uiowa dissertation grant

Division of Sponsored Programs

Student services.

The University of Iowa offers services to support its students in the search for external research funding and opportunities to participate in a mentored research environment. The Division of Sponsored Programs and Graduate College cooperatively support a full range of graduate student services, as outlined in the Graduate and Professional Student Resources section. The Iowa Center for Undergraduate Resources offers a wealth of information in support and recognition of  Undergraduate Research . 

Students are also encouraged to explore the following, related links: 

• Student Financial Aid Links to UI and other sites offering financial-aid information. 
• University of Iowa Study Abroad Undergraduate Scholarships

Graduate and Professional Student Services

What services a​re provided.

With the support of the Graduate College, the Division of Sponsored Programs office serves as a resource center for graduate and professional students as they begin their begin their funding searches and  pursue external funding opportunities for research and scholarly activities. 

Services to Departments and Graduate/Professional Student Groups

• An introduction and orientation to the DSP’s overall resources for Graduate and Professional Students;
• Presentations that teach funding search strategies as a process and demonstrate effective use of the available databases
• Presentations on key principles of effective grantsmanship. 
• Customized presentations on request.

Services​ to Students

Information-gathering services.

• Individual appointments to help frame short/long term goals for funding and a search strategy
• Hands-on training to maximize success using subscription databases and online resources
• Assistance in requesting information, such as program guidelines if unavailable on web

Application Development Services

• Guidance in locating and understanding funder guidelines 
• Individual review sessions to critique and workshop applications in progress 
• Provide relevant online guides and resources for grant preparation
• Group presentations on grantsmanship skills

Submission Support

• Assistance  creating official UI files of applications through the UIRIS routing form  (Graduate College requires of all graduate students)*
• Free photocopying services to expedite the proposal submission process
• Free courier service to deliver applications for external funding
• Free phone and fax for funding queries and application completion 

Individual appointments with our graduate assistants are available at any point in the student's search and application process. To make an appointment, contact  [email protected]  .

*At the end of each academic year, the Graduate College gathers data on all graduate and professional student applications and success stories regardless of the size of the award. The information collected fundamentally impacts future planning and resource management. The UIRIS routing form is crucial in this process.  No matter the size of the award, there must be a UIRIS form created. And no matter the outcome, the results of every funding application must be reported. 

Graduate and Professional Students FAQs

What is a grant.

A grant is a form of funding that can be used for research, travel, creative, experimental, or innovative projects. Here in the Division of Sponsored Programs (DSP) we use the term grant loosely to include fellowships, scholarships, prizes, and awards.

When should I start looking for grants?

In your senior year of undergraduate studies, you should apply for grant opportunities to fund your graduate education.  In your 1st year of graduate studies, you should familiarize your self with internal and external grant sources here at the University. In your 2nd and 3rd years, you should apply for pre-dissertation grant funding for travel, pilot study, research, etc. In your 4th year, you should apply for dissertation funding. It is important to map out your timeline for your academic requirements, and then plan what funding opportunities you will seek at each point in your graduate experience. 

Can I access the subscription funding databases from my home computer?

Yes. You simply enter your HawkID and password to get access to Community of Science (COS) and the Sponsored Programs Info Network (SPIN). These are comprehensive sites that gather funding information from all over the world and present it in easily searchable formats. SPIN and Community of Science (despite its name), include relevant sources across the disciplines, including Education, Law, Health and Medicine, Arts and Humanities, Business, Engineering, Area Studies, Physical Sciences and Mathematics, Social Sciences and more.

Are the services for graduate and professional students free?

Yes, they are paid for by a combination of funds from the Graduate College and the Division of Sponsored Programs.  Specific free services include: training on the databases, help in interpreting grant guidelines, offering students individual grant writing consultations and critiques, reviewing application packets to ensure completeness prior to sending to the funding organization, free shipping and copying for proposals and helping with any other questions or problems that may arise in the process. Additionally, we can assist you with the University's UIRIS-based electronic routing form which is required for all external funding applications.

How long does it take to receive a grant?

External grants usually take longer to receive than internal sources of funding.  You should allow three to nine months from the time you submit your grant proposal/application packet to the time you receive funding. For many dissertation support opportunities, you must apply early in the academic year before the year for which you need the funding. 

Are there international studies and travel opportunities?

There are grants that fund research abroad and/or travel expenses.  Some grants, like the Fulbright-Hays Dissertation Research Fellowship, are specifically used for dissertation research abroad; however, other grants are not so specific.  Many grants offer money that can be used for research/ travel abroad but don't specify this use.  The ways you may use your funding are dependent upon the type of grant you are applying for. It is best to check the guidelines of the specific grant you are interested in.  More information regarding internal funding for international studies is available at the International Programs Office .

Can I use your services if I was nominated for an external grant through my department?

We can help any graduate/professional student who is applying for an external grant even if they have been nominated through their departments.

How do I get recognition for applying for a grant?

The first step is to create a UIRIS-based UI Routing Form for each external application. Then inform DSP once you know the results of your application regardless of outcome.  If successful, DSP can help you with any administrative details required by the funding organization. If you do not receive the grant, we can help you with reviewer comments and revisions for resubmission or for other competitions.

Obtaining a Grant

Steps to obtaining a grant.

Please visit  https://www.grad.uiowa.edu/book-a-graduate-success-appointment .

Search for Funding Opportunities using electronic funding databases, the UI Grant Bulletin, or other sources.  Most of the databases use keywords for searching contents.

• Sponsored Programs Info Network - Search SPIN .  For tips on how to enhance your search, please see the “Help” link in the upper right.
• Pivot - an online funding database for funding opportunities.

Learning to write a successful grant takes effort and persistence.  Numerous texts exist on the topic along with helpful hints.  DSP assistants are available to help you as you learn this process.

• Complete and assemble the application packet as required by the funding organization.  Packets may include one or all of the following: 1) one or more versions of a Curriculum Vitae/Resume (assistance in preparing these can be found at the Pomerantz Career Center ; an official transcript from the  Office of the UI Registrar ; letters of recommendation, if required; any official forms for the competition; and other materials, such as a short research abstract.

Submission of accurate and complete applications is essential to success. DSP staff can assist with this process.

• Initiate an electronic routing form utilizing UIRIS . Complete the form, approve and it will enter into Workflow for departmental and dean approval.
• Determine if the application has been designated by the UI Graduate College to be part of the Graduate Incentive Fellowship program.
• The application and routing form should arrive in Sponsored Programs five days in advance of the funding organization's deadline.
• DSP will provide copying and shipping services if needed and for free once the application packet is reviewed for completeness by a DSP reviewer.
• The DSP Tracker permits you to view the status of your application once it is received by DSP.

Graduate and Professional Student Resources

The Division of Sponsored Programs and the Graduate College collaborate to provide expert assistance to graduate and professional students seeking external funding to support research, dissertation, travel, and other scholarly activities. The Graduate College offers information on internal funding opportunities for graduate and professional students. The Graduate Student Senate and    Graduate & Professional Student Government offer travel funds for research and attending professional conferences/meetings.

Services Provided to Departments and Students

A variety of presentations are available to departments for the graduate and professional students participating in the departments' degree program(s). Students can also access a wide range of services from the Division of Sponsored Programs that are funded through the Graduate College.

Steps to Obtaining External Support -- i.e., Grants, Fellowships

Whether a novice or an experienced proposal-writer, it is critical to learn and master the steps to obtaining external support. The steps outlined on this page are essential for successful submission of proposals while at the University of Iowa.

Graduate College Resources

The UI Grad Success Office works with graduate students and postdocs on funding search strategies and proposal feedback. Individual consultations and group workshops can be set up at this page . Please email [email protected] with any questions. Also see FAQs on this page and the Grad Success Office .

Other Student Resources

• Counseling Services
• Recreational Services
• UI Calendars
• Women's Resource Action Center

Related Links

• Graduate and Professional Student Funding  
• Graduate Student Contract through COGS
• Policies and Procedures

Graduate Student Senate

Menu drawer options.

There are multiple funding opportunities available for students at the University of Iowa. This page is dedicated to provide information about the various existing sources that offer funds to help students travel to conferences where they can present their research done at the University of Iowa.

