GUIDELINES
Faculty Study and Research (FS&R) grants support professional activities, including summer study, research and other scholarly and creative pursuits as well as provide support for student research assistants. FS&R grants are intended as incubators and as a pedagogical tool for early-career faculty as they develop their independent scholarship and learn grantsmanship skills. FS&R grants are also useful as a boost for mid-career faculty between the Associate and Full Professor ranks. The FS&R Committee thus prioritizes investing in junior faculty and making long-term investments in Davidson.
FS&R has one annual deadline: Next Deadline: February 1, 2026 for projects that occur anytime between the summer and the end of the following academic year (April). New FS&R funding cannot be considered until an existing project is complete and has been closed out, including returning any unspent funds.
FS&R cannot fund professional development (professional training or education in a specific field or discipline), or travel to professional meetings. FS&R funding also does not cover projects that arise outside of the strict application cycle of the FS&R granting process.
Unanticipated/Urgent Projects:
The College recognizes that projects may arise that are similar to FS&R projects but that could not have been anticipated at the time of the regular FS&R deadline. These may be projects with urgency regarding the availability of, or access to, data, performances, or events; or quick-response research on natural or anthropogenic disasters. To inquire about support for these unanticipated or urgent projects, please email facultydevelopment@davidson.edu.
Professional Development:
Distinct from the professional travel allowance for travel reimbursement to professional meetings, funding in this category is tied directly to professional training or education in a specific field or discipline. For example, a faculty member could propose to attend a workshop, seminar, or artistic event to generate new ideas for research or teaching or to further develop professional expertise. For inquiries related to professional development as described here, please email facultydevelopment@davidson.edu.
FS&R Funding level:
Maximum funding level for all faculty, including continuing visiting faculty, is $5,000.
FS&R Guidelines:
· A faculty member may submit a proposal that contains more than one project, but the rationale and justification for requesting funds for multiple projects must be clear.
· Research-based trips must be justified and clearly linked to a specific research project.
· Collaborative proposals are welcome. Each faculty member will, however, be required to submit a separate application. The project description can be jointly written, but individual group members must include a discussion of their specific contributions to the project.
· Post-Award – Faculty can request a post-award information session regarding hiring student assistants, approving student timesheets, hiring international students, project expenditures, financial reporting, and other post-award matters. Contact LuAnne Sledge in the Office of Sponsored Programs.
· FS&R final reports – Final expense reports are due within 30 days of completion of the project, and no later than the end of April.
Allowable funding categories:
· Student Assistant – The minimum wage for summer students conducting collaborative research with faculty on college funds is $15.00 per hour. This is considered taxable income and the students will have taxes deducted from their pay. Student research assistants hired during the academic year should be paid according to the Academic Year Student Pay Scale.
· Materials and Supplies – Expendable items necessary to carry out the work of the project including laboratory supplies, glassware, chemicals, and reagents. Equipment necessary for the project worth less than $5,000.
· Technology – Software, computing devices, compute fees, peripherals, etc. if not otherwise available through T&I.
· Clerical and translation services – Could include book indexing, transcriptions, and translations.
· Travel – Per diem (lodging, meals and incidentals) must be based on standard GSA government rates. Personal travel segments should be clearly identified on the application.
· Participant incentives – Payments to participants involved in human subjects’ research. See also the College’s Gift Card Policy.
The Davidson Research Network (DRN) program provides an off-campus summer research experience of approximately eight weeks for Davidson College students who intend to pursue a career in the health sciences.
Each DRN experience is conducted under the mentorship of research scientist leading their field of inquiry. Many of the mentors are Davidson alumni who have assumed leadership roles in health research and education institutions across the country. DRN placements may include work in the following disciplines: Oncology, Infectious Disease, Psychiatry, Immunology, Pathology, Airway Disease, Neonatology, Neuroscience, Dermatology, Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, HIV Immunity and Prevention, Orthopedics, Substance Abuse, Biomedical Engineering, and Healthcare Policy.
As part of the application process you will be asked to identify possible sites of interest to you. Please select at least 3 and up to 5 sites from this list:
ELIGIBILITY: Davidson College students who are rising or current sophomores and juniors.
International students on F-1 visas interested in DRN experiences must also talk with International Student Engagement (ISE) about CPT authorization before engaging in off-campus research.
Students on personal leave or those ineligible to return in the fall semester are not eligible to participate in Davidson research programs unless expressly permitted by the Dean of Students Office.
