Call for Proposals: Graduate Student Project Grants
ImpactLab for Applied Social Science Research

Overview

The ImpactLab for Applied Social Science Research invites proposals for graduate student grants supporting applied research with clear policy relevance and potential public impact. The ImpactLab works with governments, nonprofit organizations, and community partners to produce evidence-based insights that advance solutions for the public good in North Texas and beyond.

These awards are intended to support graduate student research, with strong priority given to thesis and dissertation projects. Projects may be at an early stage, but applicants should explain how the requested support will help them complete a clearly defined stage of the research, such as data collection, fieldwork, analysis, or partner engagement.

Proposals must speak directly to the project’s policy relevance and broader community impact. Although projects may be grounded in academic research, applications should not focus only on contributions to scholarly literature. They should explain how the work connects to public problems, policy debates, government or nonprofit practice, or community needs in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and beyond.

Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the 2026-2027 academic year. Because funding is limited, students are strongly encouraged to apply as early as possible.

Eligibility

Graduate students enrolled in a degree program within the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences are eligible to apply. Students at any stage of their graduate program may apply, but strong priority will be given to projects that directly support a master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation. Interdisciplinary projects and projects involving government, nonprofit, or community partners are especially welcome.

Each applicant must identify a faculty advisor who is familiar with the project and can confirm that the proposed activities are appropriate and feasible.

Award Amount and Allowable Uses

Applicants may request up to $500. Award amounts will be based on the needs and merits of the proposed project rather than a fixed amount for every recipient. Funds may support reasonable project expenses, including:

  • New data collection or acquisition
  • Participant incentives or recruitment costs
  • Research assistance
  • Research-related travel or local fieldwork
  • Community or partner engagement
  • Software, supplies, transcription, or other direct research costs
  • Other expenses necessary to complete a thesis, dissertation, or related applied research project

Funds may not be used for tuition, student stipends, or conference travel. Other proposed expenses will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and must comply with UNT policies.

External Funding

Applicants are not required to identify or pursue an external funding opportunity. However, applicants are encouraged to discuss any realistic plans to use the project as a foundation for a larger grant, fellowship, dissertation improvement award, or other external funding application.

Application Requirements

Proposals should be no more than 3 single-spaced pages and must include:

  1. Project title and applicant information, including degree program, department, and faculty advisor.
  2. Project description, including the research question, motivation, proposed activities, and the project’s relationship to the applicant’s thesis or dissertation, if applicable.
  3. Policy relevance and community impact, including how the project addresses a real-world problem and could inform public decision-making, government or nonprofit practice, or community well-being.
  4. Use of funds, including a brief itemized budget and justification.
  5. Project timeline, with all proposed activities completed by the end of Summer 2027.
  6. Future funding plans, if applicable, including any external grant, fellowship, or other opportunity the applicant may pursue.

Please also submit a current CV and a brief letter of support from a faculty advisor. These materials are not included in the 3-page proposal maximum. 

Review Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated by Lisa Henry, Director of the ImpactLab, and Brian Hamel, Assistant Director of the ImpactLab, and selected for funding based on:

  • The clarity and feasibility of the project
  • The project’s connection to a thesis or dissertation, with strong priority given to projects that directly advance degree completion
  • The strength of the project’s policy relevance and potential public or community impact
  • The quality and appropriateness of the proposed activities and use of funds
  • The likelihood that the award will enable meaningful progress on the project
  • The potential to strengthen a future external funding application, when applicable

Award Conditions and Reporting

  • Award recipients must complete proposed activities by the end of Summer 2027.
  • At the beginning of the 2027-2028 academic year, recipients must submit a brief narrative report summarizing activities completed, preliminary findings, and the contribution of the award to the thesis, dissertation, or other project.
  • Recipients must acknowledge support from the ImpactLab for Applied Social Science Research in publications, presentations, reports, theses, dissertations, and other deliverables resulting from the award.
  • Recipients must be willing to have the project featured on the ImpactLab website or in other ImpactLab communications and publicity.

Submission Instructions

Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the 2026-2027 academic year. Because funding is limited and awards will be made from a capped budget, students are strongly encouraged to apply as early as possible, regardless of whether they plan to use the requested funds during Fall 2026, Spring 2027, or Summer 2027.

Submit the proposal, current CV, and faculty letter of support as a single PDF to Brian Hamel, Assistant Director of the ImpactLab, at Brian.Hamel@unt.edu. Questions may also be directed to Brian Hamel.

Applicants will be notified after their proposals have been reviewed.