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The Small Research Grant Program supports research in all fields of political science, and is designed to support the research of political scientists who are not employed at Ph.D.-granting institutions.

Details

The APSA Small Research Grant Program supports research in all fields of political science. The intent of these grants is to support the research and further the careers of political scientists who are not employed at Ph.D.-granting departments in the field.

Prior grant recipients have been able to publish several books and book chapters, journal articles, working papers, and conference presentations as the result of the grants. They also report benefits to students, who have been able to serve as co-authors or research assistants on the grant-funded projects.  Several recipients were also able to use the APSA grant as "seed money" to gain additional funding.

A small number of these grants are awarded annually by the Council on the basis of a peer-review process.  Individual grants may not exceed $2,500 and are not renewable. Funds may be used for such research activities as: travel to archives, travel to conduct interviews, administration and coding of instruments, research assistance, and purchase of datasets. While this list is merely illustrative, certain research activities are specifically excluded from funding: travel to professional meetings, secretarial costs except for preparation of the final manuscripts for publication, and salary support for the principal investigator. Overhead or indirect costs are not allowable expenses.  Funds must be expended between the time they are received (usually in May) and the end of the following fiscal year (September 30). 

Eligibility

• Applications for the 2013 cycle will be accepted from December 3, 2012 until February 4, 2013. 
• Applicants must be APSA members at the time of application and when the funds are dispersed. Use the  login boxes above to log in and check your membership. If you need your login and/or password, contact the APSA membership department at membership@apsanet.org.
• The principal investigator and any co-author must be one of the following: 
  • A faculty member at a college or university that does not award a Ph.D. in political science, public administration, public policy, international relations, government, or politics, and whose primary appointment is in one of these departments; or
  • A political scientist not affiliated with an academic institution and is either (a) unemployed or (b) working in a research organization such as a think tank.
• Note: This grant does not provide support for dissertation research or writing. Graduate students are not eligible to apply.

Proposal and Application Procedures 

Sample Small Research Proposals

Past Small Research Grant Recipients