Student Research Scholarships
Students enrolled in any college or university worldwide are eligible to apply. Students who have applied in previous years to BCI’s Student Research Scholarship Program are eligible to reapply each subsequent year, whether they received a previous BCI grant or not. Non-students are not eligible.
Each year, BCI sponsors students in conducting conservation-relevant research. Lack of knowledge about bat ecology and behavior is one of the greatest impediments to bat conservation progress. The goal of this program is to support exceptionally talented students in research initiatives that will contribute new knowledge essential to conserving bats and the ecosystems they serve. We hope these funds provide opportunities for matching grants from other conservation organizations, government agencies and private foundations, and that BCI’s support will grow in future years.
SUBMISSION MATERIALS
- Application: All sections of the application form must be completed to the best of the student’s ability and knowledge. Questions which are not applicable to proposal should be marked “Not Applicable†or “N/A.â€Â
- Research Proposal: Proposals should clearly state objectives of studies and the significance of the work to bat conservation progress and give detailed descriptions of the methodology to be used. Proposals must show how projects support conservation needs and must demonstrate that the project in question is feasible within the planned time and financial limitations. It is very important to be clear in explaining the data collection and analysis techniques.
- Summary of Progress: Projects that are already under way must include an additional one-page summary of the progress made to date, including any significant findings.
- References Cited
- Budget
- Biographical Sketch of Applicant: Applicants must submit a curriculum vitae, not to exceed two pages in length. If there are additional primary investigators, a short curricula vitae for each one may also be included.
- Letters of Support – Provide the names and email addresses of three academic or conservation biology professionals familiar with your project and your qualifications.
All recipients will be required to sign a standard reporting and completion agreement and liability waiver. Upon signing of the agreement, BCI will write a check for 80 percent of the awarded amount, made payable to the sponsoring college or university. BCI does not allow any overhead, administrative or indirect costs to be taken from the awarded grant money by the supervising institution. Payment of the remaining 20 percent of the grant will be dependent upon timely submission of progress reports and photographs of project activities to BCI, with the balance paid upon submission of the final report.