ISSR provides seed grants to faculty seeking external funding in the social sciences. Social Science Research is done across many fields including the traditional fields of sociology, anthropology, psychology, social psychology, economics, and political science, but also in communications, criminal justice, law, journalism, education, nursing, medicine, gerontology, social work, environmental science, computer engineering, and more. Seed grants of up to $8000 are available to researchers on all four ASU campuses. Proposals must include: Brief summary of the work to be done (no more than 1500 words) The following PDF upload fields will be required in the submission form Bibliography Budget, with justification - please include ERE/ASC and any other fees and expenses in your total requested funds Name and website of granting agency you plan to apply to after completing seed award project Name, email address, or phone number of program officer, and a summary of your conversation re: future funding For best practices please review this video: The Art of Getting an ISSR Seed Grant
We realize this is a difficult time to get hold of program officers from federal agencies. In leu of a conversation please detail how your proposal fits into the program you plan to apply to using your seed grant data.
Awardees are expected to submit a proposal to an external granting agency within 12 months of completion of seed funded project. When submitting proposals through ASU's ERA system, as an ISSR seed grant recipient, we ask that you list ISSR on the "center" line with 1% recognition (REC). No monetary distribution is required (0% in the IIA and RID fields). Criteria for Evaluation of Proposals: The criteria applied by reviewers for NSF and NIH proposals are useful guidelines for researchers who are applying for seed grants from the ISSR. Reviewers for NSF proposals, for example, ask whether the proposed research has the potential to advance knowledge and understanding within a field or across different fields. This is the criterion known as intellectual merit. Reviewers also look for creative and original ideas and ask whether the plan for carrying out proposed research is sound. Reviewers ask if the investigator(s) are qualified to conduct the research proposed and whether the PI (either at the home institution or through collaboration with others) has the resources needed to carry out the research. Proposals to NSF also must have a statement about the broader impacts—the benefits to society—of the proposed work.
Congratulations, your abstract has been accepted to the ISSR Graduate Student Poster Contest!
Posters may report on either Proposed Research or Completed Research. Prizes will be given for the best posters in each of these two categories, 6 prizes per category. Students who have completed their data collection and are writing up should present the research design and the research results in the Completed Category. Students who are preparing for research should present their research design and their expected results in the Proposed Category. If your research category has changed since your abstract, you may enter your poster in the new category (if for instance you have completed your data collection since abstract submission and want to change to Completed Category from Proposed).
The judges will be looking for the following:
Is this a compelling research question, supported by literature and citations?
Is the poster visually interesting, understandable to the reader, and with a good, clear argument flow
Is the research rigorous, with a complete and well-justified research design (sample, data collection when appropriate, analysis)?
Important Dates:
Digital Posters due: September 29th by the end of day.
Digital Poster size: Minimum 1920 X 1080 pixel size larger sizes will work but very large files will not, PowerPoint 16:9 ratio, Printed poster - maximum size 3' X 4' (36 inches X 48 inches) horizontal or vertical. The size of the presentation boards are 3' X 4' that will be provided to clip your poster to.
Poster Competition - In Person Event - Friday, November 7th, 2025 , 3:00 - 4:30pm, MU Tempe Campus, Turquoise Ballroom. Winners will be judged by the electronic submission and the winners will be announced at the in person event. Presenters must be present at the live event to win awards. If you are an online student please contact ISSR.
You are responsible for printing your own poster for the competition. Easels, Boards, and binder clips will be available to secure your poster to the board provided. The boards are 3ft X 4ft, any larger posters will not fit the boards.
The public is invited to attend the contest, finger foods and refreshments will be served, feel free to invite friends, family and faculty advisors.
The online poster gallery will be posted on the website after the face to face event.
Please don't hesitate to email or call if you have any issues or questions.
Warm regards,
Wendy Loera
wendy.loera@asu.edu