The Center has established a fund to assist eligible students in pursuing scholarly research projects that will examine the needs and concerns of Pennsylvania's nearly 3.4 million rural residents through a public policy lens. Research must be conducted under the supervision of a qualified faculty member.
The Center anticipates granting up to four awards for the two 2024 grant cycles - two for winter/spring and two for summer.
The Center is seeking research and scholarship that meet the following criteria:
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All projects must show a clear relationship to one or more of the Center's mandated research areas, which include: people and communities, development, local government finance and administration, services, natural resources and the environment, educational outreach, values and social change, agriculture, and health and welfare concerns.
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All project results must lead to public policy considerations relevant in some way for Pennsylvania state, county or local government.
A funded student project may also be completed as part of a course for postsecondary credit, constitute an undergraduate or graduate student thesis project, or be part of a larger student group research initiative. Any funded project must include significant faculty engagement throughout the student's research process.
The maximum award for a winter or spring student project is $2,500. The maximum award available for a summer grant is $5,000. All grant awards will be awarded to the university. The university is responsible for the distribution of funds. The Center does not pay for indirect costs.
Undergraduate and graduate students must work with a qualified faculty member at one (or more) of the following universities:
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Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE)
All campuses of The Pennsylvania State University
Regional campuses of the University of Pittsburgh
For the purposes of this program, the qualified faculty member will be considered the primary investigator or project director. Students will be considered co-investigators.
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University tuition and/or fees
Food and/or drink
Membership in organizations
Attendance and/or participation at conferences
Equipment available through sponsoring university
Research-related travel outside of Pennsylvania
Non-project-related purchases
All research must be completed within six months after the start of the project agreement or contract, with a required progress report three months into the project.
All students must be supervised by a qualified university faculty representative. This faculty supervisor is considered the primary investigator for the purpose of the grant award. The faculty supervisor is responsible for:
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Submitting a letter of support with the project application. The letter must be submitted on official university letterhead.
Co-signing a cooperative agreement between the Center for Pennsylvania, the student(s), and the university.
Overseeing all aspects of student work.
Ensuring that the project complies with university research policies (including obtaining IRB approval when necessary).
Timely submission of the progress report and final product to the Center.
Communication with Center staff.
All project teams must submit a report to the Center for Pennsylvania. In addition, all data, survey instruments, or other relevant information and materials must be submitted to the Center at the conclusion of the project. All reports will become property of the Center for Pennsylvania after completion and will be considered public domain (teams that would like to request a waiver to this rule should include an explanation in the application (e.g., graduate students seeking dissertation publication)).
A report may take the form of any of the following, and should be specified in the grant application:
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A manuscript of not less than 15 double-spaced pages (and no more than 25 pages) that complies with the Center's style guidelines (including all references, tables, etc.).
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A research poster that is accompanied by an in-person presentation.
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A PowerPoint (or similar medium) that is accompanied by an in-person presentation or webinar.
Presentation details such as format, dates. and locations will be determined with the agreement of the Center at the time the contract is awarded.
Click here to apply for a student project grant.
For winter and spring grants, review of applications will start on October 1. All applications should be submitted no later than October 13, 2023. Successful applicants will be notified by mid-November.
For summer grants, the deadline for applications is March 1, 2024.
Center staff will review all proposals and all funding decisions will be based on:
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Completeness of application
Soundness of the methodology
Relevance of the policy implications