Funding Research

Writing research grants

Writing successful grant applications

The most important part of applying for funding is understanding how to apply. For large funding programs, this typically involves writing grants. How to write a successful grant depends on what agency, organization, or funding program you are applying to. It is best to consult someone experienced in the application and grant writing process such as past grant recipients, your advisor, or your lab mates.

NIU also offers grant writing assistance through their Division of Research and Innovation Partnerships.

Introduction to grant writing through BIOS 623

BIOS 623 is a required course for all BIOS graduate students. The instructor and content of the course may change slightly from year to year, but typically it is presented as a course on research grant writing (the course also includes an introduction to the BIOS department itself). This course aims to demystify grant writing and identify where you can look for grants, and as part of that you will write and submit a research grant on your research topic. 

Resources provided by NIU

Internal Funding

Research funding

One of the most apparent examples of direct research funding opportunities (excluding scholarships) is the opportunity to apply for undergraduate research funding through NIU's Office of Student Engagement and Experiential Learning (OSEEL). This funding program enables graduate students to compensate undergraduates to help them with their research. 

Most notably, this includes the Student Engagement Fund (SEF), providing student compensation and/or project supply funds. Although the website states that these funding programs are for faculty, several graduate students in the BIOS department have applied and successfully recieved funding. Starting in the spring 2025 semester, all OSEEL funding programs will accept applications annually each spring for the following grant year (summer, fall, and spring semesters).

Other funding opportunities can be found on NIU's MyScholarships (although all of these are not guaranteed to be able to be used for research, specifically) and in the document at the bottom of this page.

Travel grants

Funds to support graduate student (typically for PhD students only) participation in professional meetings may be available from the College of Liberal Arts and Science and The Graduate School. 

More information on the process for application and instruction can be found on The Graduate School travel grants page.

External Funding

NIU provides some resources for finding external research funding. These include links to databases, listservs, and websites. Although this list of resources does not specifically cater to BIOS, nor does it consider all BIOS fields of study, it can be a good start.

To find relevant funding resources, it is best to talk to folks in your field of study, such as your advisor and lab mates.

Resources provided by BIOS

Annual Graduate Student $200 Allocation

It is typical for the BIOS department to allocate each graduate student $200 per academic year to spend on research supplies. It might also be usable for professional society memberships* (ex: Ecological Society of America). This funding cannot be used for for travel, equipment, food, or conference registrations.

To spend this money, you must submit a single order packet with everything you aim to order (one submission but can include items from multiple vendors) to BIOS_Orders@niu.edu. Any remaining balance of the $200 will go back to the department.

*If you have any questions or need to request the order packet, email Daksha (dkpatel@niu.edu).

Travel Grants

Funds to support graduate student participation in professional meetings may be available from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Department of Biological Sciences.

More information on the process for application and instruction can be found in the Graduate Student Travel folder in the SharePoint as well as the NIU Department of Biological Sciences graduate student resources page.

Other funding opportunities

Other funding opportunities have been compiled by the BGSA Executive Board and other BIOS graduate students, and can be found in the document at the bottom of this page.

Cheatsheet of internal and external funding opportunities

This is an ongoing document to house internal and external funding sources; if you have a funding opportunity you wish to include, do so at this link.