DEADLINE: Thursday, October 30 2025 at 11:59 pm
AWARD: Awardees normally receive a stipend of $6,000 for their 8 week placement, but some placements may involve supplements or alternative payment arrangements. Details will be noted at the time of award.
Note: To promote fairness in the distribution of funding, students who receive multiple internal Davidson awards for the same project during the same time period (semester, break, or summer), or for separate projects to be completed concurrently, will only be permitted to receive one of the awards.
Questions:
For questions regarding the program or application process please contact Roslyn Pozega, Grant Coordinator, Office of Sponsored Programs, at ropozega@davidson.edu
Chair Grants are intended to help support a Chair’s research, teaching, and professional development while they are serving as a department chair.
Eligibility: Chairs who do not already have professorship funds. New Chair Grant requests cannot be considered until any existing FS&R or Chair Grants the applicant has are complete and have been closed out, including returning any unspent funds. If a Chair is on sabbatical for all or part of the year the grant is being requested for, the Chair has the option to either request the grant for themselves or to defer the eligibility to the person serving as the Interim Chair in their absence. Plans for any such deferrals must be shared in writing prior to the Chair Grant deadline.
Award Term: From the date of award until April 30th of the following year.
Award Amount: Up to $5,000 may be requested. Any unexpended funds must be returned at the conclusion of the grant period.
Deadline: Feburary 1, 2026
Note: New Chair Grant requests cannot be considered until any previously existing FS&R or Chair Grants that have been awarded are complete and have been closed out, including returning any unspent funds.
Allowable Uses of the Chair Grant Funds:
· Travel expenses in connection with your research and professional activities. They may be used, for example, for transportation, accommodations, meals, conference registration fees and association membership dues. Per diems requested should follow standard College rates. Personal travel segments should be clearly identified.
· Publishing costs, including research materials, open-source fees, copyediting and translation services, and subventions.
· Student Research Assistant – The minimum wage for summer students conducting collaborative research with faculty on college funds is $15.00 per hour. This is considered taxable income and the students will have taxes deducted from their pay. Student research assistants hired during the academic year should be paid according to the Academic Year Student Pay Scale.
Note: Chair grants cannot be used to pay a stipend, research scholarship, or other lump sum payment to a student.
· Materials and Supplies – Expendable items necessary to carry out the work of the project including things such as canvas, paints, field notebooks, laboratory/studio supplies, chemicals, etc. That may include small equipment necessary for the project if costing less than $5,000, or office supplies (but not furniture or furnishings).
· Technology – Software, computing devices, compute fees, peripherals, etc. if not otherwise available through standard T&I processes.
· Clerical and translation services – Could include book indexing, transcriptions, and translations.
· Participant incentives – Payments to participants involved in human subjects’ research. See also the College’s Gift Card Policy.
· Books and journals purchased with Chair grant funds are the property of Davidson College. Such purchases should be specific to your needs and should not duplicate existing resources on campus.
· For any expenses not listed above please contact Fuji Lozada (erlozada@davidson.edu) in advance of purchase to confirm their allowability.
Award Management and Reporting
· Post-Award – Chairs can request a post-award information session regarding hiring student assistants, approving student timesheets, hiring international students, expenditures, financial reporting, and other post-award matters. Contact LuAnne Sledge (lusledge@davidson.edu) in the Office of Sponsored Programs.
· Final reports – Final expense reports are due within 30 days of completion of the grant, and no later than the end of April.
· Changes in plans – It is possible to obtain approval for changes in the planned uses of the funding after award, within overall program guidelines. Please contact Peter Szanton (peszanton@davidson.edu) in the Office of Sponsored Research to request any changes.
Funds may be provided to assist with the publication of manuscripts that have received final acceptance for publication by a scholarly press or public dissemination of artistic work. A copy of the letter of agreement and any invoices must be submitted with the application. Fundable expenses include: cost of reprints of articles published in scholarly journals; per page journal fees (not covered by publisher or royalties); indexing; preparation of photos, line drawings, or other artistic assistance; expenses related to exhibitions in which their work will be shown. A funding ceiling for these grants will be established on an annual basis by the VPAA.
Note:
1. 1. All full-time faculty, regardless of rank, are eligible to apply.
2. These grants are independent of FS&R applications.
3. Decisions are made on a rolling basis.
4. Once awarded, send letter of agreement (contract) and receipts to LuAnne Sledge in the Office of Sponsored Programs, for reimbursement.
Application Deadline: Rolling.