GSS is one of those sources. Graduate students who are traveling to a professional conference to present their original work may receive GSS/Graduate College Presentation Travel Funds once per year. Graduate students traveling for research (e.g., data collection) are also encouraged to apply for the GSS/Graduate College Thesis-Dissertation-Related Travel Award.

However, as stated above, GSS is not the only organization that provides travel funding for graduate students. The Graduate and Professional Student Government (GPSG), for example, provides grants for student travel, research, or community projects. 

Other funding sources information and details can be found on the Graduate College website .

Want advice about personal finances as a graduate student? GSS also recommends  GradStudentFinances.org !

Graduate & Professional Student Government

Grants For Students

Research Grants   |  Service Grants   |  Travel Grants

GPSG provides grants to University of Iowa graduate and professional students to travel, conduct research, or engage in a service project.

We do not place specific restrictions on the types of research, travel, or service that we will fund. Successful applicants should be able to make a strong case for how their proposed research , service , or travel will contribute to their educational and/or professional development. Due to the competitive nature of the grants, and our desire to fund as many students as possible, applicants are only eligible for funding once for each type of grant per academic year. 

Application Logistics

To apply for a GPSG Grant, please  click here to be taken to Engage , our online application management system. Applications for each cycle will not open until the "opens" date listed under Grant Deadlines.

• *Please note: You will need to sign in using your HawkID and password to access the application forms for the current funding cycle.
• Once logged in, find GPSG in the "organizations" tab
• Navigate to the appropriate grant form (travel, research, service) that is listed under the GPSG profile page
• This system will provide a record/confirmation of your submissions and updates on the status of your application in your Engage account under the 'Activity' tab.

If you have questions regarding the GPSG Grant Program, please email Grant Director Shaoshuai “Shirley” Chen ( [email protected]. )

For technical assistance with the application system, please email our system manager .

Overview of available GPSG Grants:

• Travel Grant:  this GPSG Grant will fund up to $500 for travel to conferences and workshops occurring within 90 (+/-) days of the cycle deadline. This can include registration fees for virtual conferences. Successful applicants make a strong case for the importance of attending the specific conference or workshop, demonstrate financial need and efforts to secure additional funding, and clearly describe the work to be presented. Although it is not required that applicants present their work, priority will be given to those that do. Applicants will also be required to provide proof of their travel. Examples include, but are not limited to: a hotel or airfare receipt, a selfie or picture from the venue, etc.  Read more about GPSG Travel Grants.   
• Research Grant:  the GPSG Grant will fund up to $1,500 for expenses related to research projects. While we do not restrict research funding to dissertation projects, successful research proposals reflect a carefully crafted and feasible research plan. Applicants will be required to provide an itemized budget for the requested funds, as well as list any other sources of funding for the project in question. Recipients of grants for research have six months to use the awarded funds. Funds are released upon sending a purchase request; therefore this grant cannot be used to retroactively pay for past purchases.  Read more about GPSG Research Grants .   
• Service Grant:  the GPSG Grant will fund up to $1,500 for expenses related to a service project. While only graduate and professional students may apply for and receive GPSG Grant funds, applicants may partner with other students to complete their service project. Priority will be given to projects that can demonstrate a direct impact on the University of Iowa community. Successful applicants will demonstrate the importance of their service project and its connection with the UI community as well as their own personal and professional development. Recipients of service grants have up to six months to use awarded funds. Funds are released upon sending a purchase request; therefore, this grant cannot be used to retroactively pay for past purchases.  Read more about GPSG Service Grants.

2023-2024 Grant Deadlines:

In order to provide for timely review of applications, GPSG has set the following grant review cycles for the 2023-2024 academic year (note: these deadlines are subject to change at any time):

GPSG Council of Delegates Funding Vote date subject to change.

Application Procedure and Review Process:

The GPSG supports the sustainability initiative at the University of Iowa to eliminate paper applications. Please complete the electronic application above. Applications must be received by 11:59pm (Central Time) on the deadline date to be considered. All subsequent communication with applicants will be conducted via email. No physical copies of any material will be accepted.

Following each cycle’s deadline, the GPSG Grants Director reviews and prepares all applications. S/he then provides them to the GPSG Grants Committee for review. The committee reviews the applications and scores each application based on whether or not they meet specific criteria (criteria specifics mentioned below). Each application is scored by at least two members of the committee for an average score. After the committee members submit their evaluation scores, a cutoff score is generated based on the number of applications and the amount of funds available. The GPSG Grants Director presents the recommendations to the GPSG Council of Delegates at the next monthly meeting for their approval. A simple majority of the Council of Delegates is needed to confirm the recommendations. Funding decisions are then communicated to the applicants by the GPSG Grants Director. Depending on the date of receipt of the application and the total number of applications submitted that cycle, it may take up to six (6) weeks to receive a funding decision. Students that do not receive funding may reapply during a later grant cycle. 

Travel Grants

Range of Support

Awards are contingent upon the availability of funds and the number of applications received. As of the 2020-21 fiscal/academic year, the evaluation committee will award up to a maximum of $500 per applicant, even though the cost of attending the conference may exceed that amount.

Students are highly encouraged to provide detailed explanations for the amount requested, and demonstrate efforts to find the cheapest alternative (room sharing, carpooling, etc.)

The GPSG Travel Grant is not a guaranteed source of funding. Travel grant awardees are not guaranteed to receive funding before their travel begins. We encourage students to submit the required application materials by the earliest eligible travel grant deadline.

Eligibility  

The applicant must be enrolled as a student in a graduate or professional degree program at the University of Iowa (i.e. must pay student service fees), and be in good academic standing. GPSG will not consider grant applications by students pursuing a bachelor's degree. 

Travel must be completed prior to graduation: Applicants who plan to graduate during that same term must submit their travel expense report prior to the end of the term. If your travel has already taken place at the time that your application is due, you must submit your expense report along with your application. For instance, if you apply during the March grant round and your travel took place in February, you must submit your expense report along with your application.

• Applicants are eligible to receive one (1) GPSG grant per academic/fiscal year; the fiscal year begins on July 1. For the purposes of implementing the 'one award per year' policy, all awards are treated as given on the application deadline. A student may apply as many times as desired per year until they are awarded a grant, as long as they follow all necessary guidelines.

Note: Group applications are not allowed. If several students are attending the same event, each student must apply separately for funding, and each student must be responsible for creating their own application.

GPSG observes a standard fiscal year that runs from July 1 to the following June 30. Travel grant recipients must claim the award during the same fiscal year it was awarded. Therefore, students traveling between July 1 and the start of the fall semester should wait to apply for travel funds until the fall semester after they return. 

Travel Funding Evaluation Criteria and Process

For more information regarding the criteria used by the travel grant judges to evaluate the travel grant applications, please refer to the GPSG Travel Grant Evaluation Rubric.   

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I am trying to apply for the GPSG travel grant, but Engage indicates that all applications are closed. How do I apply? A: In order to apply for all GPSG grants, you must log in to your University of Iowa Engage account (using your Hawk ID) when submitting grant applications. Once you have logged in, you will be able to see the open applications.

Q: Is there any way for me to get a confirmation email saying that I applied for this grant? I need to submit proof that I applied for funding.   A: If you log on to Engage, there will be a record of your submission found in the activity tab.  

Q: Is there a limit to the number of awards a student can receive? A: Applicants can only be awarded one of each type of grant per academic year. We try to award funding to as many different individuals as possible.

Q: I have been granted a travel award. How will I receive my award? A: Once all travel receipts have been received by the grants director ([email protected]), awards will be dispersed by the Student Organization Business Office (SOBO) via your UBill account.    Awards may be applied to your Ubill balance, reduce your loan amounts, paid by direct deposit, or a combination of any of these methods.  The impact of the award to financial aid is unique to each student and cannot be predicted by the Student Organization Business Office.   Please allow time for processing all the paperwork before inquiring about your award. Awards should be visible on your UBill account within 30-60 days.

Research Grants

GPSG recognizes that graduate and professional student education is advanced through academic research. Therefore, GPSG strives to support quality graduate and professional student research to continue the University of Iowa’s reputation as a leading research institution. Current graduate and professional students in good academic standing who have a project proposal and a principal investigator (PI) or project advisor may apply for Research and Project Grant funding. The maximum that can be awarded for Research Funding is $1,500 per project to be used within six months of being awarded. Please read ALL of the sections on this webpage, particularly the funding guidelines below, before you submit your application. Questions regarding any part of the application process may be directed to the GPSG Grants Director at [email protected].  

