Research Funding

Applicant must:

• complete the application available through the link below.
• please use traditional proposal formatting which includes Background/Introduction, Rationale, Objectives, Methods, and References sections. You should include the hypotheses you are testing in your proposal as well as, indicate how the results of your study will address your hypotheses. Proposals should be short (<5 pages double-spaced, including references).
• provide a detailed budget and budget justification to include: research services (boat expenses, equipment rental, etc.) and expendable supplies graduate student salary and/or undergraduate support. Please be sure to include the 8.1% fringe rate when calculating student support. The budget and justification are not included in the five-page limit.
• submit a letter of recommendation from an advisor or sponsor. This letter of recommendation can be sent directly to marine.information@unh.edu or submitted with application. The letter of recommendation is not included in the five-page limit.
• if using a SMSOE supported facility (JEL, CML or UNH Pier) or equipment, you must receive written approval from David Shay (david.shay@unh.edu) before submitting your application. The written approval must be submitted with your application below. The letter of support is not included in the five-page limit.

Requests for assistance will not be accepted post cruise/research. Applicants will only be reviewed if research expenses are not covered by other sources. Applicants are expected to justify why funding is not covered elsewhere. Funding is available only to current UNH graduate students performing marine-related research and for research purposes only.

Funding must be used within 12 months of award. Any unused funds will be returned to the Graduate Research Fund.

If your proposal is successful, you will be required to keep a detailed record of expenses for the award. In addition, you will be required to submit a brief report describing how the funds you received were used and what those funds have allowed you to accomplish. You will also be required to present a poster or a talk at the School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering Graduate Symposium and Ocean Discovery Day, and may be asked to help in the SMSOE booths at conferences such as AGU and Ocean Sciences (if attending).

Reports will be due June 1, 2024 and should be sent to Sally Nelson at sally.nelson@unh.edu.

Reports should consist of one or two paragraphs that briefly describe (1) your project goals or aims, (2) what specifically you have used funds for, (3) how these funds have helped you in your research, and (4) Please provide a photo or two (jpg or tiff) of your work than can be used to help highlight the importance of these funds to your research. Please note that by sending the photo, you are agreeing to its use in reporting materials (please tell us whom should receive credit for taking the photo).

B&P and Seed Grants do NOT cover:

• Conference travel or fees
• Equipment
• Professional development courses
• Student tuition

Requirements

• Applicant must be affiliated with SMSOE and be able to serve as an UNH PI.
• No more than one application per PI (lead or co-I) in each review period, and only one grant per PI will be funded in any given year.
• Proposal must provide some indication of the targeted funding opportunity or program office.
• Applicant must provide an assessment of the potential for return.
• B&P applications only – must identify specific agency program or RFP, with proposal due date if known, for which the proposal is being developed.
• Research requiring the use of SMSOE equipment or facilities must be approved by David Shay (dave.shay@unh.edu) and his written approval must be submitted with the application.
• Proposals must include an outreach component.

Application

The application (below) requires your name, title and affiliation, date, a description of research activity or identified proposal development, an itemized budget with explanation, an outreach plan and SMSOE facility approval (if applicable). 

Criteria and Review Process

• Priority will be given to first-time applicants.
• Priority will be given to interdisciplinary efforts that connect more than one program or department across UNH.
• The request should ultimately serve the wider community or society as opposed to a focused single PI research program.
• SMSOE Research Committee will review proposals with the exception of committee members with conflict of interest, and will recommend funding applications to the SMSOE Executive Committee.

Products

B&P: A copy of the externally submitted proposal developed as a result of the B&P funding must be submitted within six months of awarded funding. A copy of the submitted proposal will be forwarded to the SMSOE following proposal submission.

Seed Grant: Summary report of research results and identification of external funding opportunities eventually leading to external funding.

Funding must be spent within 12 months of award.

Reports to be submitted to the SMSOE within 13 months of award. Failure to provide a report may prevent awardee from being considered for future awards.

Awardees will be encouraged to participate as judges in the SMSOE Graduate Research Symposium held annually each Spring.

Contact Info

• Applications should be submitted to marine.information@unh.edu
• Questions should be submitted directly to nancy.kinner@unh.edu.

Download Application

This professorship was established through the generosity of members and friends of the University of New Hampshire’s Class of 1937 on the occasion of their 50th reunion.

As directed by the donors, the objective of the Fund is to provide a continuing source of support to recognize excellence in teaching and research in Marine Biology within the School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineeringand its associated laboratories with a preference for the Shoals Marine Laboratory. Individuals awarded this professorship may hold tenure-track or research faculty appointments in marine biology. Recipients of this professorship will be at any rank, with priority given to new or current faculty demonstrating particular achievement within the last two years. More than one individual may hold the professorship at any time. Funding will be dispersed July 1, 2024. The maximum funding available is $10,000 per year. Awards will be for up to three years and are renewable.

Successful applicants will have a strong record of accomplishment in Marine Biology and present a plan for using Class of ’37 support to advance marine biological education and/or research at UNH. Preference will be given to proposals that clearly define a benefit for the greater Marine Biology community at UNH.

Applications (5 pages maximum) should provide a summary of the applicant’s contributions over the past 2-5 years (1 page maximum) and an overview of the applicant’s goals for the professorship (4 pages maximum). Applications must include a summary budget. Research requiring the use of SMSOE equipment or facilities must be approved by David Shay (dave.shay@unh.edu) and his written approval must be submitted with the application.

Applications must be emailed to the School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering (SMSOE) at marine.information@unh.edu office. The SMSOE Research Committee will review applications and make a recommendation to the SMSOE Executive Committee. If the applicant is in doubt about the suitability of their idea for use of the Professorship, she/he is encouraged to consult with David Burdick at david.burdick@unh.edu prior to submission.

Awardees will be expected to submit a brief summary of their activities supported by the professorship annually. Any funds not expended by the end of the award period will revert to the Class of 1937 Fund to be redistributed as part of a future professorship.

Applications should be emailed to: marine.information@unh.edu.

Deadline: This year's deadline has passed. Please check back for future opportunities.

• 2021-Present - Nathan Furey, Ph.D.
• 2019 - 2021 - Elizabeth Fairchild, Ph.D.
• 2015 - 2019 - Gregg Moore, Ph.D.
• 2011 - 2014 - David Burdick, Ph.D.
• 2011 - 2014 - David Berlinsky, Ph.D.