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)

Apply via SAFE