Student Research Grants

Guidelines

Introduction

Student Research Grants (SRG) are awarded by the Society of Economic Geologists Foundation (SEGF) and the Society of Economic Geologists Canada Foundation (SEGCF). The grants support student research on a topic related to economic geology. SEGF grants are in memory of Hugo T. Dummett, Alberto Terrones L., Timothy Nutt, Hugh E. McKinstry, Bruce Hickok and Geoff Radford, Eric P. Nelson, James Mwale, and Peter Spora. Newmont student research grants are sponsored annually by Newmont Mining Corporation. SEGCF supports research projects with a Canadian context.

Overview of Funds

Grants are awarded for research leading to an M.Sc., Ph.D., or exceptional projects leading to a B.Sc. Honors degree or equivalent. Topics in geology, geochemistry, and geophysics applicable to economic geology are considered for funding. Grants are awarded from the following funds:

  • Hugo T. Dummett Fund: Supports applied economic geology research, including the development of new exploration technology and techniques, and the dissemination of related results.
  • Alberto Terrones L. Fund: Provides financial support to students from Mexico and other Latin American countries, and may be used for non-research expenses such as university fees, living expenses while on campus, travel, etc.
  • Timothy Nutt Fund: Provides financial support for geology students and young economic geologists located in Zimbabwe or Southern Africa with ties to Zimbabwe.
  • Hugh E. McKinstry Fund: Supports projects with a substantial field component and directly related analytical work.
  • Hickok-Radford Fund: Supports physically challenging field research in arctic or subarctic regions, including high altitude equivalents.
  • Eric P. Nelson Fund: Supports students who conduct field work that includes structural geology as applied to ore deposits and metallogeny.
  • James Mwale Education Fund: Provides support for students and young geologists working in the African Copperbelt of Zambia and surrounding countries.
  • Spora's Explorers Fund: Supports young African geology students and early career professionals with thesis research and field work.
  • Newmont Corporation: Supports research projects on gold mineralization and metallogeny with strong field components and practical exploration implications.
  • SEG Canada Foundation: Supports Canadian and non-Canadian students studying mineral deposits or districts in Canada; research on non-Canadian projects being undertaken at Canadian universities, or Canadian students doing research at universities outside of Canada.

Applicants are considered for all awards for which they are eligible and are evaluated on a competitive basis according to the general policies presented below. Successful candidates may reapply for an award in subsequent years but must qualify on a competitive basis with new applicants. A maximum of two successive awards is allowed for M.Sc. projects and three for Ph.D. projects.

Online Application

Part I (Completed by the Student): Summarizes the topic, objectives, plans, and budget for the proposed research and the background of the applicant; applicants must adequately explain their proposals, provide informative documentation, and present the proposals under their own name.

Part II (Completed by the Faculty Member): An evaluation of the applicant's qualifications and the significance of the proposed research. This should be completed by a person familiar with the research and the student, such as a thesis advisor. The faculty member will complete and submit the appraisal of the applicant directly to SEG to maintain confidentiality.

SEG no longer accepts PDFs, emailed, or faxed applications or appraisals. Both portions of the application must be completed via the online form.

Part I and Part II must be submitted by the application deadline. Late submissions for either are not accepted.

Guidelines for Use of Funds

Grants are made to offset research expenses. Proposed expenses must be specifically identified and itemized in the application. Successful applicants are expected to carry out their own field, laboratory, and other work related to the proposed research, to the extent possible. Field and laboratory work should be conducted as economically as possible, consistent with sound scientific procedures.

Grants are awarded only to individual students, not to institutions or faculty members. Research projects extending beyond the second year of an M.Sc. program, or the third year of a Ph.D. program are not funded.

In general, grants can be used for:

  • travel expenses to and from your field research area
  • your field expenses, including living expenses
  • expendable supplies and expenses necessary to complete your research
  • analytical and laboratory expenses required to complete your research
  • travel/accommodation to a meeting to present the results of your research

Grants may not be used for:

  • purchase of ordinary field equipment, such as a Brunton compass, hand lens, geology hammer, etc.
  • purchase of computer hardware or software and related support
  • living expenses of assistants or your family
  • attendance at professional meetings or conferences (except to present your research results)
  • travel/accommodation to undertake laboratory research
  • preparation of thesis (typing, copying, binding, diagrams, photos)
  • reimbursement for completed work
  • university administrative overhead, including tuition

The Albert Terrones L. Fund, Timothy Nutt Fund, James Mwale Fund, Spora's Explorers Fund, and Eric P. Nelson Fund allow grant funds to be used for other purposes, as summarized in the fund descriptions. Expenses for which funding is being requested must be specifically identified and itemized in the application. Funds awarded are expected to be spent in the calendar year received; exceptions must be approved in writing by the Chair, Student Research Grants Committee.

Basis of Awards

The SEGF Student Research Grants Committee favorably views requests for support of field studies that will increase knowledge and documentation of inadequately described ore deposits and/or mining districts. Projects designed to contribute to fundamental questions of ore genesis are also favorably regarded, provided they are based on new field data and observations. Laboratory studies that improve the understanding of mineral deposits or practical exploration procedures are also eligible for consideration.

Cooperation of Mining Companies

If field research is carried out on private property in a mining district, the applicant must obtain and submit a short letter from the owners or mining company confirming that the student has permission to conduct the study and has been granted access to the property. The student must also obtain permission to access the data required for successful completion of the project.

Responsibility of Thesis Advisor

Successful outcome of a research project requires significant academic support. In submitting the Appraisal of Applicant form, the faculty member verifies that the project will receive such support. Although funds are awarded to individual students, the faculty member agrees to make a reasonable effort to ensure that funds are used as indicated in the project budget.

Responsibility of Recipient

The recipient of a grant is expected to use the funds prudently, within the general framework of the proposal. Funds are to be expended only for the purposes stated and in accordance with the budget presented in the application. Requests for modification to project activities and budget should be submitted to the SEG Student Grant and Field Trip Manager.

The recipient of a grant must begin the project at the time specified in the application and continue the research for the duration of the investigation. If the recipient is unable to begin work on the project as stated in the application, the SEG Student Grant and Field Trip Manager must be notified in writing. The Student Research Grant Committee will then determine whether the recipient may receive an extension of time or must return the funds and reapply in the following year. If the recipient leaves school or is unable to complete the project for any reason, any unspent funds must be returned to SEGF.

Annually or upon completion of the project, whichever is sooner, grant recipients must provide a year-end accounting of how the awarded funds were spent, together with appropriate receipts, and a summary describing the status of the project and, if applicable, plans for any ongoing research. If your project is not completed within one year, annual updates are required for the committee to be aware of your progress. Applicants who do not supply this information will not be eligible for future awards.

The final obligations of a grant recipients are as follows:

  • Upon completion of the research, a brief (250-word) abstract suitable for publication will be provided, describing the findings and conclusions of the research.
  • An itemized expense report with receipts for all expenses above US$75. This report must be given in US Dollars (USD).

Reports may be disseminated to SEG. In addition to bringing credit to the student and the institution, publicizing the research results enables SEGF and SEGCF to attract contributions and thereby sustain their student support programs. Accordingly, SEGF and SEGCF should be acknowledged prominently in any publications arising from the project.