Research is an integral part of graduate education. Whether it's for a thesis, research paper, dissertation, or a creative project — research is critical.
The Graduate School — in collaboration with other on-campus units — provides the following resources to help you start your projects, identify funding, and build your presentation skills as a Ball State graduate student.
Basics of Research at Ball State
Learn the basics of conducting research as a Ball State student with information from the Office of Research Integrity. You can also receive research support with the following resources.
Capstone Completion Summer Fellowship Program
Starting Summer 2024, the Graduate School will award up to 7 competitive fellowships. Fellowship awards for doctoral students will be $5000, and awards for master’s students will be $3000. Applications will be accepted during the Spring 2024 semester, with awards dispersed during the Summer Session 1 term. The goal of the Capstone Completion Summer Fellowship program is to provide funds to support students’ research and writing endeavors during the summer before their last year of graduate study.
Applications Due: May 10, 2024
Fellowships Awarded: June 2024
Apply here.
Responsible Conduct of Research
The Office of Research Integrity provides support for graduate students and faculty who want to learn more about responsible conduct of research (RCR). Their office has a dedicated RCR officer who helps researchers navigate different domains of research integrity. These domains include, research misconduct, authorship disputes, mentorship, data management, peer review, conflicts of interest, human/animal ethical concerns, and general research practices. If you are interested in learning more, you can stop by West Quad 100 or visit their website. They can also come to graduate level research courses and present materials. Learn more about the training and the Office of Research Integrity.
Research Design Studio
The Research Design Studio can help you figure out the best methods, design, and statistics for your big project. A team of researchers, students, and educators can assist you with research design, grant development, and research mentoring — and you can ask for a free consult for your project anytime. Learn more about the Research Design Studio.
University Libraries
The University Libraries provides extensive resources for graduate students, including a comprehensive thesis research workshop that they run regularly throughout the year. Their “ask a librarian” function is an online and easy way to get started finding the resources you need for your research. See all the ways University Libraries can help you.
The Writing Center
During the first week of every semester, the Writing Center holds a Graduate School-sponsored, one-day writing boot camp called “A Write Start" to assist graduate students with large writing or research projects. The center also offers general writing help and Friday community writing sessions. Learn more about the Writing Center.
Fund Your Research
Ball State can help you with proposal development and securing grants for your research endeavors with the following resources.
Aspire Internal Grants
The Ball State Aspire Internal Grant program provides funding to faculty, professional staff, and students to support projects in the areas of research, scholarly studies, and creative endeavors. See the available Aspire grants.
Sponsored Projects Administration
The Sponsored Projects Administration can help with securing grants, grant proposal development, and more. Visit the Sponsored Projects Administration website.
Present Your Work
Graduate students can present their research with the following opportunities at Ball State.
Aspire Travel Grants
The Ball State Aspire Travel Grant program provides travel funding to students seeking to present their work at professional meetings or exhibit their creative works. See the available Aspire grants.
Student Symposium
The Student Symposium at Ball State challenges students to present a creative or scholarly project while competing for scholarship awards and gaining valuable insight from faculty and staff judges. Learn more about the Student Symposium.
Three Minute Thesis Competition
The annual Three Minute Thesis competition challenges students to present their research project or thesis in just three minutes or less for a chance to win one of three cash prizes. See how Three Minute Thesis works.
Other Tools and Resources
Additional resources — including guides for your graduate thesis, creative project, research paper, or dissertation — are provided by the Graduate School.
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