Research Assistant Micro-Grant: $500 To Boost Your Lab Work

This $500 micro-grant is for students who are already assisting on a research project and need a little help to move the work forward. Think small but essential. The kind of purchases or field time that unlock the next data point, the next figure, or the final polish on a poster.

What this grant can cover

• Consumables and small lab supplies tied to your assigned task

• Instrument fees, sample processing, or shipping

• Local field travel and day costs for data collection

• Poster printing or a short methods handout for dissemination

• Modest software, storage, or data-analysis costs

• Safety training or certification that is required for the work

What it does not cover

• Tuition, general stipends, or wages

• Laptops, phones, or high-end cameras

• Projects without a clear safety plan or defined mentor oversight

Who should apply

• Undergrads or grads serving as a Research Assistant in a lab or field team

• Students with a defined role, clear tasks, and a supervising mentor or PI

• You can be a Coralite intern, but it is not required. Coralite status does not guarantee funding.

What we look for

• A specific lab need with a direct, measurable outcome

• Feasibility within $500 and within your timeline

• Safety and ethics

• Value to the host lab and the broader community

What you deliver

• A finished, useful output that matches the need you proposed

  • Examples include a cleaned dataset, a small figure set, a methods one-pager, or a printed poster

• A short reflection that explains what you did, what worked, and what the team can reuse

• Photos or screenshots that document the work where appropriate

How the money works

Funds are typically provided through reimbursement or direct purchase by Anchor Down. We will confirm the best route after approval so you can stay focused on the work.

How to apply

Email us to request the Research Assistant Micro-Grant application and submit your materials.

• Write to projectanchordown@gmail.com with the subject RA Micro-Grant Request + Your Name

• Include your CV or resume and a 3 to 5 sentence description of the task you need funded

• You will receive the application form and instructions for supporting documents

Your full application will include:

• A 250 to 400 word summary of the task, its significance, and how the funds will be used

• A simple, itemized budget up to $500

• A one page timeline with milestones

• A brief safety plan for any lab or field work

• A short note of support from your mentor or PI that confirms your role

Review timeline

We review on a rolling basis and also in quarterly cycles. Apply as soon as you see the bottleneck so we can help you clear it.

A few examples we like

• Reagents and instrument time to finish a small batch of chlorophyll extractions, plus a tidy figure for the lab meeting

• Local travel and sample shipping to complete a remaining transect, with a one page methods note for the next RA

• Poster printing and data cleanup that turn a draft figure into a conference ready presentation

Questions or ready to request the applicationEmail projectanchordown@gmail.com. Tell us what you are working on, what you need, and when you need it. We will point you to the next step.