TCD Field Research Grant

Application Instructions

TCD Field Research Grants (FRG) support field research addressing the issues of biodiversity conservation, sustainable resource use, and human well-being at Master’s and preliminary doctoral levels (i.e. Doctoral level funding is intended for initial site visits and preliminary research activities only).

Grants will average $2,000 each but may vary depending on travel costs to the research site, the availability of funds, and whether the recipient has received research funding from other sources. TCD Field Research Grants are made possible by a Ford Foundation Endowment gift to TCD and a gift from the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation, the latter of which is targeted to funding graduate research in field biology as part of this competition. TCD funds may be used for international travel, in-country travel, lodging, meals, and other research-related expenses.  Geographic areas eligible for funding include the tropics and sub-tropical and temperate areas in developing countries (e.g., southern Africa, southern cone of South America, Greater Himalayan region).

You can find previously awarded TCD FRG reports here.

Most TCD field research grants are targeted for summer.  If you do not plan to complete field work by the end of August, please let us know. Extensions are likely to be granted but require prior approval.

If you are planning to apply, please check out this ppt presentation used in the 2023 pre-application info session, which gives more information about the IRB application process; for other questions, please email TCD.

Eligibility and Important Info

  • Proposals may be from any TCD-affiliated department and any discipline associated with those departments. Preference is given to students enrolled in the TCD certificate program.
  • MALAS students proposing to do research related to environmental conservation or sustainable development should apply to the TCD Field Research Grant.
  • Doctoral level funding is intended for initial site visits and preliminary research activities only (Ph.D. students who have advanced to candidacy are NOT eligible).
  • Students may receive only one TCD field research grant per degree program.
  • If the recipient’s research involves human or animal subjects, IRB and/or IACUC approval is required before traveling to the research site. We strongly recommend applying for IRB and/or IACUC approval at the same time if not before applying for a TCD FRG. Note that obtaining international IRB approvals can require 3 months or more. Once you have IRB approval, you can modify research protocols (e.g., interview questions, surveys, and such) through a simple updating process without starting the submission over again.
  • Recipients must spend at least two weeks in the field. In most cases, recipients spend between 6 to 12 weeks in the field.
  • Students should plan to complete their field work by the end of August. Extensions or changes in planned research period are possible but require prior approval.
  • Interdisciplinary projects and those that bridge theory and practice are given preference, as are projects in field biology. Proposals should make an explicit link between the research topic and conservation and/or development.
  • Proposals are reviewed and ranked by an interdisciplinary committee of UF faculty with expertise in field research, conservation and development issues.

Application Requirements

  • A completed application form (coming soon)
  • A proposal written in language accessible to reviewers from different disciplines. The proposal is limited to a maximum of 5 single-spaced pages (without counting references cited section or any figures/tables) and include:
    • A short abstract (max. of 250 words) at the beginning of the proposal
    • Problem Statement. Be sure to clearly state research questions/hypothesis and connect those to relevant theories, debates or policy issues in this section. Ph.D. proposals should outline the overall Ph.D. project and specify the research goals for the initial site visit.
    • Study design and methods. Consider the match of the research design and methods to questions or hypotheses posed. Be sure to be explicit and provide as sufficient detail as is possible given the project scope.
    • Significance. Be sure to include the significance of the study to (1) advancing science or solving problems/issues and (2) significance for conservation and/or development.
    • Feasibility. Discuss the degree to which the project is feasible given resources (e.g., partners in the field), time and other constraints.
    • Dissemination.  Describe the strategy for disseminating research findings to appropriate audiences.
    • International Collaboration (if applicable). Describe how you intend to engage international collaborators, partners, and/or communities in your research. Be specific in identifying who these partners are and how their inclusion leads to mutually beneficial interactions. (International collaboration activities might receive an increase in award funds from TCD).
    • Timetable with projected timeline of proposed project activities.
    • Detailed budget (airfare, rental, lodging, meals, equipment, etc.) with short justifications
    • References Cited
    • Figures/Tables if applicable.
  • *UF transcript – unofficial copy acceptable.
  • *One letter of recommendation from the student’s adviser to be included with student’s application.

*Important– The proposal, transcript and recommendation letter should be saved in one single PDF file and named as per this example: ‘last name_first name_TCD FRG_year.pdf’. If you experience any problems with the online form, please send an email to TCD.

Application Deadline: March 3, 2025

(Applications past the deadline will not be accepted). ___

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