Eligibility

The applicant must be enrolled as a student in a graduate or professional degree program at the University of Iowa (i.e. must pay student service fees), and be in good academic standing.  GPSG will not consider grant applications by students pursuing a bachelor's degree.

• Research must be completed prior to graduation. 

Research Funding Application

Please complete the  Research Grant Application  by signing in with your HawkID on Engage. 

Research Funding Guidelines

All applicants are responsible for reading all the information on this website before applying, and will be held to the following guidelines (subject to change):

• There is a maximum award of $1,500 allowed per project.
• Allocated funds may only be used for the purposes for which they were approved by GPSG.
• Activities that could otherwise be funded through GPSG Travel or Service Grants will not be considered for Research Grant funding.
• Reimbursement for items purchased before the award was received will not be allowed.
• If the final cost of an approved item is more than the remaining balance of the awarded amount, GPSG will not pay the difference.
• Applicants are responsible for submitting all purchase requests within six months of receiving funding (exceptions may be allowed if they are requested prior to an existing deadline).
• The activity or potential activities must align with the mission of the University of Iowa and GPSG. Additionally, it is the responsibility of the individual or the organization to ensure that allocated funds are spent in accordance with the University of Iowa and the Board of Regents policies, and any other policies the recipient is expected to comply with.
• Acknowledgment of GPSG’s support is expected on all publicity, presentations, posters, and/or publications resulting from the research project. The GPSG logo will be provided for use if funding is awarded.
• Awarded applicants must provide a final report on the outcome of the project upon request (within 12 months of the award date or before applying for any future award). 

Research Funding Evaluation Criteria and Process

For more information regarding the criteria used by the research grant judges to evaluate the research grant applications, please refer to the  GPSG Research Grant Evaluation Rubric .  

Research Funding Prohibited Items  

The GPSG will not fund expenses that are not directly related to the research being conducted. Prohibited funding items include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Tuition or remuneration of the applicant’s time spent on the research project
• Dissertation fees - including but not limited to Graduate College and/or graduation fees and dissertation printing expenses
• Membership dues
• Office or laboratory furniture
• Office equipment or supplies
• Rental of office or laboratory space
• Salaries and wages for research assistants, University of Iowa affiliates, or employees
• Food and refreshments
• Philanthropic events
• Entertainment

Item approval is left to the discretion of the committee.

Q: Can the grant cover travel visas, passport photos, or visa mailing fees? A: No

Q: Can I apply for a research grant for research that I have already conducted? A: No. All research applications should be specific to research that will be conducted in the near future.

Q: Does the grant cover software? A: Yes, so long as it is not already provided by the UofI or otherwise freely available. If the software is provided at a reduced fee, you may include this fee in your grant application.

Q: Does the grant cover books? A: Only in the case where they are not available through the U of I library and their research purpose is well-justified.

Q: How long does a decision take? A: We try to make decisions within 6 weeks of the application deadline, but cannot guarantee this. All decisions must be approved by the GPSG Council of Delegates, which meets approximately once per month.

Q: Does the grant cover shipping charges or taxes? A: Shipping charges and taxes are covered, but they must be included in the grant application with the budget. They cannot be covered after the fact.

Q: What happens to any equipment purchased with the grant after it has been used? A: The equipment will belong to your department.

Q: I am trying to apply for the GPSG research grant, but Engage indicates that all applications are closed. How do I apply? A: In order to apply for all GPSG grants, you must log into your University of Iowa Engage account (using your Hawk ID) when submitting grant applications. Once you have logged in, you will be able to see the open applications.

Q: Is there any way for me to get a confirmation email saying that I applied for this grant? I need to submit proof that I applied for funding.   A: If you log on to Engage , there will be a record of your submission found in the activity tab.  

Q: How are the grants reviewed and who decides which grants are funded? A: All grants are reviewed and given a score by at least two members of the grants committee. That averaged score is used to determine which applications are recommended for funding to the Graduate and Professional Student Government. The GPSG Council of Delegates votes on the recommendations that their monthly meetings.

Service Grants

GPSG recognizes that graduate and professional student education is advanced through service projects. The maximum that can be awarded for Service Grant Funding is $1,500 per project to be used within the academic year. Please read ALL of the sections on this webpage before you submit your application. Questions regarding any part of the application process may be directed to the GPSG Grants Director at  [email protected].

The applicant must be enrolled as a student in a graduate or professional degree program at the University of Iowa (i.e. must pay student service fees), and be in good academic standing. GPSG will not consider grant applications by students pursuing a bachelor's degree.

• Service project must be completed prior to graduation. 

Service Funding Application

Please complete the Service Grant Application .

Service Grant Funding Guidelines

• Activities that could otherwise be funded through our Travel or Research Grants program will not be considered for Service Grants funding.
• Applicants are responsible for bringing the project to completion within the academic year of receiving funding (exceptions may be allowed).
• The activity or potential activities must reflect the mission of the University of Iowa and GPSG. Additionally, it is the responsibility of the individual or the organization to ensure that allocated funds are spent in accordance with the University of Iowa and the Board of Regents policies, and any other policies the recipient is expected to comply with.
• Acknowledgment of GPSG’s support is expected on all publicity, presentations, posters, and publications regarding the service project. The GPSG logo will be provided for use if funding is awarded.
• Awarded applicants must provide a final report on the outcome of the project (within 12 months of the award date or before applying for another award during the next academic year).

Service Grant Funding Evaluation Criteria and Process

For more information regarding the criteria used by the service grant judges to evaluate the service grant applications, please refer to the  GPSG Service Grant Evaluation Rubric . 

Other Grant Opportunities

Looking to increase your odds at winning an award? Check out these other great funding opportunities available to University of Iowa students.   (If there are other opportunities that should be listed, please email the grants director so they can be advertised here!)

• Graduate College
• Graduate Student Senate Awards
• International Programs Awards
• CGRER Student Travel for Field Research  

Anthropology

Graduate funding.

The Department of Anthropology normally offers funding for four years, usually in the form of graduate assistantships (teaching and research assistant positions), to incoming graduate students. Applications for graduate assistantships can be found in your admissions profile in MyUI. Students should complete the application by January 1st to be considered for the following fall semester. 

To support their dissertation research and writing,  our students successfully apply to a variety of internal and external funding sources . 

Examples of  internal funding sources  available through the University of Iowa include:

• Graduate College Fellowships
• Stanley Graduate Awards for International Research  
• Center for Global & Environmental Research  (for field research & conference travel)

Examples of  external funding sources  available to graduate students in anthropology include:

• American Anthropological Association: List of funding agencies for graduate study

Recent and current Anthropology graduate students at the University of Iowa have received nationally competitive grants including  National Science Foundation  Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants, Dissertation Fieldwork Grants from the  Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research , and Dissertation Research grants from the  Leakey Foundation , as well as funding from sources such as the Predoctoral Fellowship from the  Ford Foundation , the Dissertation Writing Fellowship from the  American Association of University Women , and the Graduate Research Fellowship Program from the  National Science Foundation .

Teaching Assistantships

The Department offers financial support to the majority of its graduate students, usually in the form of teaching or research assistantships.  The duration of financial support can last multiple years provided the graduate student remains in good standing.  Students making satisfactory and timely progress through the graduate program are considered to be in good standing.  The amount and types of aid depend on departmental needs and the availability of funding.  Notification in writing of a provisional financial award will be given to the student in the semester prior to the academic year or summer session for which the award has been granted.  Each award is contingent upon maintaining satisfactory progress in the program.  Financial support is normally given only to full-time students.

The Graduate College

The Graduate College offers a wealth of information about funding for graduate students. For more information, visit Funding your UI Education in the Graduate College at the University of Iowa.

NOTICE: The University of Iowa Center for Advancement is an operational name for the State University of Iowa Foundation, an independent, Iowa nonprofit corporation organized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, publicly supported charitable entity working to advance the University of Iowa. Please review its full disclosure statement.

Religious Studies

Graduate funding, financial aid.

There are three primary forms of financial aid offered:

Primary financial aid offers

1. assistantships.

The Department of Religious Studies offers teaching assistantships. Assistants receiving quarter-time and half-time appointments are classified as in-state residents for fee purposes, resulting in a savings of more than $3,000 each semester for full-time enrollment. Students who make appropriate progress in their academic programs are ordinarily supported for four years.

