Murdock College Research Program for Natural Sciences Grant

Murdock College Research Program for Natural Sciences Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: M J Murdock Charitable Trust
Amount: Up to US $70,000
Last Updated: August 16, 2025

Summary

The Murdock College Research Program supports innovative natural sciences research at private undergraduate colleges in the Pacific Northwest. It emphasizes faculty-student collaboration, enhancing educational methods through inquiry-based teaching. Proposals are assessed on scientific merit and the investigator's qualifications, with a focus on projects that significantly contribute to fundamental knowledge in the field. This program encourages active participation from undergraduate students as research associates, fostering their development and engagement in scientific inquiry.

Overview

This program is designed to support research in the natural sciences at private, predominantly undergraduate colleges and universities in the Trust’s funding region. Proposals that describe original research in the natural sciences will be evaluated on the basis of their scientific merit, the scientific qualifications of the investigator or investigators that are proposing the research, and the feasibility of the work. Involvement of undergraduate students in the research is also considered important. Program Goals

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Eligible institutions are private predominantly undergraduate colleges and universities in the five‐state region of the Pacific Northwest: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.Eligible institutions must offer a baccalaureate degree, but not a doctoral degree, in the sciences.The principal investigator must either:hold at least a three‐year faculty appointment in a natural science department, such as:biologychemistryearth science or geologyastronomyphysicsor be a member of a department of environmental science doing research on biological systems or organismsor be a member of a psychology department or its equivalent, doing laboratory neuroscience research.Applicants may not have been supported previously by a grant in this program.Only one proposal from an investigator will be considered at a given time.There is no limit on the number of proposals that may be submitted by each institution.Both new faculty and established faculty are eligible in this program.New faculty may apply, through their institutions, if they hold an appointment of at least three years duration, and obtain approval of the necessary institutional support.Only funding for direct costs for the proposed research may be requested.Eligible costs include:(Minor) equipment and supplies needed for the research; institutional cost sharing is expected for equipment. Some supplies money may be used to support continuing research during the academic year. Student summer stipends, up to $4,500 per student per summer, for ten weeks of full‐time participation. Institutions may strengthen their requests by offering room and board, if needed. Institutions should provide portions of FICA on stipends as part of the institution’s direct cost share of the project.Faculty summer stipends, up to $7,500 for up to ten weeks of full‐time participation in the research. For shorter periods, the stipend should be prorated. If stipend support is also being paid from other sources, a prorated reduction in this proposal is also appropriate. Institutions should provide portions of FICA and Workman’s compensation on stipends as part of the institution’s direct cost share of the project.Travel costs, only if such travel is required for the performance of the research; for example: for use of facilities not available on the home campus.Up to $1,000 that requires a 1:1 match from the institution to cover publication costs.Special and unusual expenses, not listed above, that are essential in the performance of the research.

Ineligibility

Ongoing programs previously supported by this program or other external funding agencies will not be eligible.The following ineligible costs are not supported by this grant:Faculty and student academic year stipends; postdoctoral stipends; graduate student stipendsIn‐kind support, e.g. summer housingIndirect costs and fringe benefits, except as noted aboveSecretarial assistance, telephone, routine office suppliesService or use charges for equipment housed at the home institutionTravel expenses to scientific meetings