The IANDS Academic and Research Committee (ARC) oversees two graduate student awards: the Graduate Student Research Award and the Graduate Student Conference Travel Award.
Graduate Student Research Award
This Award is for graduate students or recent graduates (within one year of graduation) conducting thesis or dissertation research or another study undertaken as part of the graduate program for which the student serves as principal investigator, on the topic of near-death experiences (NDEs) or similar/related experiences, their transformational effects, and other related topics.
The award is for a possible total of $1,500: $500 awarded to the student upon receipt of the Award, an additional $500 awarded toward travel expenses if the IANDS Conference Committee accepts the student’s proposal to present this study in person, and an additional $500 awarded if the study is published in the Journal of Near-Death Studies. Although research on similar/related experiences will be considered, research on NDEs may be prioritized.
Proposal instructions: Length: 12 pages maximum, using 12-point font, 1-inch margins, double
spaced.
Include the following sections:
- Specific aims of the research project
- Background literature review and significance of the research
- Methods
- Expected results
- Possible limitations/obstacles and how you will deal with them
- References (not included in the 12-page limit)
- Letter of approval for the study from student’s university Institutional Review Board
Proposals are due each year by November 1st, with results announced by December 1st.
Graduate Student Conference Travel Award
This Award is for graduate students or recent graduates (within one year of graduation) whose IANDS Annual Conference proposal—to present in person the results of their master’s or doctoral thesis or dissertation, or another study undertaken as part of the graduate program for which the student served as principal investigator—has been accepted by the Conference Committee. Upon notification of acceptance, a student/graduate has two weeks to email the IANDS Research Director at research_director@iands.org to indicate that they want to be considered for this Award. The Research Director will reply by email with a brief form to complete regarding estimated travel expenses and the basis for the student’s/graduate’s need; the applicant must complete and return this form within two weeks of receiving it. The IANDS Academic and Research Committee (ARC) will consider this information and information from the Conference proposal form regarding the nature of the research and notify applicants within one month whether their application has been approved or denied. Approved applicants will receive their funds within two weeks following their conference presentation.
Up to two students may each receive this competitive, needs-based $500 award. If only one student qualifies, they may, at the discretion of the ARC, receive up to $1,000.
For further information about either of these Awards, email research_director@iands.org or
contact the IANDS Office.