Funding Guidelines

What the funds can be used for

The emphasis of the grants is on doctoral student support, with some limited funds also available for equipment and miscellaneous expenses, and travel and conference attendance. The specific funding categories are:

Student Support

It is the research supervisors’ responsibility (research supervisors are normally professors) to select a qualified student for the proposed project. However, the Foundation reserves the right not to award a grant to an otherwise successful proposal, if it considers the student’s qualifications inadequate. Normally, only one student can be supported by a given grant. The support of two students will be considered only under very special circumstances. The student support provided includes the following sub-categories
- Salary
  
  The salary level is normally determined by the university according to its salary guidelines for graduate research assistants. In the absence of university rules, the foundation will consider (but not necessarily follow) the recommendations of a department head and the research supervisors.
- Tuition
  
  Whether tuition will be paid or not will depend on university regulations. In some universities, no tuition is charged for graduate research assistants.
- Travel and Conference Attendance
  
  The Foundation funds traveling to other sites involved in the project for the purposes of cooperation, and attending conferences. This sub-category is limited to $2,500 per year.
Equipment and Miscellaneous Expenses

A limited amount, not to exceed $20,000, is available per year for equipment, materials, supplies, computer services, IC fabrication services, publication costs, etc.
Research Supervisor Travel and Conference Attendance

Traveling by research supervisors to the other site(s) involved in the project, as well as conference attendance expenses, will be covered to a combined maximum of $3,000 per year.

No funding category other than those listed above will be considered. The Foundation generally cannot provide overhead or other indirect costs.

Grant Duration

As a general matter, the duration of a grant is up to four years. An additional year of support may be considered upon request. The request can only be made in the course of the normal period of the grant, and will be considered only in exceptional circumstances.

Patents

The Foundation seeks no rights to patents resulting from the work it funds.

Administration of Funds

Once payment has been made to the investigators’ institution, the administration of the funds is solely the responsibility of that institution.

Progress Reports

A yearly progress report must be submitted by the research supervisors no later than 1 month before the award for the following year can be made. The reports can be brief (e.g., 2 pages). The Foundation reserves the right to contact or to visit the investigators and/or student for further details. An official record of the student’s grades or, in the absence of grades, other official indication of the student’s progress, should accompany the report. At the end of the final year of the grant, a final report (in lieu of the last annual report) should be submitted, summarizing the work done during the entire duration of the grant.

Dissemination of Results

The Foundation strongly encourages the timely publication of papers reporting on results of the funded project, in highly reputable journals and conferences. The Foundation requests that its support be acknowledged in each publication resulting from the work it funds.

Publications

A copy of each paper resulting from the work funded by the Foundation, and which has been published in highly reputable journals or conference proceedings, should be sent to the Foundation. Papers that have been submitted to journals or conferences, but have not yet appeared in print, should not be sent to the Foundation in view of its policy concerning sensitive information (see Sensitive Information and Confidentiality). It is likely that many publications will appear in print after the expiration of the grant. The Foundation requests copies of such publications, nevertheless. The Foundation also asks the authors that it is acknowledged in the papers resulting from the funded project by the Foundation.

Termination of Grants

Grants may be terminated if the conditions posed above are not satisfied, or if the grantee requests it, or if, for reasons currently unforeseeable, the Foundation can no longer continue funding.

Investigation of Jeopardized Grants

In the event that the Foundation receives information indicating that all or any part of a particular grant, the proceeds of which have been paid to the recipient, is not being used for its intended purpose, the Foundation will investigate. During the investigation, the Foundation will withhold further payments of the proceeds of such grant to the extent reasonably practicable. If the Foundation determines that the proceeds of the grant are improperly used, the Foundation reserves the right to recover the proceeds previously paid to the recipient and to terminate the payments.

Contracts

It is contemplated that a formal contract (embodying the principles hereof) will reflect the relationship between the Foundation and the research supervisors and students.

Variations

While the Foundation intends to adhere to the policies and procedures set forth herein, it reserves the right to waive or vary any aspect thereof in compelling cases in its sole discretion where the goal of the Foundation is advanced. It is expected that such instances will be infrequent.

Nondiscriminations

Grants are awarded by Catalyst Foundation on a nondiscriminatory basis, withoutregard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, and handicapped or veteran status.

Funding Guidelines

What the funds can be used for

Student Support

Salary

Tuition

Travel and Conference Attendance

Equipment and Miscellaneous Expenses

Research Supervisor Travel and Conference Attendance