URI Foundation & Alumni Engagement Approves $500,000 Grant to Launch Graduate Student Research

In support of the University’s commitment to expanding graduate-level research, the URI Foundation & Alumni Engagement Board has approved a $500,000 grant to support doctoral students. The URIFAE Graduate Fellowship Launch Grant will cover full tuition and generous stipends to assist 10 students in developing their work and gaining standing in their fields.

“The research taking place at the University of Rhode Island is advancing theory within academic disciplines, while also discovering improvements in the ways we live, work, and interact with our environment,” said URI President Marc B. Parlange. “The work of our graduate students today will fuel tomorrow’s great discovery.”

Graduate funding is highly competitive, and this launch grant is intended to give URI students a head start and remove barriers. Dean of the Graduate School Brenton DeBoef is overseeing distribution of the fellowships, selecting from a pool of nominees.

“It was difficult to narrow down the recipients of this grant,” said DeBoef, “and the impressive pool of nominees demonstrated the quality of our graduate programs across disciplines. There is no doubt that this will help our students. Early success is critical in graduate scholarship, as new breakthroughs often lead to greater funding opportunities from a wider variety of sources.”

This effort will not just help the recipients but the University as a whole—expanded research capabilities can benefit the community, increase revenue streams, and boost academic reputation. The URI Foundation & Alumni Engagement has been dedicated to supporting advanced scholarship, working in close partnership with the University and the Graduate School.

The URI Graduate School has over 2,000 students and confers 600 degrees annually, with programs that offer a blend of academically rigorous research, fieldwork, and teaching.