Incentives Policy

The deans of the Graduate School believe that it is of fundamental importance that graduate students gain the recognition and the experience entailed in applying for, and winning, competitive grant funding. This experience will be a central part of post-graduate life, whether in the academy or outside. In order to encourage graduate students to gain this experience as part of their professional development and educational experiences at Brown, the Graduate School has created a policy to reward students who actively pursue and secure funding from sources outside the University.

As of September 1, 2008, the Graduate School will continue to supplement external funding up to the standard stipend provided by the Graduate School (if necessary), and will also provide an additional incentive prize in recognition of the receipt of new awards that will support students during the 2008-09 academic year and beyond.  The amount of the incentive will depend on the amount and type of the award. 

If the external grant provides a stipend that is:

Up to $3,000:

• The student receives a supplement up to the standard stipend plus an incentive prize equal to the amount of the award.

$3,000 - $6,000:

• The student receives a supplement up to the standard stipend plus an incentive prize of $3,000, plus 50% of the excess above $3,000.

$6,000 - $12,900:

• The student receives a supplement up to the standard stipend plus an incentive prize of 75% of the award; the total maximum stipend will not exceed $25,000.

Greater than $12,900:

• The student receives the total stipend provided by the award; if necessary, the Graduate School will provide a top-up to a minimum stipend of $25,000.
• The student is eligible for a sixth year of support from the Graduate School if necessary (but no more than one year).
• For awards that include tuition, or that are a lump sum, the stipend amount will be capped (at $25,000)
• For lump sum awards, amounts over $25,000 will be applied to tuition and fees.

RESTRICTIONS: Full concurrent awards are not permitted. A student can accept both a Javits and an NSF, for example, but must take them in sequential years.  A student cannot hold a Javits (or NSF, etc.) in addition to Brown’s full university support.

The Graduate School and Office of the Vice President for Research co-sponsor training sessions each year. The Graduate School communicates regularly to students regarding funding opportunities in their respective areas. The Office of Sponsored Projects provides access to the Sponsored Programs Information Network (SPIN), a database of funding opportunities designed to assist faculty, students, and administration in the identification of external support for research, education, and development projects. The link to the SPIN database is available from the OSP homepage.

Students applying for external funding should be in contact with Associate Deans David Lindstrom and Brian Walton at the Graduate School for further information.