TRIO Research Engagement Grant
- up to $1,000 per recipient for salary, materials and travel
- for projects in collaboration with a faculty mentor
- must be a full-time degree-seeking USC undergraduate who has completed the TRIO McNair Scholar program
- funds research, scholarly, and creative projects in all disciplines
Application Deadlines and Announcement Dates
Fall Application Window: September 22 - October 20, 2026 by 5:00 pm
Award Announcement Date: by December 11, 2026
Grant Duration: January 2027 through December 2027
Spring Application Window: February 23 - March 23, 2027 by 5:00 pm
Award Announcement Date: by April 30, 2027
Grant Duration: June 2027 through May 2028
Application Process
- Complete the Undergraduate Research Grant Application.
Complete this first, working with your mentor. You will need it for the next step. - Ask your mentor(s) to complete the Mentoring Plan document(s) and have them email it to our@mailbox.sc.edu. It is due by 5pm on the deadline date. Your application is not complete until we
receive these forms.
- Mentoring Plan - Primary Mentor
- Mentoring Plan - Secondary Mentor: note that graduate students are permitted as daily supervisors and secondary mentors, but are not eligible to be the promary mentor for a grant application.
- Submit the online application form found here during the application window, prior to the application
deadline.
Select "TRIO Research Engagement Grant" from the menu. Under Project Information, upload the Undergraduate Research Grant Application form that you completed with your mentor under #1 above.
You may not submit an application during the same semester when you are graduating. You must be enrolled for one full semester after the award date of the grant.
Budget Guidelines
The proposed budget should include a list of anticipated expenses and a rationale for all expenditures. Expenses must occur during the grant period – not before or after.
Allowable Expenses
- Salary and fringe benefits of the undergraduate student applicant
- Travel (based on mileage) to conduct or present research. Mileage must be more than 10 miles one way or 20 miles roundtrip.
- Project materials and supplies that are compliant with E/N fund policies
- Participant incentives may be requested with an approval memo from the business manager; must follow university policies
- Computer software required to conduct the project
- Animal maintenance expenses
Expenses Not Allowed
- No publication costs – includes print and digital publications; thesis printing
- Computer/electronics hardware – includes tablets, cameras, etc.
- Payment to anyone other than the undergraduate student applicant
- Incentives or payments to participants outside of the US
- Food or beverages
- Expenses that occur prior to the grant start date, after the grant end date, or after the undergraduate student graduates.
The budget items requested should be equal to or less than $1,000 - the maximum grant amount.
Additional funding sources: if you have applied for, received, or plan to apply for
additional funding to support the project, this must be clearly indicated on the budget
portion of the application.
Program Guidelines and Requirements
Review the program guidelines and requirements here to understand expectations of grant recipients and their mentors.
Contact OUR at our@mailbox.sc.edu if you have questions. The TRIO Research Engagement Grant is administered by OUR with
financial support from TRIO Programs.