Outreach and Engagement Graduate Student Engaged Scholar Seed Grants

Outreach and Engagement Graduate Student Engaged Scholar Seed Grants

The Office of Outreach and Engagement is releasing the following request for proposals to support graduate students to undertake community-engaged research or community-engaged projects, in collaboration with a community partner, that address a specific need or problem within the community. As a land-grant institution, engaged scholarship is essential to the work of the university's faculty, staff and students. Ohio State is dedicated to extending research and creative expression beyond our campuses by engaging in partnership with communities - elevating the quality of life for the people of Ohio and beyond.


Register for an information session on the grants taking place Feb. 7 at 1 p.m. via Zoom.


Please complete the application below and submit via email with a letter of support from your faculty advisor as a PDF to Assistant Vice Provost Nicole Nieto at engage@osu.edu by Feb. 25.

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Eligible Types of Engaged Scholarship: Projects should engage with external communities in either the domains of engaged research or creative expression. Including research and creative activities associated with the discovery of new knowledge, the development of new insights, and the creation of new artistic or literary performances and expressions in collaboration with community partners. Funding must be for work that is essential to the student's dissertation, thesis or exit project for their degree program.

Funding: One year seed grants between $1,000 and $5,000 will be awarded to support engaged scholarship led by graduate students. A minimum of 10 grants will be awarded in 2025. Priority will be given to projects located within Ohio. Priority will also be given to projects that provide community partner support in the budget proposal. Funding will be awarded at the end of spring semester 2025.

Eligible Expenses:

Student Support:

  • Supporting travel, meals and lodging associated with research conducted off campus.
  • Participation and presentation of research at conferences and workshops.
  • Research support including data collection support, transcription services, statistical analysis support etc.
  • Costs related to research publication expenses.
  • Systems that support the student research experience (software, enrollment in training, etc.).

Community partner support:

  • Expenses incurred by community partners that are directly related to their participation in the research experience and that support community partner capacity to effectively partner in and maximize the benefit of community-engaged research.
  • Incentives for human subject research participation.

Eligibility: All currently enrolled graduate and professional students who are considered in good academic standing with the university.

Faculty Advisor Letter of Support: All proposals must include a letter of support provided by the graduate student's faculty advisor. Please submit the letter of support as a PDF file as part of your proposal submission.


For more information on defining engaged scholarship and creative expression, please refer to the Office of Outreach and Engagement's Defining Engagement paper


Applicants using funds to compensate human research participants must receive full IRB approval before the program can utilize Outreach and Engagement funds for human subjects participation incentives.


More information on the definition of good academic standing