Student Initiated Research or Creative Project Grant (Max. 500 USD)

Submission Deadline: the third Friday of February
Award Notification Date: within six weeks

Program Description:

The Student Initiated Research or Creative Project Grant aims to empower DKU students to undertake independent research and creative projects related to contemporary China, aligned with the mission of the Center for the Studies of Contemporary China (CSCC). Students are encouraged to explore innovative ideas and contribute to the scholarly and creative atmosphere at DKU. This grant provides funding support of up to 500 USD for projects that demonstrate academic excellence, creativity, and relevance to contemporary China studies. To ensure successful execution and mentorship, all student-initiated projects must have a faculty supervisor who will guide the students throughout their research or creative journey.  Approximately 3 awards are granted annually. The project duration should not exceed one year from the submission deadline.  

Eligibility:

• All DKU students are eligible to apply for this grant.
• Applicants must have a faculty supervisor who will provide guidance and mentorship throughout the project.
• Priority will be given to projects where applicants do not have existing funding support from other sources. If applicants have or are actively applying for other support, they must mention this in their proposal, particularly if the project is their signature work.

Application Materials:

Proposals must include the following components:

• Proposal Narrative (Not to exceed two pages, single-spaced)
• Project timeline, budget, and, where appropriate, bibliography (Not to exceed two pages, single-spaced).
• Resume or CV of the student applicant(s) (Not to exceed two pages each).
• Letter of support from the faculty supervisor.
• Submit all required components as one PDF file.

Evaluation Criteria:

Each proposal will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance to Contemporary China Studies
  • Is the project topic directly related to contemporary China, in line with the CSCC’s mission?
  • Does the project address current issues and contribute to a better understanding of contemporary China?
• Academic Excellence and Creativity
  • Does the project exhibit a high level of academic rigor and creativity?
  • Does the proposal reflect originality and innovative thinking?
• Feasibility and Impact
  • Is the project feasible within the given time and budget constraints?
  • Does the project have the potential to make a significant contribution to the student(s)’s academic career, DKU community, and/or the field of study or creative discipline?
• Faculty Supervision and Mentorship
  • Is the faculty supervisor experienced and qualified to provide effective guidance and mentorship throughout the project?
  • Does the letter of support from the faculty supervisor demonstrate their commitment to the student’s success?
• Budget Justification
  • Does the applicant demonstrate a need for the grant funds and explain how they will be used to enhance the project’s outcomes?

Institutional Review Board Approval:

If working with Human Subjects, grant recipients must obtain an approval to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) for the acceptance of the grant to be completed. Consult with your mentor.

Acknowledgement:

All publications, conference posters or presentations, or other means of dissemination resulting from work supported by a CSCC research grant should acknowledge funding from the Center for the Study of Contemporary China, Duke Kunshan University.

Final Project Report Requirements:

Each grant recipient is required to submit a final project report. This report should be no more than 2 pages long (single-spaced) and detail the progress and outcomes of the project within the specified time frame. The final project report must be submitted by the stated deadline and should provide a comprehensive overview of the project’s results and achievements.

Important Dates:

Submission Deadline: the third Friday of February

Award Notification Date: within six weeks

Final Project Report Deadline: One year from the award notification date

Fund Closing Date: One year from the award notification date

Spending Authorization Approval Request:

All spending authorization approval requests must include the following:

1. Final Project Budget:
   o Attach the final project budget that was submitted during the grant application process and based on which the grant was awarded.
2. Supporting Documentation:
   o Provide supporting documents that clearly demonstrate the alignment between the proposed spending and the objectives of the awarded project. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, invoices, quotations, and detailed descriptions of the expenses.

Please ensure that all required documents are complete and accurate to facilitate the approval process.

CSCC Grant Budget Modification Policy:

Grantees are allowed to modify up to 10% of the total grant award for expenses not originally outlined in the approved budget. Requests for modifications exceeding this limit, due to extraordinary circumstances, will be considered on a case-by-case basis. To request a budget modification, grantees must submit an updated budget and a rationale for the changes, which will be reviewed by the CSCC co-director for approval.

All grant proposals and inquiries should be sent to Chi Zhang, the program coordinator for the Center for the Studies of Contemporary China.

List of CSCC Research Grant for Student Initiated Research or Creative Projects