The awards are made annually on a competitive basis, with stipends ranging between $21,000 to $22,000 for half-time assistantships.

Enrolled graduate students at the University of Iowa who also are holding a university appointment of at least 25 percent time are eligible to receive a contribution from the university toward the cost of their health insurance coverage.

2. Aid for which you can be nominated

The University of Iowa supports several other fellowships for which departments can nominate incoming students. Students hoping to be considered for these highly competitive fellowships should be sure to have their applications in by the middle of January. Learn more about these fellowships .

3. Other scholarship opportunities

The University of Iowa has several other types of aid that you may be eligible to apply for. Learn more about these options .

Additional funding

Finding money to perform research might be important to your graduate career. Students should turn first to the  Division of Sponsored Programs  for help in obtaining funding. You can also find additional resources on funding for professional conferences specifically .

The department is usually able to provide summer research support for PhD students.

Fellowships

Graduate students are encouraged to pursue research fellowships that provide them with the necessary time to complete their research objectives.

University of Iowa fellowships

Graduate and professional students government (gpsg) research grants.

Graduate and Professional Students Government (GPSG) research grants provide funding for graduate and professional students to conduct qualitative or quantitative research with the aim of increasing their knowledge of or contributing to current scholarship in their particular field(s) of study.

Stanley Graduate Awards for International Research

Stanley Graduate Awards for International Research are the University of Iowa’s premier award given annually to UI graduate students for the pursuit of international research/fieldwork and career interests (can only be received once).

Graduate College summer fellowships

Graduate College summer fellowships are intended to facilitate completion of the doctoral degree in a timely manner for students who will have completed their comprehensive examinations by the spring.

T. Anne Cleary International Dissertation Research Fellowship

The T. Anne Cleary International Dissertation Research Fellowship provides funds for UI doctoral candidates to conduct dissertation research outside of North America, and is available to all disciplinary areas. Award amount ranges from $1,500 to $5,000.

Marcus Bach Graduate Fellowships

Marcus Bach Graduate Fellowships aim to support the completion of an MFA project or doctoral dissertation. The fellowship’s goal is to foster intercultural communication and/or the understanding of diverse philosophies and religious perspectives, and projects in this area are the most appropriate proposals.

Bach Fellowships may be awarded for two semesters ($17,000 stipend plus $1,000 tuition scholarship) or for one semester ($8,500 plus $500 tuition scholarship, which may be combined with a quarter-time research or teaching assistantship).

While this fellowship does not provide health care, students are able to purchase it at the reduced TA rate.

Ballard and Seashore Dissertation Year Fellowship

Ballard and Seashore Dissertation Year Fellowship is intended to help students in the social sciences and humanities complete their dissertations. Students must be nominated by department.

The fellowship provides $18,000 for the academic year, plus a summer stipend of $4,000. The fellowship also provides two credit hours of tuition per semester and a health/dental insurance allowance.

Fulbright grants

Fulbright grants are designed to give masters and doctoral candidates, recent baccalaureate recipients, and young professionals and artists opportunities for personal development and international experience. Stipend varies depending on country visited. Very competitive and early application process.

Mellon Fellowships for Dissertation Research in Original Sources

Mellon Fellowships for Dissertation Research in Original Sources help junior scholars in the humanities and related social-science fields gain skill and creativity in developing knowledge from original sources, enable dissertation writers to do research wherever relevant sources may be, rather than just where financial support is available, encourage more extensive and innovative uses of original sources in libraries, archives, museums, historical societies, and related repositories in the U.S. and abroad, and provide insight from the viewpoint of doctoral candidates into how scholarly resources can be developed for access most helpfully in the future.

International Dissertation Research Fellowship (IDRF)

The International Dissertation Research Fellowship (IDRF) provides PhD candidates with support for international research. Fellowship award amounts will vary depending on the research plan.

American Historical Association (AHA)

The American Historical Association (AHA) provides various research grants and fellowships for research and writing.

Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship

Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship is designed to encourage original and significant study of ethical or religious values in all fields of the humanities and social sciences, and particularly to help PhD candidates in these fields complete their dissertation work in a timely manner. $25,000 for 12 months of full-time dissertation writing.

Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowships

Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowships provide two years of funding, $35,000 per year (one year of supported research and writing to complete the dissertation, and a second year for new scholars to advance their research).

American Association of University Women

The American Association of University Women is one of the world's largest sources of funding for graduate women. They provide more than $3 million in funding for more than 200 fellowships and grants to outstanding women and nonprofit organizations.

National fellowships

Fulbright-hays ddra fellowship.

The Fulbright-Hays DDRA Fellowship provides opportunities to doctoral candidates to engage in full-time dissertation research abroad in modern foreign languages and area studies.

Applications will only be considered for research projects that focus on one or more of the following geographic areas: Africa, East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands, South Asia, the Near East, East Central Europe and Eurasia, and the Western Hemisphere (excluding the United States and its territories).

Please note that applications that propose projects focused on Western Europe are not eligible.

Competitive priority will be awarded to research projects that focus on any of the seventy-eight (78) languages deemed critical on the U.S. Department of Education’s list of Less Commonly Taught Languages.

Boren Graduate Fellowships

Boren Graduate Fellowships provide up to $30,000 to U.S. graduate students to add an important international and language component to their graduate education through specialization in area study, language study, or increased language proficiency.

Boren Fellowships support study and research in areas of the world that are critical to U.S. interests, including Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin American, and the Middle East.

The countries of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are excluded.

German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) scholarship study and research grants

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) scholarship study and research grants offers a variety of funding opportunities for undergraduate, graduate, and professional scholars to study and research throughout Germany.

This is very competitive and early application is recommended.

Foreign Language and Area Studies fellowship (FLAS)

Foreign Language and Area Studies fellowship (FLAS) is an award for students concentrating in a modern foreign language and a program that includes international or area studies. FLAS fellowships may be used for dissertation research in certain circumstances.

Chateaubriand Fellowship (France)

The Chateaubriand Fellowship is a grant offered by the Embassy of France in the United States. Every year, it allows doctorate students enrolled in American universities and post-doctorates to conduct research in France for up to 12 months. Chateaubriand recipients receive a stipend, a round trip ticket to France, and health insurance.

Institut Français d’Amérique (France)

Institut Français d’Amérique offers four $1,500 awards for maintenance (not travel) during research in France for a period of at least one month. French studies in the areas of: art, economics, history, history of science, linguistics, literature and social sciences.

Institute for European History (Germany)

The Institute for European History provides a doctoral fellowship for graduate students which move to Mainz, Germany. Please speak with Dr. Mentzer if you are interested in this fellowship.

Herzog-Ernst-Library (Germany)

Herzog-Ernst-Library provides a research fellowship of 1,100 Euros for doctoral fellows (for a period of one to nine months; in exceptional cases the period can be extended to twelve months). Post-doctoral fellows receive a monthly stipend of 1,600 Euros for a period of one to six months.

McNeil Center for Early American Studies (North America)

McNeil Center for Early American Studies provides nine-month stipends of $20,000.

All fellows are expected to be in residence in Philadelphia during the academic year and to participate regularly in the center's program of seminars and other activities.

European Scholarship Portal

European Association for International Education (EAIE) offers an online scholarship database , an integrated, centralized European platform providing information on all scholarships offered for studying in Europe.

Students can find and compare relevant programs based on their nationality, background, where and what they want to study, and many more search criteria.

The Graduate College

The Graduate College offers a wealth of information about funding for graduate students through additional methods. You can learn more about funding your education on their site:

Upcoming Grant Deadlines

American council of learned societies (acls) .

Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowships 

This fellowship supports a year of research and writing to help advanced graduate students in the humanities and related social science in the last year of PhD dissertation writing.  The award includes a stipend plus additional funds to cover university fees and research support.  The deadline for this competition is routinely in October annually . 

National Science Foundation (NSF)

The Sociology Program supports basic research on all forms of human social organization -- societies, institutions, groups and demography -- and processes of individual and institutional change. The Program encourages theoretically focused empirical investigations aimed at improving the explanation of fundamental social processes. Full proposals are due in  August and January annually . 

Sociology Program – Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Awards (Soc-DDRI)

The Sociology Program is intended to provide support to improve the conduct of doctoral dissertation projects undertaken by doctoral students enrolled in U.S. universities.  The program supports basic research on all forms of human social organization and processes of individual and institutional change.  Full proposals are due in  October annually . 

