Independent research can provide useful information to nonprofits and the communities they serve. Through the Barfield Fund for Community-Engaged Independent Work, the New Jersey Alliance for Clinical and Translational Science (NJ ACTS), and other resources, ProCES grants funding to facilitate research conducted in partnership with communities and nonprofit organizations.
Apply for Funding
Independent Research (but not the senior thesis): If you plan to conduct health-or medicine-oriented community-based research between December 2021-February 2022, you may apply for funding to cover research-related expenses like housing, transportation, and food. Details and applications for proposals are available in the Student Activities Funding Engine (SAFE) under "Program for Community-Engaged Scholarship (ProCES) Health/Medicine-Related Independent Research Funding" and are due on November 30, 2021. Funded students must submit a final report on project goals, activities, and outcomes by February 18, 2022.
Senior Thesis: If you plan to conduct community-based research for your thesis, you may apply for funding to cover research-related expenses like housing, transportation, and food. There are two application cycles: one for health- and medicine-related projects between December 2021-February 2022; and another open to any theme in Summer 2022. More details and the application for winter funding are available in the Student Activities Funding Engine (SAFE) under "Program for Community-Engaged Scholarship (ProCES) Thesis Research Funding." Applications for research conducted between December 2021-February 2022 are due on November 30, 2021. Funded students must submit a final report on project goals, activities, and outcomes by February 18, 2022. The application for Summer 2022 will become available in January 2002 and will be due in March 2022. Funded students must submit a final report on project goals, activities, and outcomes in September 2022.
Successful applications will describe the community partner’s participation in the design and/or implementation of the research project. The partner organization should be more than a site for research; the results of the project should inform the organization's work. The community partner may be based domestically or internationally and does not need to be a current or past ProCES partner. Both virtual and in-person research projects are eligible.
Explore Ideas
ProCES staff are happy to meet with you to discuss your community-based research ideas, to introduce you to a local organization whose work is related to your interests, or to provide advice as you develop community partnerships of your own. You can schedule an advising appointment through WASE (search for ProCES).
To give you an idea of the possibilities for community-engaged independent work, you can browse the research questions posed by our community partners or review prize-winning, community-engaged student theses.
Nominate Your Thesis for a Prize
If you complete community-engaged independent work, consider submitting your junior paper or senior thesis to the Dean Hank Dobin Prize in Community-Based Independent Work. Students in all disciplines are welcome to apply; you do not need to have received ProCES funding or support to be eligible for the Dobin Thesis Prize.