Grants-in-Aid of Research

• Applicants may request 1 to 14 continuous weeks in residence at HBS.

• Extensions beyond September 30 are possible with prior approval.

• Residency at HBS is required for all awardees. Being on-site promotes meaningful collaboration and allows researchers to actively contribute to our academic community.

Grants-in-Aid are open to:

• Faculty and postdoctoral researchers

• Graduate students

• Undergraduate students conducting independent research (e.g., Honors Thesis) under faculty supervision

GIA funding may also be used by faculty, postdocs, or graduate students to help offset costs for undergraduate research assistants.

What to Submit:

• Completed Application Cover Sheet

• Signed application materials and research proposal

• Letter(s) of support (if applicable)

All documents must be submitted as a single PDF to both:

• Associate Director: jlove@wcu.edu

• Executive Director: costa@wcu.edu

Review Process:

Applications are reviewed by the HBS Board of Scientific Advisors, with funding decisions finalized by the HBS Board of Directors. Selected proposals may also receive support from one of our endowed scholarships.

• Free lab/bench or office space

• Use of Station equipment and facilities

• Networking opportunities with fellow researchers

While housing is not included in the award, on-site accommodations are available at affordable rates.
➡️ Learn more about housing: highlandsbiological.org/about/housing

Permits. Like all researchers, Grant-in-Aid awardees are expected to secure the appropriate Federal or State permits if they seek to conduct research in the nearby National Forests or National Parks.  A permit from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission may be required as well.  Researchers, including Grant-in-Aid awardees, are expected to provide copies of all required permits to HBS prior to commencing their research at HBS.

IACUC. In accordance with Federal law, Grant-in-Aid awardees and other researchers planning on conducting any work involving vertebrates at HBS must have an IACUC application approved by the HBS Animal Use & Care Committee prior to undertaking their research.  We recognize that researchers working with vertebrates go through the IACUC process at their home institution.  However, HBS cannot accept other institutions’ approved ACUC applications, but has a responsibility to require an IACUC application specific to proposed research based at or supported by HBS.  IACUC applications should be submitted at least 2 months prior to the anticipated start of research to allow for committee review.  Click here for Downloadable IACUC Application.

Final Project Report. At the conclusion of GIA-supported research projects, a Final Project Report is required to help HBS gauge research activity and progress. The final grant award installment is typically not issued until the Final Project Report is received and approved.  Click here for Final Report & Cover Sheet Instructions – cover sheet and report should be submitted as a single PDF document to associate director Jason Love (jlove@wcu.edu) or executive director Jim Costa (costa@wcu.edu).

Data Management Policy. GIA awardees are expected to adhere to the HBS Data Management Policy for Researchers.

 Acknowledgement & Research Products. HBS Grant-in-Aid awardees are asked to kindly acknowledge their HBS research support explicitly in the “acknowledgements” or financial support section of all publications stemming from their work at the Station, including theses/dissertations and scientific papers. Awardees are further requested to please promptly send to HBS PDFs of all such publications, and consider sending a print copy of your thesis or dissertation to be added to the E. E. Reinke Library.  More than standard academic etiquette, such acknowledgement is vitally important for institutions like HBS, helping us both gauge the impact of our GIA program and document scientific productivity stemming from HBS support for university reporting, grant proposals, and more.