Students at All Stages Can Receive College Grants For Research

Those who choose to enter academia are often drawn by the promise of discovery, continued learning and the chance to make a difference in the world. Some are inspired to make new discoveries in medical research, while others simply want to make the world a better place. On this rewarding path, many students start with a bachelors degree program and, depending on the institution, may be eligible for college grants to complete research even at this early stage of their academic career.

Federal stimulus money is helping to provide research funding. Some of this money is sending a Florida student to study predatory crabs in Antarctica as part of a collaborative climate change study, according to a July report in Florida Trend. The Boston Herald this same month noted that a university in Massachusetts received nearly $130 million in federal research funding over the past year. The money is to be used to support studies ranging from computer security to the history of the earth’s crust, according to the Boston Herald.

A university in Nebraska, meanwhile, received $1.3 million in stimulus money to buy a state-of-the-art microscope that uses electrons instead of light and shows materials at the near-atomic level, according to information from Nanowerk News. The Johns Hopkins University Gazette recently reported that this university received 424 in stimulus grants that, at more than $200 million, are to fund projects studying everything from how the universe began to how men and women react differently to the influenza virus.

There are also foundations and organizations that offer research grants. The Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation, for example, awards $15,000 to $30,000 a year for one of two years of research in the natural and social sciences and the humanities as it relates to violence, aggression and dominance. The National Endowment for the Humanities provides collaborative research grants for archaeology projects and research that enhances an understanding of science, technology, medicine, the social sciences or the humanities.

Today, more and more people are expressing concern over environmentally detrimental practices. As a result, they strive to recycle more and learn about how to live in a sustainable, eco-friendly fashion. College students are also beginning to find that careers in sustainability are becoming more popular, and so they gear their studies towards this work.

Whether in on-campus or online degree programs, students can work toward eco-friendly careers in fields such as environmental engineering or architecture. Within these fields, they can work on projects that become Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified. This qualification demonstrates a commitment to sustainable design practices. Students researching these fields may find that they can apply for college grants to help them with their studies. As an example, The Washington Post recently reported that such funding was being given to students who chose to research environmental issues as part of their degree program.

Individuals who study at schools online may also be able to take advantage of research opportunities. They can complement their online degree program with perhaps one or two research-based courses at a local campus. This will give them the chance to meet staff and incorporate a hands-on approach to their program.