How the Program Works

The NCTA Professional Furbearer Research Grant provides financial aid to individuals or groups conducting research on North Carolina’s furbearers.  The grant(s) will be awarded on a first come first served basis and will range up to $1,000, depending on the number of qualified applicants, grants awarded, and the requested budgets.  In addition, recipients will receive a one-year membership to the NCTA and a subscription to the Trapper & Predator Caller or Trapper’s Post magazine. NCTA has raised funds through their Advanced Trapper Education Workshops with hopes that future donations and the continued success of the workshops will enable NCTA to offer grants on an annual basis.  Those interested in contributing to an enduring grant should contact Todd Menke, Education Coordinator at 252-624-1750 or minkster1971@gmail.com .

Who is Eligible?

Students enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate program majoring in wildlife management or a closely related field and conducting research involving furbearer species in North Carolina.  Applicants do not have to be a member of NCTA but do have to be currently enrolled in an accredited university or college.  Applicants must demonstrate a record of academic achievement and a strong interest in pursuing a career in wildlife management, science, or policy.

How to Apply

Your submission must include:

1.   A detailed resume that contains: your name, address, e-mail address, phone number, name of your college or university, current level of study (undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate), major or field of study, relevant extracurricular activities, awards and honors received, faculty advisor, and participation in professional societies.

2.   Application materials should be assembled by interested students in close association with a faculty advisor.  The name and contact information of the faculty advisor must be included in the application, as well as confirmation that the advisor will assist the student in fulfilling the work described, and that the faculty advisor, according to university/college rules, will administer the budget on behalf of the student.  The student and advisor should submit complete applications electronically as described below.  Grants of less than $1,000 may, upon NCTA’s discretion, be issued to the student or faculty advisor, but the student must keep a detailed excel spreadsheet of expenditures and justifications.  Copies of the spreadsheet will need to be emailed to NCTA Grant Committee Chair (Todd Menke minkster1971@gmail.com) at least quarterly.  Any grants over $1,000 will not be transferred directly to the student or faculty but will be routed through formal university/college mechanisms on behalf of the student(s).

3.   A copy of your most recent transcript (official or unofficial). 

4.   An essay (500 words or less) explaining why you would like to participate in the program, how you expect the grant to further your career development, and how your life experiences and skills can contribute to supporting the wise-use of our abundant natural renewable resources.

5.   A copy of your research project proposal, which should include:

• Introduction (300 words or less): This should include appropriate literature to support your research questions and significance to knowledge.  The last sentence should be a statement of objectives and hypotheses.
• Methodology (300 words or less):  This should include a study area description and explain how you intend to meet your objectives and analytic techniques used to test your hypotheses or outline your experimental design.
• Requested budget and outline of current funding.
• Literature cited.
• Timeline of project, including scheduled delivery of reports, updates, and final product.  Multiple updates to NCTA should be scheduled; the number should correspond to length of project (e.g., once a month for 5-month project, once a week for one-month project, etc.)

6.   A pending or approved research/collector’s permit from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC). 

• If the permit is pending, indicate if you have notified and are working with Colleen Olfenbuttel, (colleen.olfenbuttel@ncwildlife.org), who will be reviewing your application for a WRC Permit.

**Projects must comply with all applicable federal, state, county laws and regulations**

***NCTA does not pay indirect/overhead costs to grant/contract recipients***

E-mail your complete application packet to Todd Menke (minkster1971@gmail.com)