Call for Applications
[Due to current budget uncertainty at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, the Institute for Diversity Science is not currently accepting applications for Graduate Research Grants (updated 4/7/2025)].
The Institute for Diversity Science distributes Graduate Research Grants on an ongoing basis. The awards are limited to $3,000. All Graduate Fellows of the Institute for Diversity Science can apply (at most one application per Graduate Fellow per academic year).
There is no deadline. Proposals will be evaluated on an ongoing basis until the available budget of the fiscal year ($30k) is depleted.
Projects should be submitted electronically [proposals are not being accepted at this time]. Applicants can expect to receive an answer within two weeks, and the money will typically be available four weeks after the funding decision.
The Graduate Research Grants aim to support innovative research in the field of diversity science. The proposed research can be fundamental or applied, and it can advance knowledge on diversity, equity, and inclusion over the short or long term. The goal of the Institute for Diversity Science is to generate knowledge that will help us develop concrete solutions to diversity-related problems that our society faces. A definition of diversity science can be found on the website of the Institute for Diversity Science (see tab What is Diversity Science?).
The Graduate Research Grants can be used for all research-related activities: participant payments, equipment (e.g., laptop, experience sampling devices), software, student hourlies (e.g., paid undergraduate research assistants over the summer), services (e.g., UW Survey Center, consulting for AI-assisted coding of interview transcripts or open-ended answers), editing services for manuscripts, publication fees for open-access journals, and expenditures related to field research. Under certain circumstances, part of the Graduate Research Grant can be used for the applicant’s salary (e.g., summer salary for the Graduate Fellow) or for conference travel. These expenditures need to be appropriately justified, and proposals that budget money for salary and conference travel are ranked lower in terms of priority.
Please be aware that diversity science examines the barriers of numerous groups in our society. These groups are defined by dimensions such as gender identity, sexual orientation, nationality, disability, age, socio-economic status, ethnic/racial identity, religious identity, being a first-generation college student or not, being from a rural vs. urban background, political affiliation, weight, appearance, veteran status, and physical and mental health.