an author on the paper and their CV should be included.

Recipients:
2022 – Jimmy Khor (Ettensohn Lab)
2020 – William Hatleberg (Hinman Lab)

Download Outstanding Research Paper Grant Application (.pdf)

Margaret Carver Travel Grant

Ph.D. students and postdoctoral fellows may request travel funds for professional reasons, including conference attendance, working with a collaborator, etc. Students and/or postdocs should return form and their CV for an application to be considered complete. Application of funds should be done at least one month prior to proposed dates of travel. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Download Margaret Carver Travel Grant Application (.pdf)

Department of Biological Sciences Teaching Grant

This grant of $400 will be presented to one Biological Sciences Ph.D. student annually. Faculty members may nominate students based on the following criteria: preparation and knowledge of material, dedication and responsiveness to students and instructor, initiative, general work ethic including attendance in class and office hours. A committee of three faculty members will vote on the grant. The committee will be comprised of faculty who do not submit nominations.

Department of Biological Sciences Leadership Grant

This grant of $400 will be presented to one Biological Sciences Ph.D. student annually. Fellow Ph.D. students may nominate their peers for this grant based on their positive contributions for the best interests of their fellow graduate students, community and/or department. To nominate a fellow student, a short paragraph should be included on how they have demonstrated outstanding leadership. Examples of leadership commitment include: evidence of leadership on university, department or graduate student committees, leadership in student organizations or activities supporting current graduate student interests on campus or in the community, activities advancing an inclusive environment.

Department of Biological Sciences Undergraduate Travel Grant

Undergraduates in the Department of Biological Sciences may request travel funds for professional reasons, including conference attendance, working with a collaborator, etc. Students should complete this form at least one month prior to proposed dates of travel. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Application Form