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Research and Scholarly Activity Grants

IU Fort Wayne is now accepting applications for its Research and Scholarly Activity Grants, designed to inspire and support innovative projects that benefit both campus and community. The program is administered through the IUFW Research & Scholarly Activity Committee (RSAC). The committee invites applications and awards internal funding each year to encourage contributions to research and scholarly activity. The grant initiative was created in support of the IU Fort Wayne Vision 2040 Strategic Plan.

For the 2026–2027 academic year, IUFW will award up to six grants of $1,000 each to support qualifying research and scholarly activity projects. Applications are open to current IU Fort Wayne students, staff, and faculty. Student-initiated projects must be conducted under the mentorship of a staff or faculty member. The deadline for applications is January 31, 2027.

What constitutes Research & Scholarly Activity?

Research means the “systematic investigation or inquiry aimed at contributing to knowledge of a theory, topic, etc.” – Oxford English Dictionary

Examples include (but are not limited to):

• Surveys
• Interviews/Focus Groups
• Observations
• Literature Reviews
• Experiments

means creative work that is peer reviewed and publicly disseminated.

Examples include (but are not limited to):

• Academic Publications
• Research or Scholarship Conference Registration Fees
• Academic Presentations (Poster/Podium)
• Application of Scholarship that results in Documented Change (e.g., Collaboration with local schools, work with community organizations, etc.)
• Creation of Scholarly Materials or Models

Eligibility

For consideration of funding, the following criteria must be met:

• Applications must be complete & received electronically by the due date.
• Applicant must be a current student, staff, or faculty member of the IUFW campus.
• Project complies with federal and local regulations concerning the protection of human subjects. Approval statement from an institutional review board (IRB) must be received prior to any funds being disbursed – when indicated. (For details about what studies will need IRB approval please review information here: .)
• The submitted application represents a well-defined and competitive research OR scholarly activity project pertinent to the IUFW campus and/or Fort Wayne community.
• Two grants per department may be submitted per application cycle. Please contact your department liaison to see if other grant applications have been submitted.
  • IU School of Medicine – Jimmy Yen
  • IU School of Nursing – Chidiebele Obichi, Jamie Rausch, Jaime Vinson, Kathie Williamson,
  • Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health – Ashley Robertson
  • IU School of Dentistry – Abrielle Lamphere
  • IU School of Health & Human Sciences – Carly Bennett,
  • IU School of Medicine -Radiology – Aubrey Ehle or Stephanie Williamson
  • IU School of Social Work – Aisha Smiley
  • If your program does not currently have a liaison listed, please reach out to Jimmy Yen jimyen@iu.edu or Jamie Rausch rauschj@iu.edu. 

Funding allocation considerations

• A maximum of $1,000 will be awarded per grant. (Awardees may opt to submit a renewal or extension application one time each, if needed.)
• Award amounts will be based on the quality of the proposed project, the sum requested and purpose for the funds, past performance and future promise of the applicant, and the budget.
• Funds will be allocated for expenses incurred in the direct conduct of the project.
• Funds may only be requested for project expenditures incurred during the funding period—which follows the IU fiscal year from July 1 through June 30. 

Distribution of funds and communication with RSAC

All communication regarding funds and reports should be submitted to IUFW RSAC.

Feedback

All applicants will receive feedback regarding their application.

Software

Any study requiring the purchase of software will require an IT consultation prior to application submission.

Criteria for scoring applications are (1) Feasibility of the plan; (2) Overall merit of the proposal; and (3) Potential impact on the recipient’s professional development. Other considerations (e.g., ethics, human or animal subjects, IT consult, etc.) will be considered based on completion. See rubric for details.