Social, Behavioral and Economic Science (SBE) Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (SPRF)

This grant opportunity offers Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in two tracks: 1) Broadening Participation (SPRF-BP), and 2) Interdisciplinary Research in Behavioral and Social Sciences (SPRF-IBSS).  Full proposals are due on the in October annually . 

Biological Anthropology

The Biological Anthropology Program supports basic research in areas related to human evolution and contemporary human biological variation. Research areas supported by the program include, but are not limited to, human genetic variation, human and nonhuman primate ecology and adaptability, human osteology and bone biology, human and nonhuman primate paleontology, functional anatomy, and primate socioecology. Grants supported in these areas are united by an underlying evolutionary framework, and often by a consideration of adaptation as a central theoretical theme. Full proposals are due on in January and July annually . 

Biological Anthropology Program—Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (BA-DDRIG)

This funding opportunity supports multifaceted research that works to advance scientific knowledge of human biology and ecology, including the understanding of our evolutionary history and mechanisms that have shaped human and nonhuman primate biological diversity.  The grant is intended to support dissertation projected conducted by students enrolled in U.S. universities. Full proposals are due in January and July . 

Cultural Anthropology   and Cultural Anthropology Program – Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (CA-DDRIG)

The primary objective of the Cultural Anthropology Program is to support basic scientific research on the causes, consequences, and complexities of human social and cultural variability. Anthropological research spans a wide gamut, and contemporary cultural anthropology is an arena in which diverse research traditions and methodologies are valid. Recognizing the breadth of the field’s contributions to science, the Cultural Anthropology Program welcomes proposals for empirically grounded, theoretically engaged, and methodologically sophisticated research in all sub-fields of cultural anthropology. Full proposals for both grants are due on August 15 and January 15 annually .  

Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems (CNH)

The Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems (CNH) Program supports interdisciplinary research that examines human and natural system processes and the complex interactions among human and natural systems at diverse scales.  Research projects to be supported by CNH must include analyses of four different components:  (1) the dynamics of a natural system; (2) the dynamics of a human system; (3) the processes through which the natural system affects the human system; and (4) the processes through which the human system affects the natural system. Full proposals are due on the in January . 

Ecology & Evolution of Infectious Diseases (EEID)

The Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases program supports research on the ecological, evolutionary, and socio-ecological principles and processes that influence the transmission dynamics of infectious diseases. The central theme of submitted projects must be quantitative or computational understanding of pathogen transmission dynamics.  Full proposals are due on the  in December . 

Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace (SaTC)  

The Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace (SaTC) program welcomes proposals that address cybersecurity from: 1) a Trustworthy Computing Systems (TWC) perspective and/or a Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) perspective; 2) the Secure, Trustworthy, Assured and Resilient Semiconductors and Systems (STARSS) perspective; or 3) the Transition to Practice (TTP) perspective. 

Medium Projects : Full proposals are due during the window of September 10 – September 16 annually .

Large Projects : Full proposals are due during the window of September 18 – September 24 annually .

Small Projects : Full proposals are due during the window of November 4 – November 18 annually.

Cybersecurity Education : Full proposals are due during the window of December 3 – December 16 annually .

Archaeology & Archaeometry

This grant opportunity provides funding for research that furthers anthropologically relevant archaeological knowledge.  The program sets no priorities based on time period, geographic region or specific research topic. 

Archaeology – Senior Research: Full proposals are due on July 1 and December 20 annually .

Archaeometry – Full Proposals are due on December 1 annually . 

Archaeology & Archaeometry - Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (AA-DDRIG)

This grant opportunity provides funding for research that furthers anthropologically relevant archaeological knowledge.  The program sets no priorities based on time period, geographic region or specific research topic. Full proposals are accepted anytime . 

National Robotics Initiative (NRI)

The goal of the National Robotics Initiative is to accelerate the development and use of robots in the United States that work beside or cooperatively with people.  The purpose of this program is the development of this next generation of robotics, to advance the capability and usability of such systems and artifacts, and to encourage existing and new communities to focus on innovative application areas.  Full proposals are due on the in February annually . 

Cyberlearning and Future Learning Technologies

The purpose of this grant program is to integrate opportunities offered by emerging technologies with advances in what is known about how people learn to advance three interconnected thrusts: innovation, advancing understanding of how people learn in technology-rich learning environments, and promoting broad use and transferability of new genres. Full proposals are due the second Monday in January annually . 

Smart and Connected Health (SCH)

The goal of this grant is to accelerate the development and use of innovative approaches that would support the much-needed transformation of healthcare from reactive and hospital-centered to preventive, proactive, evidence-based, person-centered and focused on well being rather than disease.  Full proposals are due on December 10 annually . 

National Science Foundation Research Traineeship Program (NRT)

The NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) program is designed to encourage the development and implementation of bold, new, potentially transformative, and scalable models for STEM graduate education training. The NRT program seeks proposals that ensure that graduate students in research-based master’s and doctoral degree programs develop the skills, knowledge, and competencies needed to pursue a range of STEM careers. Letter of intent due in December and full proposals are due on February 7, 2017 . 

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)

The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based Master's and doctoral degrees at accredited United States institutions. The deadline for this competition is routinely in October annually . 

Political Science   and   Political Science – Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (PS-DDRIG)

The Political Science Program supports scientific research that advances knowledge and understanding of citizenship, government, and politics. Research proposals are expected to be theoretically motivated, conceptually precise, methodologically rigorous, and empirically oriented. Substantive areas include, but are not limited to, American government and politics, comparative government and politics, international relations, political behavior, political economy, and political institutions. Full proposals for Political Science grants are due in August and January annually . Full proposals for PS-DDRIG are due in June annually .

Law and Social Sciences   and   Law and Social Sciences – Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (LSS – DDRIG)  

The Law & Social Sciences Program considers proposals that address social scientific studies of law and law-like systems of rules. The Program is inherently interdisciplinary and multi-methodological. Successful proposals describe research that advances scientific theory and understanding of the connections between law or legal processes and human behavior. Social scientific studies of law often approach law as dynamic, made in multiple arenas, with the participation of multiple actors. Full proposals for Law and Social Sciences are due in  August and January annually . Full proposals for LSS-DDRIG are due in August and January annually .

Methodology, Measurement, and Statistics (MMS)  and Methodology, Measurement, and Statistics – Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (MMS – DDRIG)

The Methodology, Measurement, and Statistics (MMS) Program is an interdisciplinary program in the Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences that supports the development of innovative, analytical, and statistical methods and models for those sciences. MMS seeks proposals that are methodologically innovative, grounded in theory, and have potential utility for multiple fields within the social and behavioral sciences. As part of its larger portfolio, the MMS Program partners with a consortium of federal statistical agencies to support research proposals that further the development of new and innovative approaches to surveys and to the analysis of survey data. Full proposals are due on the last Thursday in August and the last Thursday in January annually . Full proposals for MMS-DDRIG are due on the last Thursday in August and the last Thursday in January annually . 

Decision, Risk, and Management Sciences (DRMS)   and Decision, Risk, and Management Sciences – Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (DRMS – DDRIG)

The Decision, Risk and Management Sciences program supports scientific research directed at increasing the understanding and effectiveness of decision making by individuals, groups, organizations, and society. Disciplinary and interdisciplinary research, doctoral dissertation research improvement grants (DDRIGs), and workshops are funded in the areas of judgment and decision making; decision analysis and decision aids; risk analysis, perception, and communication; societal and public policy decision making; management science and organizational design. Full proposals are due on August 18 and January 18 annually . Full proposals for DRMS-DDRIG are due on August 18 and January 18 annually . 

Geography and Spatial Sciences (GSS)   and Geography and Spatial Sciences Program – Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant (GSS-DDRIG)

The Geography and Spatial Sciences Program sponsors research on the geographic distributions and interactions of human, physical, and biotic systems on Earth. Investigators are encouraged to propose plans for research about the nature, causes, and consequences of human activity and natural environmental processes across a range of scales. Projects on a variety of topics qualify for support if they offer promise of contributing to scholarship by enhancing geographical knowledge, concepts, theories, methods, and their application to societal problems and concerns. Full proposals are due on the first Thursday in September . Full proposals for GSS-DDRIG are accepted any time . 

