1. SARE believes  Young scientists are a good investment  Hands-on research supports clear, critical thinking  Sustainability thrives on new ideas Northeast SARE Graduate Student Research Grants

2. Profits, stewardship, satisfaction A sustainable farm is  Profitable  In harmony with the environment  A source of pride to the farmer and the community

3. Graduate Student Research Grants  A competitive grant program to fund graduate student projects that address sustainable agriculture issues  Deadline for online proposals is in May  Graduate student must work with a faculty advisor who will act as principal investigator

4. Topics  Commercial production— crops and livestock  Marketing—retail to wholesale  Quality of life—families and communities  Environmental stewardship—soil and water

5. Graduate Student Research Grants  Explore practical solutions  Support current applied research programs  Explore ideas beyond their immediate research  Build a new generation of scientists

6. Eligibility  Graduate students must be enrolled at an accredited institution in the Northeast region  Proposals must address issues of current or potential importance to Northeast farmers, agricultural researchers, and farm support professionals

7. Sample Grants  Self-regulating weed control through the enhancement of beneficial ground dwelling invertebrates  Developing inoculum to increase anaerobic digestion efficiency in winter months  Regional food hubs: The key to improved farm profitability and rural economic development?

8. Graduate Student Grant program  Grant awards are a maximum of $15,000  Projects can run up to 2 years  Typically, 35 to 45 percent of proposals are funded

9. Identify your project  Investigate what farmers are concerned about  Develop an idea  Think about how to get useful results and how those results can ultimately lead to practical application for farmers  Discuss with your faculty advisor

10. Refine your approach

11. Application  Download application materials www.nesare.org/get/graduate www.nesare.org/get/graduate  available in March  Answer eight narrative questions in a word- processing document, paying attention to word count limits. When your responses are ready, upload them to an online submission system.

12. Who does what  Proposal is written and submitted by the student with input from faculty advisor  If awarded, student is the project manager and the faculty advisor is the principal investigator on the grant contract

13. Tips  Keep the writing clear and simple  Make sure your project methods match your objectives  Plan your budget thoughtfully and in detail  Set a realistic timeline  Use appropriate citations  Provide required attachments online at time of submission

14. Questions? Contact your state coordinator or Candice Huber 802/656-2035 Candice.Huber@uvm.edu www.nesare.org