Funding Request Procedures

The MSU Graduate School and the College of Human Medicine has funds available for student research and research-related travel. See below for more information and funding request procedures.

Funding is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to availability. Students may submit requests for the following types of support:

• Research Travel Funding: Up to $1,500 per individual request
• Research Enhancement Funding: Up to $1,500 per individual request
• Poster Printing Reimbursement: Up to $75

Annual Funding Cap: Each student is eligible for a maximum total reimbursement of $1,500 for the 2025–26 academic year, regardless of the number or type of requests submitted.

To Submit a Funding Request: Please refer to the information below for the required documentation and submission process.

** NOTICE REGARDING FINANCIAL AID FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS ** 

If you are approved for travel or research enhancement funding, the Financial Aid Office will be notified of your award in an attempt to avoid reduction in loans or aid.**

**Students must be enrolled in courses the semester in which the funding is being requested and/or disbursed.**

If you are interested in requesting funds for Fall 2025, Spring 2026, or Summer 2026, you may apply for funding throughout the academic year.

Please note that no funds will be provided up front: our office will only reimburse expenses after travel has concluded/research is completed, and receipts are provided.

If you have questions, please send a message through InfoReady to Drs. Angie Zell or Mark Trottier.

NOTE: Funding requests for poster printing will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis.  

TRAVEL FUNDING

Funds are available to support the presentation of research at professional conferences.

Students may request funding ($1,500 maximum) for their research travel-related expenses. Students must be accepted as first or presenting author. Requests can be completed by using this application, and uploading the following:

1. Student and major professor information
2. Name of the conference or professional meeting
3. Conference agenda
4. The title of the research to be presented and the list of authors (The student requesting the funds is to be the first and presenting author)
5. The date(s) and the location of the conference
6. Itemized budget or estimate if expenses are not yet known (Template download available)
7. Upload registration - paid receipt
8. Upload letter of acceptance for presentation
9. Upload abstract
10. Upload major professor email or letter of support

If items are not yet available, they can be uploaded through this form at a later date. Purchases cannot be reimbursed until after the conference and only with an accompanying receipt.

RESEARCH ENHANCEMENT FUNDING

Funds are available to support research activities including participation in workshops, data collection, short courses, and extramural laboratory rotations. Under special circumstances, funding requests to purchase supplies or materials relevant to the student's research will be considered.

*Research Enhancement Funding is expected to match funds from the Major Professor and is limited to $1,500 maximum.

Students requesting funds for research enhancement must complete the application and provide the following:

1. Student and major professor information
2. Title of the research project
3. Description of the project written in a way that is understandable to other scholars/scientists outside of the field
4. A summary of the research activity and description of how funds will be used (if travel involved, include the location and dates)
5. Detailed budget (or estimated if unknown when applying) and budget justification (Budget template available)
6. Upload major professor's email or letter of support
7. Upload the IACUC or Human Research Protection Program approval letter if animal or human subjects

**Students must describe if the research is tied to a course and if not must consult with Financial Aid before processing goes forward**
***Publication costs are not eligible for reimbursement through this funding mechanism. See this page for Open Access Publishing Agreements at MSU for low- or no-cost publishing options. https://lib.msu.edu/collections/scholcomm/support

POSTER FUNDING

CHM students may request up to $75 from the CHM Research Office for printing a poster for a presentation at a national/international conference when they are listed as the first author. We are NOT able to pay for posters for Research Days. The funds do not cover the cost of lamination or purchasing travel tubes. The Research Office will reimburse students for poster printing expenses with an itemized receipt. For East Lansing students, we highly recommend one of two printing options:

1. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Dept. - Submit a request to Pappan at padmanab@msu.edu for poster printing. He will use CHM Research Office's account number, so there won't be an out-of-pocket cost to students. More information here: Biochemistry Poster Printing.
2. MSU Library - CHM Research Office can provide an account number for payment to avoid out-of-pocket costs for students. More information can be found here: Library Poster Printing.

 All requests must be submitted at least 10 business days in advance of the conference, and we require a PDF of the final poster. Be sure to give the printer enough time to print the poster!

1) Name of conference
2) Date(s) of conference
3) Upload of conference abstract & acceptance
4) Upload of poster as a PDF
5) Upload paid poster receipt

• The College of Human Medicine has funding to help pay for CHM student research expenses ($1,500 maximum).  Students who are enrolled at the MSU College of Human Medicine are eligible for this funding. Research Enhancement funds may be used for research-related expenses such as reagents, software, equipment, research participant incentives and other things. 
• **Students must describe if the research is tied to a course and if not must consult with Financial Aid before processing goes forward**
• ***Publication costs are not eligible for reimbursement through this funding mechanism. See this page for Open Access Publishing Agreements at MSU for low- or no-cost publishing options. https://lib.msu.edu/collections/scholcomm/support

TO APPLY FOR FUNDING

• ** Students must be enrolled in courses for the semester in which the funding is being requested **
• Submit your request for funding using the online application form here: CHM Student Research InfoReady site

*NOTE: Specific funding limits for travel and research enhancement are subject to change.  

** NOTICE TO FINANCIAL AID OFFICE FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS – If you are approved for travel or research enhancement funding, the Financial Aid Office will be notified of your award in an attempt to avoid reduction in loans or aid. If you have concerns, you are strongly encouraged to reach out to Financial Aid directly.**

Funding is awarded on a first come, first served basis as available.

***Travel Funding Checklist

If presenting at a conference:

1. Copy of accepted abstract, including all authors.
2. Copy of notification from conference that your abstract was accepted, with list of presenting authors.
3. Receipt of conference/meeting registration fees as PAID.
4. Mentor statement of support (statement from mentor indicating they support your travel to the conference to present).
5. Itemized budget.  This may include hotel, flight, conference registration fee, transportation to/from airport, and per diem meals & incidental expenses. These can be quotes or estimates if the items have not been purchased yet. 
6. Include receipts for any items that have already been purchased.

 

Questions? Please contact us at CHM.Research@msu.edu