Resource Implementations for Data Intensive Research in the Social Behavioral and Economic Sciences (RIDIR)

As part of NSF’s Cyberinfrastructure Framework for 21st Century Science and Engineering (CIF21) activity, the Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) seeks to develop user-friendly large-scale next-generation data resources and relevant analytic techniques to advance fundamental research in SBE areas of study. Successful proposals will, within the financial resources provided by the award, construct such databases and/or relevant analytic techniques and produce a finished product that will enable new types of data-intensive research. The databases or techniques should have significant impacts, either across multiple fields or within broad disciplinary areas, by enabling new types of data-intensive research in the SBE sciences. Full proposals are due in February . 

Economics   and Economics – Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant

The Economics program supports research designed to improve the understanding of the processes and institutions of the U.S. economy and of the world system of which it is a part. This program also strengthens both empirical and theoretical economic analysis as well as the methods for rigorous research on economic behavior. It supports research in almost every area of economics, including econometrics, economic history, environmental economics, finance, industrial organization, international economics, labor economics, macroeconomics, mathematical economics, and public finance. Full proposals for both grants are due in August and January annually .  

Science of Organizations (SoO)

Organizations -- private and public, established and entrepreneurial, designed and emergent, formal and informal, profit and nonprofit -- are critical to the well-being of nations and their citizens. They are of crucial importance for producing goods and services, creating value, providing jobs, and achieving social goals. The Science of Organizations (SoO) program funds basic research that yields a scientific evidence base for improving the design and emergence, development and deployment, and management and ultimate effectiveness of organizations of all kinds. Full proposals are due in September and February annually . 

Science, Technology, and Society (STS)

The Science, Technology, and Society (STS) program supports research that uses historical, philosophical, and social scientific methods to investigate the intellectual, material, and social facets of the scientific, technological, engineering and mathematical (STEM) disciplines. It encompasses a broad spectrum of STS topics including interdisciplinary studies of ethics, equity, governance, and policy issues that are closely related to STEM disciplines, including medical science. Full proposals are due in August and February annually . 

Science, Technology, and Society – Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant (STS – DDRIG)

The Science, Technology, and Society (STS) program supports research that uses historical, philosophical, and social scientific methods to investigate the intellectual, material, and social facets of the scientific, technological, engineering and mathematical (STEM) disciplines. It encompasses a broad spectrum of STS topics including interdisciplinary studies of ethics, equity, governance, and policy issues that are closely related to STEM disciplines, including medical science. Full proposals are due in August annually . 

Development and Learning Sciences (DLS)

DLS supports fundamental research that increases our understanding of cognitive, linguistic, social, cultural, and biological processes related to children's and adolescents' development and learning.  Research supported by this program will add to our basic knowledge of how people learn and the underlying developmental processes that support learning, social functioning, and productive lives as members of society. Full proposals are due in January and July annually . 

Documenting Endangered Languages (DEL) and Documenting Endangered Languages – Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant (DEL – DDRIG)

This funding partnership between the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) supports projects to develop and advance knowledge concerning endangered human languages. Made urgent by the imminent death of roughly half of the approximately 7000 currently used languages, this effort aims to exploit advances in information technology to build computational infrastructure for endangered language research. The program supports projects that contribute to data management and archiving, and to the development of the next generation of researchers. Funding can support fieldwork and other activities relevant to the digital recording, documenting, and archiving of endangered languages, including the preparation of lexicons, grammars, text samples, and databases. Funding will be available in the form of one- to three-year senior research grants as well as fellowships from six to twelve months and doctoral dissertation research improvement grants for up to 24 months. Full proposals for both grants are due in September annually .

Linguistics   and Linguistics – Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant (Linguistics – DDRIG)

The Linguistics Program supports basic science in the domain of human language, encompassing investigations of the grammatical properties of individual human languages, and of natural language in general. Research areas include syntax, semantics, morphology, phonetics, and phonology. Full proposals for both grants are due in January and July annually . 

Social Psychology

The Social Psychology Program at NSF supports basic research on human social behavior, including cultural differences and development over the life span. Among the many research topics supported are: attitude formation and change, social cognition, personality processes, interpersonal relations and group processes, the self, emotion, social comparison and social influence, and the psychophysiological and neurophysiological bases of social behavior. Full proposals are due in January and July annually .

National Institutes of Health (NIH) 

Deadlines for these grants are as follows:

R01 - February 5, June 5, October 5

R03 - February 16, June 16, October 16

R21 - February 16, June 16, October 16

Systems Science and Health in the Behavioral and Social Sciences (R01)

This grant supports research projects that are applied and/or basic in nature (including methodological and measurement development), have a human behavioral and/or social science focus, and employ methodologies suited to addressing the complexity inherent in behavioral and social phenomena, referred to as systems science methodologies. 

Systems Science and Health in the Behavioral and Social Sciences (R21)

Advancing Interventions to Improve Medication Adherence (R01)

This Research Project Grant (R01) seeks applications that propose interventions to significantly improve medication adherence in individuals. Applications may target medication adherence in the context of treatment for a single illness or chronic condition (e.g., hypertension), to stave off a disease recurrence (e.g., cancer) or for multiple comorbid conditions (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, alcohol use disorders and HIV/AIDS). A well-articulated theoretical or conceptual framework is key for applications encouraged under this announcement.  

Advancing Interventions to Improve Medication Adherence (R21)

This FOA encourages Exploratory/Developmental Research Project Grant (R21) applications for research and development of interventions to significantly improve medication adherence in individuals. Applications may target medication adherence in the context of treatment for a single illness or chronic condition (e.g., hypertension), to stave off a disease recurrence (e.g., cancer) or for multiple comorbid conditions (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, alcohol use disorders and HIV/AIDS). 

Behavioral Interventions to Address Multiple Chronic Health Conditions in Primary Care (R01)

This funding opportunity seeks to support research in primary care that uses a multi-disease care management approach to behavioral interventions with high potential impact to improve patient-level health outcomes for individuals with three or more chronic health conditions. The proposed approach must modify behaviors using a common approach rather than administering a distinct intervention for each targeted behavior and/or condition. 

Behavioral and Social Science Research Understanding and Reducing Health Disparities (R01)

This grant seeks to encourage behavioral and social science research on the causes and solutions to health and disabilities disparities in the U. S. population. Health disparities between, on the one hand, racial/ethnic populations, lower socioeconomic classes, and rural residents and, on the other hand, the overall U.S. population are major public health concerns. Emphasis is placed on research in and among three broad areas of action: 1) public policy, 2) health care, and 3) disease/disability prevention. 

Behavioral and Social Science Research Understanding and Reducing Health Disparities (R21)

This grant will fund behavioral and social science research on the causes and solutions to health and disabilities disparities in the U. S. population. Health disparities between, on the one hand, racial/ethnic populations, lower socioeconomic classes, and rural residents and, on the other hand, the overall U.S. population are major public health concerns. Emphasis is placed on research in and among three broad areas of action: 1) public policy, 2) health care, and 3) disease/disability prevention. 

Understanding and Promoting Health Literacy (R01)

The goal of this program announcement is to encourage methodological, intervention and dissemination research for understanding and promoting health literacy. Health literacy is defined as the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions (Ratzan and Parker, 2000).

Understanding and Promoting Health Literacy (R03)

The goal of this program announcement is to encourage methodological, intervention and dissemination research for understanding and promoting health literacy. Health literacy is defined as the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions (Ratzan and Parker, 2000). 

Understanding and Promoting Health Literacy (R21)

Social Science Research Council (SSRC)

International Dissertation Research Fellowship (IDRF)

This program offers nine to twelve months of support to graduate students in the humanities and humanistic social sciences who are enrolled in PhD programs in the United States and conducting dissertation research on non-US topics. The deadline for this competition is routinely in summer/fall . 

The Wenner-Gren Foundation

Dissertation Fieldwork Grants

This grant is awarded to aid doctoral or thesis research.  The program contributes to the Foundation’s overall mission to support basic research in anthropology and to ensure that the discipline continues to be a source of vibrant and significant work that furthers the understanding of humanity’s cultural and biological origins, development, and variation.  Full proposals are due on May 1 and November 1 annually . 

