CBS DEIJ Initiative Grant

Overview 

Enterprising graduate students and postdoctoral researchers across the College of Biological Sciences (CBS) have taken crucial steps to enhance excellence in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) through grassroots efforts. To support the longevity and impact of these initiatives, the CBS DEIJ Initiative Grant provides funding for graduate student and postdoc-led events or programs that promote Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice in the College of Biological Sciences and the UC Davis community more broadly. We understand that various aspects of graduate student and postdoc education, development, and success are considered DEIJ issues. Thus, we will consider and award funds to a variety of funding proposals and encourage a broad interpretation of what constitutes advancement of DEIJ.

Who Can Apply

Graduate students or graduate student-led organizations and postdoctoral researchers affiliated with CBS

  • Individual applicants must be in or affiliated with a CBS graduate group, department, or center
  • Organizations, committees, and/or programs must have a primary student or postdoc representative from a CBS graduate group, department, or center. Applications from students in graduate groups outside of CBS will not be considered.
Eligible Activities

Projects, initiatives, activities, or events with explicit aims or primary programmatic components that address DEIJ issues will be considered. 

  • Funding proposals must have an explicit aim to advance DEIJ within the CBS graduate student and/or postdoc community. Proposed activities may aim to achieve any of the following goals: 
    • Dismantle barriers to success, development, and/or resources (i.e., reduce equity gaps) 
    • Broaden participation to historically marginalized groups
    • Promote inclusion within the workplace
    • Support professional development, leadership development, or mentorship
    • Foster community development  
  • Funding proposals to support research or publication expenses, teaching-related activities, or travel to primarily research-focused conferences will not be considered unless theses activities/publications are primarily focused on the advancement of DEIJ in CBS
  • Funding proposals to support research stipends will not be considered. However, funds to support small facilitator stipends and/or speaker honoraria are eligible for funding
  • Funding can be used to support food and beverage costs, but are not to be used to purchase alcoholic beverages under any circumstances
  • Funding proposals must be for an upcoming event or program. Activities held prior to a review date will not be considered. Funding proposals for activities held within three weeks of the application deadline may be declined due to time constraints related to application processing time

Though we will consider proposals with a variety of aims related to DEIJ, we will prioritize funding proposals that are not eligible for funding through the funding avenues below. 

Submitted proposals may be awarded partial funding as we aim to support as many CBS initiatives as possible. Thus, we strongly encourage applicants to pursue other funding opportunities such as the examples listed below. 

Funds related to emergency support and/or basic needs will be considered, but will not be prioritized. We encourage students to visit the UCD wide and GSA Basic Needs webpages for more information on personal resources available to graduate students.

Award Amount

A student/postdoc or student/postdoc group can be funded up to $1,000 per academic year. 

  • An applicant’s total grant request may not exceed $1,000 even if their project’s budget is greater than $1,000
  • Because we aim to fund at least one proposal per CBS graduate group during each academic year, submitted proposals may be awarded partial funding
  • With a total budget of $5000 for AY2023-2024 supported by the ODEI Vision Grant, we expect to award most applicants with $100-$500

Though applicants may apply multiple times throughout the academic year regardless of the decision on past funding proposals, we will prioritize proposals from students/groups who have yet to receive funding in the current academic year

  • We will only consider proposals if the applicant’s prior funding does not sum to $1000 in the current academic year

Again, we strongly encourage applicants to pursue additional funding opportunities through their department, graduate group, the UCD Office for DEI, Graduate Studies, the Graduate Student Association, and other relevant UCD and industry entities. Contact Kiran Long-Iyer and Sarah Wang for additional support in raising funds for large scale projects and initiatives.

Application Deadlines & Award Timeline

Applications will be reviewed twice per quarter during the academic year (September to June). Application materials must be submitted by 11:59pm on the dates listed below:

Fall Quarter 

  • Thursday, November 16, 2023
  • Thursday, December 7, 2023

Winter Quarter

  • Thursday, February 8, 2024
  • Thursday, March 7, 2024

Spring Quarter 

  • Thursday, May 2, 2024
  • Thursday, June 6, 2024 

Applications will be reviewed and award decisions with the funding amount (if applicable) will be sent via email within three weeks of the application deadline. The CBS Dean’s Office will coordinate the use of awarded funds via purchasing or reimbursement. Awarded funds must be used prior to the next academic year (i.e. Fall Quarter 2024).

Conditions for Funding

Those who fail to adhere to the conditions for funding may be exempt from future grant opportunities.

  • List the College of Biological Science as a co-sponsor of your program/activity/event in the advertising and program documentation (e.g., list as a sponsor in a conference program and website) using the materials provided with the award notification
  • Submit an end of the year report that summarizes how awarded funds were used
Contact 

Please contact Kiran Long-Iyer and Sarah Wang with questions or for additional information.