Member Login
Search

 

MSS Research Grants

Call for Applications

FALL 2026

Fall Research Grant Details

This fall the Scholarship Development Committee is offering an additional cycle of research grants, with up to $3,500 available per project. Proposals should specify how the project aligns with one of the following goals:

  • Developing a project in its early stages. Such research could consist of the data collection for a new project or a pilot or preliminary study that could lead to refining a research design / conceptualization.
  • Completing an ongoing project. Funding for such research would accelerate the time to completion for a project already in process.
  • Leveraging other resources. Such research would clearly make other available resources more productive or accessible.

In making funding decisions, the committee will prioritize early stage research; however, it will strongly consider any project that demonstrates an efficient use of resources for well-designed, high impact research.

The principal applicant is expected to present findings at the 2028 MSS Annual Meeting and submit a report of the outcome of their research to the Scholarship Development Committee.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Grant applications will be accepted ONLY between August 15 and September 15, 2026.

A complete application includes:

  • A cover page including identification of a principal investigator, a mailing address, and a statement of intention to attend the MSS Annual Meeting the following year to present research findings. We do not fund travel to the MSS conference to present your results; such expenses, therefore, should not be in the proposal’s budget.
  • A proposal that, in a maximum of 1,200 words, provides:
    • A statement of the research problem;
    • A theoretical framework;
    • A summary of methodology and design; and
    • An itemized budget with a budget justification. Applicants should clearly state what types of supplemental materials they need funded in order to carry out their research.  Thus, the committee needs to know the entire funding needs of the project so that the committee can determine whether the research is likely to be successfully carried out in the one-year time period allotted. Also, the applicant must list all other funding awards, pending grants, and /or any monies applied for in relation to their submitted proposal.
  • A list of works cited. References should follow the ASA style guide. 
  • Proof of IRB approval or a completed IRB submission if human subjects’ research is part of the project. (IRB approval is not required at the time of grant application, but it will be required in order to disperse funds).
  • A letter approving your access to any agency/organization/research facility/databank required for your project.
  • C.V. and list of references. 

SEND E-COPIES

Please collate all application documents into a single pdf. Please create the PDF by saving the word processing file as a PDF, rather than by scanning printed versions of the application documents.

Send application PDF by email, with “MSS RESEARCH GRANT APPLICATION” in the subject line, to the MSS Scholarship Development Committee Chair, Lindsey Ibanez ([email protected]). CC the application to the MSS executive office ([email protected]).

TIMING

The submission process opens August 15 and closes September 15 at 11:59 pm Central Time.  Applications submitted before or after this time period will not be considered. Award decisions will be communicated in late October. Prior to the distribution of funds, award recipients will sign a funding agreement and, if applicable, provide proof of IRB approval. 

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants must be current MSS members. Graduate students, Ph.D. candidates, and academic researchers will be considered. 

MSS members who received Scholarship Development grants in the Spring of 2026 are not eligible.