Post-Ph.D. Research Grants

This grant is awarded to individuals holding a Ph.D. or equivalent degree to support individual research projects.  The grant supports research that demonstrates a clear link to anthropological theory and debates, and promises to make a solid contribution to advancing these ideas.  The grant particularly welcomes proposals that employ a comparative perspective, can generate innovative approaches or ideas, and/or integrate two or more subfields. Full proposals are due on May 1 and November 1 annually .   

International Programs

Anne frank initiative welcomes over 250 clear creek amana eighth graders to university of iowa campus.

On Thursday, May 30, 2024, the Anne Frank Initiative (AFI) , an International Programs affinity group, welcomed 250+ eighth graders from Clear Creek Amana (CCA) Middle School. A strong mission of the AFI is to create outreach opportunities to share Anne Frank’s story, spirit, and her humanitarian message with our youngest generation. Some CCA students have read portions of Anne Frank’s diary during the spring semester. The AFI is directed by Kirsten Kumpf Baele, lecturer in the University of Iowa (UI) Department of German.

“As part of the English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum at CCA, Tollie Lancaster and I were able to teach the students about the Holocaust,” said Lindsay Herr, eighth grade ELA teacher and one of the organizers of the event. “We are honored that Dr. Kirsten Kumpf Baele partnered with us and took the time to teach our students about Anne Frank, and we are excited they were able to meet with and learn from other University of Iowa professors and current University of Iowa students.”

The middle school students began their day with an introduction to Anne Frank, her legacy, and her special connection with Iowa. Throughout the morning, students were divided into breakout sessions which ranged from a virtual reality tour of the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, and Little Free Library design, to artificial intelligence, writing and identity, and learning about German/Jewish heritage in Iowa City. They also had a tour of the Iowa campus.

At the end the day, students gathered at the Anne Frank sapling on the Pentacrest where Andrew Dahl, the head UI arborist, talked about the white horse chestnut tree, the 13th sapling to be planted in the United States.

“This annual engagement with Clear Creek Amana brings eighth grade students face-to-face with pieces of history that most of them have only encountered through educational texts,” said Mallory Hellman, director of the Iowa Youth Writing Project and AFI advisory committee member. “By visiting the Anne Frank sapling, walking a path of significant locations in Iowa City's Jewish history (and present!), and learning of Anne Frank's Iowan pen-pal , students cement a lived connection between Anne's story and their own.”

The AFI is committed to investigating Anne Frank’s literary contributions, her ongoing legacy, and all that she represents in a more globalized, international, and contemporary context.

“Iowa has a special connection to Anne Frank and her story,” remarked Natoshia Askelson, associate professor in the UI College of Public Health and AFI advisory committee member. “The AFI works to highlight and strengthen that connection. It is vital that Iowans understand how interconnected all our stories and lives are, so that we can prevent violence.”

Organizers of this event included AFI Director Kirsten Kumpf Baele; Lindsay Herr, CCA eighth grade ELA teacher; AFI Advisory Committee members Natoshia Askelson, Carl Follmer, Mallory Hellman, Shereena Honary, and Ana Laura Leyser; and other UI faculty, staff, and students including Andrew Dahl, Glenn Ehrstine, Colleen Kollasch, and Kevin Zihlman. 

International Programs  (IP) at the University of Iowa (UI) is committed to enriching the global experience of UI students, faculty, staff, and the general public by leading efforts to promote internationally oriented teaching, research, creative work, and community engagement.  IP provides support for international students and scholars, administers scholarships and assistance for students who study, intern, or do research abroad, and provides funding opportunities and grant-writing assistance for faculty engaged in international research. IP shares their stories through various media, and by hosting multiple public engagement activities each year.

• Anne Frank Initiative

International Programs at the University of Iowa supports the right of all individuals to live freely and to live in peace. We condemn all acts of violence based on race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, and perceived national or cultural origin. In affirming its commitment to human dignity, International Programs strongly upholds the values expressed in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights .  

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• Academic Calendar

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

You are here, clas biology faculty member awarded nsf grant.

By Alice Eberhart 

Andrew Forbes , a professor in the Department of Biology in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, has received a $290,025 grant from the National Science Foundation to continue his research on eukaryotic symbionts across insect communities.  

Forbes’s research will focus on symbiotic organisms such as fungi, mites, and nematode worms that live on or in insects. These groupings of organisms, unlike their bacterial counterparts, are understudied and lesser known—giving this project the possibility of uncovering previously unknown species. 

“There are millions of insect species on Earth, so if each has one or more unknown symbionts, these techniques may help discover a whole lot of new biodiversity,” Forbes said. 

Forbes and graduate student Christian Weinrich are currently developing genetic techniques that will allow them to quickly detect all symbiotic organisms within an insect.  

As their research progresses, their goal is to eventually screen large groups of insects at once, including samples from the University of Iowa’s Ashton Research Prairie .  

Forbes is interested in researching understudied groups of organisms. He focuses mainly on parasitic wasps, which he notes go unnoticed to the extent "that one ‘species’ may often actually be several when one takes the time to carefully look.” 

Deepening knowledge of insect communities and their symbiotic relationships may lead to uncovering many new species, including some with potential for important agricultural or human health applications, Forbes said. 

Forbes has been working at Iowa for 14 years, where he has enjoyed conducting research with his graduate and undergraduate students.  

“I have so many great colleagues in the arts, humanities, and sciences who have positively influenced my approach to teaching and research, often in surprising ways. I’ve found it a fulfilling and invigorating place to be a faculty member,” Forbes said. 

The University of Iowa  College of Liberal Arts and Sciences  offers about 70 majors across the humanities; fine, performing and literary arts; natural and mathematical sciences; social and behavioral sciences; and communication disciplines. About 15,000 undergraduate and nearly 2,000 graduate students study each year in the college’s 37 departments, led by faculty at the forefront of teaching and research in their disciplines. The college teaches all Iowa undergraduates through the college's general education program, CLAS CORE . About 80 percent of all Iowa undergraduates begin their academic journey in CLAS. The college confers about 60 percent of the university's bachelor's degrees each academic year. 

John Deere Foundation invests $6.6M to provide access to higher education for Davenport students at UI

A groundbreaking partnership between the John Deere Foundation, the University of Iowa, and the Davenport Community School District (DCSD) will soon increase access to higher education for Iowa high school students.

A six-year, $6.6 million commitment from the John Deere Foundation will establish the John Deere Scholars Program, a need-based pipeline program that will prepare Davenport Community High School students for a college education at Iowa.

“John Deere is leading by example, showcasing how a large company can partner with a university and a public school district to address workforce needs,” says Barbara Wilson, president of the University of Iowa. “This is a game-changer not only for the students who will receive the education and leadership experiences they need to succeed in a global society, but also for how we develop pipeline programs in the future.”

The program will begin this fall with college preparatory courses for low- to middle-income seniors at Davenport Central, North, West, and Mid City high schools. UI will hire a local program director to collaborate with school counselors to teach the courses, provide training to enhance leadership skills, and help students through the financial aid and admissions process.

Then, beginning in spring 2025, the program will award 20 scholarships per year for three years (60 in total), covering 90% of the total cost to attend Iowa. The remaining 10% will be covered by additional funding sources, such as work-study. The first cohort of students will enroll at Iowa in fall 2025.

Any student taking part in college preparatory courses through the program will be eligible to apply for a scholarship.

“This partnership will provide a tremendous opportunity for our students,” says TJ Schneckloth, superintendent of the Davenport Community School District. “Our district is committed to preparing our students for their post-secondary education. The John Deere Scholars Program offers a generation changing opportunity for our students to receive the college education they might never have thought was possible.”

In addition to receiving academic, financial, and social support, scholarship recipients also will take part in specialized leadership training. This includes mentorship programs, field experience, and networking in the student’s field of study.

“We believe education is the foundation for success,” says Mara Downing, president of the John Deere Foundation and vice president of global brand and communications at John Deere. “By investing in our community, John Deere is also investing in opportunities for the leaders of tomorrow. We are excited to begin the John Deere Scholars Program and watch these future leaders achieve their dreams.”

