Robert Edward Engel was a faculty member in Biology at Marlboro College for 36 years, from 1975 until his retirement in 2011. In a remembrance, Marlboro College stated: “In an age of specialization, Bob acquired an unusually broad-based understanding of the life sciences, teaching courses on topics ranging from general biology to tropical, marine, and desert ecology, and from ornithology to comparative physiology and plant taxonomy.”
Consistent with the wishes of Professor Engel, The Robert Engel Research Grants Fund will be used to fund student research in biology, ecology, and closely-allied fields. These research opportunities/projects should provide undergraduate students with experiential learning opportunities that are not otherwise available in the classroom.
AY2027 Calendar
March 3, 2026
Application period opens; application form opens on InfoReady.
April 7, 2026
Applications due by 11:59 p.m. ET
By April 21, 2026
The review committee will review applications and submit their recommendations
By April 28, 2026
Final funding determinations will be made
By April 30, 2026
Recipients notified of award decisions
July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027
Approved projects are conducted. All expenses and purchases must be incurred within this period.
November 2, 2027
Final outcomes reports are due. An InfoReady link will be sent to recipients ahead of the due date.
Potential Awards
Applications may be submitted for up to $3,000 per project. A faculty member must serve as the primary point of contact for administration and post-award management of the grant.
Eligibility
Applicants
To be eligible for these funds, the applicant(s) must be:
- A faculty member who seeks to incorporate enhanced experiential learning into their courses (i.e. field trips), or involve students in their research in relevant fields;
- A student (or cohort of students) in partnership with at least one faculty member. Students must be enrolled in Emerson courses as part of a degree-seeking program during the academic year.
Eligible Fund Use
Funds from these grants can be used for the following:
- Students may independently identify an opportunity to supplement their education in these fields, and apply for a grant, with a faculty member providing oversight or serving as a mentor.
- Faculty may apply for a grant that will allow them to incorporate enhanced experiential learning into their courses (i.e. field trips), OR directly involve students in the development and/or conduct of their research in these fields.
- Students and faculty can apply for funds in support of bringing in external speakers or workshops in these disciplines.
Application Limitation and Restrictions
- Students and faculty may only apply for one Robert Engel Research Grant per academic year.
- Non-Emersonians may not serve as co-applicants.
- All budgeted costs must comply with the College’s Travel and Business Policy. The following costs are prohibited:
- Additional compensation, Activity Pay, or honoraria for Emerson faculty
- Reimbursement for expenses incurred prior to the award start date (July 1)
- Other costs specified in the Travel and Business Policy’s list of non-reimbursable expenses.
Criteria & Considerations
- Projects must be firmly rooted in biology, ecology, and closely-allied fields.
- Projects must have direct student involvement and development at their core.
- Projects should provide students with experiential learning opportunities that are not otherwise available in the classroom.
Application Form and Instructions
Applications can be submitted via InfoReady. InfoReady is a web-based workflow platform designed to streamline and simplify workflow tasks for academic institutions, including internal funding competitions.
All faculty, staff, and students can log in to InfoReady using their Emerson SSO credentials. After logging in, select the 2026 Robert Engel Research Grants Fund Application at the bottom of the screen and click the “Apply” button. Each application must consist of:
- The lead applicant’s name, (along with rank and department if a faculty member)
- Collaborating partner(s)’ name(s), roles/ranks, and departments. A description of the project/opportunity.
- A description of the anticipated outcomes of the project/opportunity, and how it will benefit student learning.
- A budget showing how the grant money will be used.
Review and Selection of Applications
A committee of faculty in relevant fields (biology, ecology, environmental sciences, etc.) will review the applications and submit their feedback and funding recommendations to the Office of the Provost. The final funding amounts for applications will be determined by senior academic leadership.
Award Management and Administration
Robert Engel Research Grants awarded for a given academic year can only be utilized between July 1 of that year and June 30 of the following year. An example of the award cycle can be seen in the calendar above.
ORCS will provide guidance and assistance for utilizing and managing awards, including balance updates; assistance with purchasing, vendor contracts; student hiring; reimbursements; and other transactions.
All grant expenses will be subject to the College's guidelines on Faculty Travel and Research Spending, and the College’s Travel and Business Policy. Recipients should read through these policies prior to incurring any expenditures.
Final Report Requirement
No later than November 1* following the expiration of your grant, a final report summarizing the outcomes of your project is due. A link to the InfoReady form for the final report will be sent to all recipients in advance of this due date.
*If November 1 is on a weekend or holiday, the deadline is the next business day.