Grants for Women in Mathematics

Are you a woman working in the field of mathematics? Did you know you could be awarded grant money to cover your research, education, travel expenses, and more? Federal, State and Private grants are available to you! All it takes is a little work in finding the institutions that offer the grant, and putting together and submitting your application materials. But once you’ve done the work, in most cases you will be awarded the grant you seek, because so few people take the time to ask for the money.

Some of the grants available to female mathematicians include:

• Travel Grants, for traveling to conferences and public speaking engagements
• Education Grants for furthering your knowledge in your specific area of interest 
•  Mentorship Grants, for junior mathematicians interested in working closely with senior mathematicians
• Research Grants, to help cover expenses related to the research project, the facility, staff, and equipment.

Our culture suffers from a very low number of female role models in science and mathematic fields. The National Science Foundation (NSF) is just one of numerous resources offering grants to women. It’s in their best interest to support female mathematicians, and assist them with traveling to conferences, returning to school, research activities, public speaking, teaching and involvement within the community.

Grants are competitive, and often involve a selection panel made up of distinguished mathematicians and scientists who are active in the field. Applicants must prove their eligibility, often only women with certain qualificiations may apply (for example, those holding doctorate degrees, or those with specific work history or publication credits), so you will need to check each grant requirements carefully. There are a lot of rules and fine print you’ll need to read – don’t waste your time applying for a grant you won’t qualify for. Using a company that will assist you in finding, and applying for, the grant may be helpful.

In most cases, the application materials are lengthy. Individuals who are eligible to apply and meet all the qualifications, usually must submit a proposed budget for their expenses, a current resume or curriculum vitae, and a research proposal that should be two or three pages in length. They must also show proof of their expenses, and any current or pending funding that is available to them. The application process can be lengthy, and funds can take months getting to you if awarded, so it’s a good idea to be applying for grants about a year before you anticipate the need for them.