The MDRF offers grants to graduate students for research expenses related to their thesis or dissertation. PhD students may now apply for up to $3,000, MFA students for up to $2,000 and Masters students for up to $1,500. The MDRF grant is only for University at Buffalo graduate students in programs participating in the Graduate Student Association and who have not waived the student activity fee. Applicants should be in the latter stages of research.

Application deadlines for 2020 - 2021

Please note: electronic applications are due by 3:00pm on the due date. Hard copies* are due by 12:00pm (noon) in the GSA office the following business day. Failure to meet either of these deadlines will result in the automatic rejection of your application. The following deadlines are for the electronic submissions:

FALL: Friday, September 18, 2020, for research to be conducted November 1, 2020 – October 31, 2021

SPRING: Friday, February 12, 2021, for research to be conducted April 1, 2021 – March 31, 2022

SUMMER: Friday, May 21, 2021, for research to be conducted July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022

The goal of this grant is to enable predoctoral students to obtained individualized, mentored research training which reflects their dissertation research project.

• Eligibility: Must have a baccalaureate degree and be currently enrolled in a PhD or equivalent research degree program or a formal combined program (i.e. MD/PhD) in the biomedical, behavioral, or clinical sciences. Must be a citizen or a non-citizen national of the US or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
• Funding amount: Stipend $25,320 and monthly allowance of $2,110. Tuition up to $16,000/year for PhD students and $21,000/year for dual degree students. Training related expenses is $4,200.
• Length of funding: 5 years
• Application deadline: April 8, August 8, December 8

The purpose of the Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award (F99/K00) is to encourage and retain outstanding graduate students who have demonstrated potential and interest in pursuing careers as independent researchers. The award will facilitate the transition of talented graduate students into successful research postdoctoral appointments.

• Eligibility: Must have a baccalaureate degree and be currently enrolled in year 3 or 4 of PhD training PhD or equivalent research degree program or a formal combined program (i.e. MD/PhD) in the biomedical, behavioral, or clinical sciences. Must be a citizen or a non-citizen national of the US or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
• Funding amount: The F99 phase stipend is $25,320 and monthly allowance of $2,110 and during the K00 phase the award contributes up to $50,000 toward the salary of the career award recipient. For the F99 phase tuition up to $16,000/year for PhD students and $21,000/year for dual degree students is provided. Tuition and Fees are not allowable costs for the K00 phase. Training related expenses is $4,200 in the F99 phase. During the K00 phase, the award contributes $3,000 per year toward the research development costs of the award recipient, which must be justified and consistent with the stage of development of the candidate and the proportion of time to be spent in research or career development activities, plus an additional $1000+ annually to defray the travel costs to attend a mandatory sponsored conference.
• Length of funding: 2 years in the F99 fellowship phase and up to 4 years in the K00 career development phase
• Application deadline: Varied by NIH Institute 

The NSF GRFP recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported STEM disciplines who are pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees at accredited US institutions. 

• Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident, enrolled in a research-based doctoral degree  program in an eligible Field of Study in STEM or STEM education. Have never previously accepted a Graduate Research Fellowship and have never previously applied to GRFP while enrolled in a graduate degree program. Have never earned a doctoral or terminal degree in any field
• Funding amount: Stipend $34,000. Tuition $12,000/year. 
• Length of funding: 3 years
• Application deadline: 
  • October 19, 2020 (Monday): GRFP application deadline for Life Sciences
  • October 20, 2020 (Tuesday): GRFP application deadline for Computer and Information Science and Engineering, Materials Research, Psychology, Social Sciences, STEM Education and Learning
  • October 21, 2020 (Wednesday): GRFP application deadline for Engineering
  • October 22, 2020 (Thursday): Chemistry, Geosciences, Mathematical Sciences, Physics and Astronomy
  • October 30, 2020 (Friday): GRFP application deadline for Reference letter

Predoctoral fellowships will be awarded in a national competition administered by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on behalf of the Ford Foundation. The awards will be made to individuals who, in the judgment of the review panels, have demonstrated superior academic achievement, are committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level, show promise of future achievement as scholars and teachers, and are well prepared to use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students.

• Eligibility: All U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and U.S. permanent residents (holders of a Permanent Resident Card), as well as individuals granted deferred action status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program, Indigenous individuals exercising rights associated with the Jay Treaty of 1794, political asylees and refugees, regardless of race, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, or sexual orientation. 
• Funding amount: Stipend $27,000. Invitation to attend the Conference of Ford Fellows. Access to Ford Fellow Regional Liaisons – a network of former Ford Fellows who have volunteered to provide mentoring and support to current Fellows – and access to other networking resources.
• Length of funding: 3 years
• Application deadline: December 17, 2020 - 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST) 

To enhance the integrated research and clinical training of promising students who are matriculated in pre-doctoral or clinical health professional degree training programs and who intend careers as scientists, physician-scientists or other clinician-scientists, or related careers aimed at improving global cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and brain health.

• Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident. At the time of application, the applicant must be: enrolled in a post-baccalaureate Ph.D., M.D., D.O., D.V.M., Pharm.D., D.D.S., DrPH, or Ph.D. in nursing or equivalent clinical health science doctoral degree program, who seeks research training with a sponsor prior to embarking upon a research career and a full-time student working towards his/her degree. At the time of award activation, the candidate must have completed initial coursework and be at the stage of the program where he/she can devote full-time effort to research or activities related to the development into an independent researcher or a related career aimed at improving global cardiovascular health.
• Funding amount: Stipend $25,320 per year plus $4,200/year for health insurance. Project support $2,000 per year, in addition to the stipend
• Length of funding: 1-2 years
• Application deadline: August

The AAUW has a variety of awards for women within the STEM progession and for women pursuing different levels of education. 

This fellowship is intended to support African American graduate students through their graduate program.

• Funding amount: Fellowship stipend of $43,500 and a research grant up to $10,000.
• Length of funding: 12-24 months

The award will be made to individual who have demonstrated superior academic achievement, are committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level, show promise of future achievement as scholars and teachers and are well prepared to use diversity as a resource for enriching educational practices.

• Funding amount: $28,000 stipend.
• Length of funding: 9 – 12 months
• Application deadline: December 10, 2020 - 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST)

The purpose of the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (Parent F32) is to support promising candidates during their mentored postdoctoral training under the guidance of outstanding faculty sponsors.  The proposed research and training plan should enhance the individual’s potential to develop into a productive, independent researcher by providing strong mentorship, appropriate training and career development opportunities, and strong institutional support and commitment. The training plan should document the need for, and the anticipated value of, the proposed mentored training in relationship to the individual’s research career goals. The training plan should also facilitate the fellow’s transition to the next stage of his/her career.

• Funding amount: Stipend based upon years of experience beginning $52,704 and montly allowance $4,392 (0 years of experience).
• Length of funding:  up to 5 years
• Application deadline: April 8, August 8, December 8