External Funding

Identify possible sources of funding

  • Start early! Even if you are a first or second year student, begin looking for funding now.
  • Work with your research advisor to identify funding sources or programs that align with your research.
  • See our list of common grants and fellowships sought by anthropology students
  • Use IU-provided resources to further your search:

Learn how to submit your proposal

Note: All proposals for external funding (some fellowships are excluded) must be reviewed and approved by the Indiana University Office of Research Administration (ORA) before submitting.

Contact the Office Manager if you are unsure whether the program you plan to apply to falls under this requirement.

Take the necessary steps to submit your proposal

  1. Consult with your research advisor far in advance to lay out a proposal you are both satisfied with.
  2. Email resdev@indiana.edu (Indiana University Office of Research Administration) and cc Eric Welch at least 5 business days prior to the agency’s deadline. Allow more time if at all possible. The email should include the following:
    1. Budget (and justification, if required)
    2. The name of your advisor who will serve as PI
    3. A link to the funding agency’s specific program website
    4. The agency’s deadline
  3. You will then be assigned a grant consultant from Office of Research Administration who will help you with the rest of the submission process.

Questions: contact Casey Green at anthadm@iu.edu or (812) 856-2628.

National Science Fund proposals

In addition to the steps above, students applying to NSF programs must register for FastLane, NSF’s online application system.  (If you already have a FastLane identification number and password created at Indiana University, you do not need a new one.) To register, send a request to the Office Manager with the following information:

  1. Indiana University username
  2. If a student, the name of your advisor
  3. Last degree completed
  4. Year last degree was completed

Office of Research Administration will email you a temporary password, NSF username, and NSF ID number. Log in to FastLane, change your password, then immediately email Eric all of your NSF (not Indiana University) login information.

Critical information for submitting your NSF proposal

Don’t miss your deadline. The following is required in FastLane no later than 4 p.m. the day of the Indiana University deadline:

  1. Upload all application materials except bibliography, project description, budget and justification. This includes the Project Summary, Data Management Plan, Current and Pending Support for the PI and all co-PIs, NSF Biosketches for the PI and all co-PIs, etc.
  2. The Cover Page must be completed.
  3. The Allow SRO Access button must be clicked.