Financial Support

The Botany Department provides funds for routine supplies and equipment. Work with your advisor to get what you need.

Tuition Waivers

Tuition waivers can be a very helpful way to reduce the costs of education. Ordinarily, Teaching and Research Assistantships come with a tuition waiver. The department also has several additional waivers. Apply to the Chair for consideration.

Teaching/Research Assistantships

The Botany Department has 9 teaching assistant positions. Apply in the department office if you want to be considered for one of these positions.

Other departments in which there are often relevant teaching assistant opportunities include the Biology Program. The department office can put you in touch with the appropriate people to find out more about the availability of position openings.

Part-time Work

Periodically, there are specific opportunities for students to earn money doing consulting work (such as assisting in the preparation of Environmental Impact Statements) or doing survey work. Students who can assist with data analysis or database problems can often find part-time employment. See Dr. C. W. Smith for more information.

Office of Research Administration

ORA controls several sources of funding that can be used for seed-money, travel, and as a way to exploit new research opportunities. These are usually limited to faculty.

Faculty can receive assistance by calling x64057. Graduate students should call x68113.

ORA also sponsors services through the Illinois Researcher Information Service (IRIS). This is available only for searches from on-campus web sites. IRIS offers information on over 7,000 federal and private funding opportunities in the sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities.

Faculty Travel Grants

Full-time faculty and staff may apply to the Research Council for funds to present research results at regional, national or international meetings. It must be demonstrated that such participation has a potential for resulting in additinal research or training. The maximum award is $1,700; this includes a maxiimum of $1,200 for roundtrip economy air transportation based on existing minimum rates plus up to $500 for conference fees, ground transportation and per diem. You are eligible to apply once every fiscal year. Applications must be received at ORA two to three months before the anticipated travel. Conferences outside the U.S. may request early consideration (up to six months before the date of the conference).

Guidelines and forms are available in Spalding Hall 255.

Project Development Fund

This is the "seed money" fund [????]. Deadline April 14.

University Research Council

Research Relations Fund

This is for scholarly and createive activities of faculty whose disciplines do not normally enjoy significant external funding. Projects are usually small and self-contained. Grants have averaged $2,000. The maximum limit is $10,000. Projects that could get funding from the University Research Council, Project Development or Educational Improvement Funds are not eligible. Proposals are due March 31. For more information, contact the Director of Research Relations (Dr. Rudolf Schmerl, Bach 105, x 7873 ).

Equipment Matching

Office of Faculty Development and Academic Support

Faculty Travel Grants

An on-going program receives applications on the first of each month for travel to commence within sixty days (or earlier for overseas travel). Guidelines and applications can be obtained in Bachman 105 from Dr. Marie Wunsch. In general, support is given for attendance at meetings where participation will improve teaching, curriculum development or professional skills relative to teaching. Maximum award is $1,700.

Scholarships for Graduate Student Research

University of Hawaii Foundation

Generally, the UH Foundation does not provide funds directly to the department. It administers accounts that sponsor faculty travel and some special projects. Periodically they announce that competitive awards are available, such as from the McInerny Foundation.

Educational Improvement Fund

Each semester, awards are made for innovative educational projects. Over the years, Botany Department faculty have been successful in competing for these funds. Grant awards have ranged from about $1000 to over $10,000. Generally, a special topic is chosen as the focus for a semester's solicitation.

Campus Women's Club

Small grants (usually less than $1000) are periodically available from the Campus Women's Club. These can be used to support teaching.

Miscellaneous Programs

Audubon Society

Awards are made for research in Hawaiian or Pacific natural history. Awards are oriented toward small-scale projects in hawaii and generally do not exceed $500. Applications have a maximum length of 10 pages and should include the following information: Title of proposed research project; Problem and objectives; Methods; Budget; Curriculum vitae; and two letters of recommendation. Grants are reviewed biannually; deadlines are April 1 and October 1. Submit proposals to John Engbring; Chair, Awards Commi ttee; PO Box 4443; Honolulu, HI 96812; business phone 541-2749.

Botanical Society

NTBG travel awards

Nature Conservancy Small Grants Program

Western Society of Naturalists

National Wildlife Fund

NSF Dissertation Improvement Awards

Bishop Museum/UH Collaborative Grants Program

This program was established by the 1989 Legislative Session to establish a research institute so that Bishop Museum and UH researchers can pursue common interests. It will integrate the collections-based research of the Museum with the non-collections research of the Botany, Anthropology, Entomology, Zoology departments and programs in biological diversity, conservation biology, museum studies, artifact conservation, Pacific cultures and art history.

Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid of Research

Maximum of $1,000 to support scientific investigation in any field. Priority is given to applicant in an early stage of their scientific careers. There are some restrictions on the use of the money. Graduate students are encouraged to apply. Applications and details are available from Lynn LeBeck, Gilmore 511 (x8432). Application deadline is May 1.

Information About Financial Aid

Graduate students might want to check the GRE site for general information about financial aid.