Student Project Funding
The Keller Center provides funding to support engineering students participating in STEM- or humanities-focused research and development activities, as well as non-engineering students participating in STEM-focused projects. Projects that also relate to entrepreneurship and design thinking are particularly encouraged.
By applying, you are requesting funding. Requests are not always granted; if they are, you may not be granted the total requested amount.
Eligibility
- Princeton undergraduate and graduate students and student organizations (NOTE: E-Club teams must request funding through your co-presidents)
- Must consist of at least one engineering student and/or the project must have STEM focus
- If funding request is for an outside event, you must be actively involved in the event (e.g., speaker, presenter); funding requests for attendance only will not be accepted
Funding may not be used for classwork, junior independent work, senior thesis research, or startup funding; instead:
- Students may search the Student Activities Funding Engine (SAFE) for other opportunities
- B.S.E. students may also apply for School of Engineering and Applied Science thesis and independent work funds
- For startup funding, consider Keller Center's eLab program or Prospect Student Ventures
Award Amounts
- Individual student
Up to $1,000 per academic year - Group or student club
Up to $3,000 per academic year
Application Period
- Application opens: September 17, 2023
- Application closes: March 31, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.
- Decisions typically within two weeks of submission
Program Requirements
Application Prep
- Discuss the proposed project with your faculty or staff adviser.
- Ensure your adviser will provide a recommendation (will be facilitated via SAFE)
- Create a thorough, accurate, and reasonable budget and justify your estimated costs.
- If the proposal includes travel, your plans must be submitted and approved in Enroll My Trip and you must abide by all University travel rules and regulations.
- If you are part of an unofficial/unregistered group participating in the same activity, and do not have a group ID to access the group SAFE application, you must have an administrator sponsor your activity by requesting a group ID via this form. The sponsor will need to provide the chart string in the request that will be used to receive awarded funds.
Application
- Answer all questions and upload all documents as indicated on the application, including recommendation. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
- There are separate funding opportunities for undergraduate students, graduate students, individuals, and groups; be sure you are selecting the correct activity type.
- Ensure you have a strong adviser endorsement and a feasible budget as these are heavily considered during application review.
- If the proposal includes travel, you must apply a minimum of one month prior to your travel date; three months is recommended for complex travel.
Post-Project
By the deadline indicated in the award notice, you must:
- Provide a full account of your expenses, including portions of the award covered by other funders.
- Substantiate all expenses by uploading receipts to SAFE.
- Return unspent funds via check or money order payable to Princeton University Trustees and delivered to the Princeton Entrepreneurial Hub, Room 113.
- Upload a final project report to SAFE containing:
- A narrative account of the research/activities undertaken with the support of the award
- An acknowledgement to the donor of the funds (name is listed on award letter)