UI helping more students succeed, graduate, and launch their career

UI first public university to partner with program that identifies exceptionally talented youth

First Gen Hawks program seeing strong student success in and out of the classroom

IOWA Research Park

Perspective Therapeutics to Present at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) Annual Meeting 2024

SEATTLE, May 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Perspective Therapeutics, Inc. ("Perspective" or "the Company") (NYSE AMERICAN: CATX), a radiopharmaceutical company that is pioneering advanced treatment applications for cancers throughout the body, today announced the Company will present information pertaining to the Company's sponsored studies of its assets at the Society of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging ("SNMMI") Annual Meeting 2024, which is being held in Toronto, Canada, from June 8-11, 2024. The Company notes that results based on investigator-initiated use of its assets are also being presented.  

"We are greatly encouraged by the progress of our clinical and preclinical programs," said Thijs Spoor, CEO of Perspective. "The upcoming presentations at the SNMMI meeting will showcase our activities with VMT-α-NET and other promising therapies, underlining our commitment to advancing care for patients battling challenging tumor types."

[ 212 Pb]VMT-α-NET for the Treatment of Neuroendocrine Tumors The abstract describing Perspective's trial in progress of the Phase 1/2a dose escalation study (NCT05636618) in patients with unresectable or metastatic somatostatin receptor type 2 ("SSTR2")-positive neuroendocrine tumors ("NETs") who have not received prior peptide receptor radionuclide therapies ("PRRT") stated the trial's status as of January 15, 2024, consistent with the abstract submission deadline for the SNMMI conference. Updates on this trial as of March 7, 2024 were provided during the Company's investor update on March 18, 2024, accessible on the events page of the Company's website. This study, in conjunction with the Phase 0 imaging study (NCT05111509), would inform the recommended Phase 2 dose of [ 212 Pb]VMT-α-NET.

Perspective, in collaborating independent investigators, is evaluating dosimetry and the applicability of patient-specific dosing as determined by a target renal absorbed dose for [ 212 Pb]VMT-α-NET. An abstract reported pooled data from ten patients recruited in the Company's sponsored Phase 0 imaging study and an investigator sponsored absorbed dose escalation study. The investigator reported [ 212 Pb]VMT-α-NET was prescribed to three patients at individualized doses of 5.3, 7.9, and 13.3 mCi (cumulatively, delivered over two cycles) while targeting renal absorbed dose of 3.5Gy. Higher levels of targeted renal absorbed doses are in the protocol for subsequent cohorts of the investigator sponsored study.

The Company has been informed that updated results from the investigator initiated trial of [ 212 Pb]VMT-α-NET in India have been accepted for presentation by the SNMMI conference. The investigator enrolled adult patients with histologically confirmed NETs and metastatic medullary thyroid carcinomas. The investigator informed the Company that the update includes results from 12 patients at a later data cutoff date than previous presentations. The most recent prior public update by the investigator was during the 36 th Annual Congress of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) in September 2023.

Preclinical Progress on Targeted Therapies for Melanoma and Tumor Environments

The Company will present preclinical data for [ 212 Pb]VMT01, a targeted α-particle radionuclide therapy (α-TRT) targeting the melanocortin 1 receptor ("MC1R"), used in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors ("ICIs") in diverse murine melanoma models with high (B16-F10), mid (YUMM-D3) and low (YUMMwt) expressions of MC1R. These data provide a rationale for advancing the combination of [ 212 Pb]VMT01 and ICIs to clinical investigations. The ongoing Phase 1/2a study of [ 212 Pb]VMT01 is being amended to evaluate the safety and tolerability of Perspective's [ 212 Pb]VMT01 in combination with the ICI nivolumab in patients with histologically confirmed melanoma and MC1R-positive imaging scans.

The final presentation will introduce [ 203/212 Pb]-PSV-359, a novel cyclic peptide developed to target fibroblast activation protein alpha ("FAP"), a protein abundantly expressed by cancer-associated fibroblasts in tumor lesions and involved in promoting disease progression. [ 203/212 Pb]-PSV-359 has a proprietary targeting moiety designed by Perspective to optimize "theranostic" applications, representing a promising avenue for addressing FAP expressing cancers regardless of disease site.

About Perspective Therapeutics, Inc. Perspective Therapeutics, Inc., is a radiopharmaceutical development company that is pioneering advanced treatment applications for cancers throughout the body. The Company has proprietary technology that utilizes the alpha emitting isotope 212 Pb to deliver powerful radiation specifically to cancer cells via specialized targeting peptides. The Company is also developing complementary imaging diagnostics that incorporate the same targeting peptides, which provide the opportunity to personalize treatment and optimize patient outcomes. This "theranostic" approach enables the ability to see the specific tumor and then treat it to potentially improve efficacy and minimize toxicity.

The Company's melanoma (VMT01) and neuroendocrine tumor (VMT-α-NET) programs have entered Phase 1/2a imaging and therapy trials for the treatment of metastatic melanoma and neuroendocrine tumors at several leading academic institutions. The Company has also developed a proprietary 212 Pb generator to secure key isotopes for clinical trial and commercial operations.

For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.perspectivetherapeutics.com .

Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this press release that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Words such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "could," "intend," "target," "project," "estimate," "believe," "predict," "potential" or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements concerning, among other things, the Company's ability to pioneer advanced treatment applications for cancers throughout the body; the Company's expectation that its clinical and preclinical programs will continue to progress; the Company's belief that it will showcase its activities with VMT-α-Net and other promising therapies at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging meeting, underlining the Company's commitment to advancing care for patients battling challenging tumor types; the Company's belief that [ 203/212 Pb]-PSV-359, a novel cyclic peptide, has the ability to target fibroblast activation protein alpha, a protein abundantly expressed by cancer-associated fibroblasts in tumor lesions and involved in promoting disease progression; the Company's belief that it has designed a proprietary targeting moiety for [ 203/212 Pb]PSV359 to optimize "theranostic" applications, representing a promising avenue for addressing FAP expressing cancers regardless of disease site; the Company's prediction that complementary imaging diagnostics that incorporate certain targeting peptides provide the opportunity to personalize treatment and optimize patient outcomes; the Company's expectation that its "theranostic" approach enables the ability to see specific tumors and then treat it to potentially improve efficacy and minimize toxicity; the Company's ability to develop a proprietary 212 Pb generator to secure key isotopes for clinical trial and commercial operations; the Company's clinical development plans and the expected timing thereof; the expected timing for availability and release of data; expectations regarding the potential market opportunities for the Company's product candidates; the potential functionality, capabilities, and benefits of the Company's product candidates and the potential application of these product candidates for other disease indications; the Company's expectations, beliefs, intentions, and strategies regarding the future; the Company's intentions to improve important aspects of care in cancer treatment; and other statements that are not historical fact.

The Company may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the potential that regulatory authorities may not grant or may delay approval for the Company's product candidates; uncertainties and delays relating to the design, enrollment, completion, and results of clinical trials; unanticipated costs and expenses; pre-clinical and early clinical trials may not be indicative of the results in later clinical trials; clinical trial results may not support regulatory approval or further development in a specified indication or at all; actions or advice of regulatory authorities may affect the design, initiation, timing, continuation and/or progress of clinical trials or result in the need for additional clinical trials; the Company's ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval for the Company's product candidates; delays, interruptions or failures in the manufacture and supply of the Company's product candidates; the size and growth potential of the markets for the Company's product candidates, and the Company's ability to service those markets; the Company's cash and cash equivalents may not be sufficient to support its operating plan for as long as anticipated; the Company's expectations, projections and estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, capital requirements, and the availability of and the need for additional financing; the Company's ability to obtain additional funding to support its clinical development programs; the availability or potential availability of alternative products or treatments for conditions targeted by the Company that could affect the availability or commercial potential of its product candidates; the ability of the Company to manage growth and successfully integrate its businesses; the Company's ability to maintain its key employees; sufficient training and use of the Company's products and product candidates; the market acceptance and recognition of the Company's products and product candidates; the Company's ability to maintain and enforce its intellectual property rights; the Company's ability to maintain its therapeutic isotope supply agreement with the Department of Energy; the Company's ability to continue to comply with the procedures and regulatory requirements mandated by the FDA for additional trials, Phase 1 and 2 approvals, Fast Track approvals, and 510(k) approval and reimbursement codes; and any changes in applicable laws and regulations. Other factors that may cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements in this press release are described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), in the Company's other filings with the SEC, and in the Company's future reports to be filed with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov . Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of this date. Unless required to do so by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Perspective Therapeutics IR: Annie Cheng [email protected]

Russo Partners, LLC Nic Johnson / Adanna G. Alexander, Ph.D.

[email protected]