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SPICE: Student Projects for Intellectual Community Enhancement

SPICE

Stanford Optical Society
SPICE funds support graduate students' efforts to build and expand their intellectual communities at Stanford.
by Application
Eligibility: All Students
Nomination Period: Off-cycle pilot program open now. Regular annual application will open April 1, 2024.
Duration: Annual application cycle
Amount Awarded: Up to $5,000 ($2,000 for off-cycle awards)

About

Review the SPICE Overview and Application Guidelines.

Most graduate students' educational experiences take place primarily in the degree program. When students are intellectually engaged with many other members of their degree program, they are more likely to learn and grow. All members benefit when a vibrant intellectual community is an explicit part of the degree program’s culture.

Interdisciplinary inquiry and cross-departmental multidisciplinary conversations are a hallmark of graduate studies at Stanford. When intellectual communities include perspectives from many fields and inquiry paradigms, knowledge advances unexpectedly. 

Students do not need to wait for intellectual communities to be developed for them. They can be energetic agents who create activities that enhance the academic life of their degree program or many degree programs.

SPICE funds support graduate (master’s, doctoral, or professional) student initiatives that develop activities to expand the intellectual community of their degree program or many degree programs.

SPICE application:

  • must be led by graduate students
  • put ideas and debate at their center
  • involve graduate students across subfields and at different stages in their studies
  • preferably should offer a comprehensive set of activities

The regular SPICE application opens in Spring Quarter. The first group of SPICE awards was made in Spring 2008. Both department-based and interdisciplinary SPICE applications are encouraged.

Announcing a Pilot Off-Cycle Funding Round

Since some students with shorter academic program lengths (e.g., Master's students) may not have the capability to plan a full academic year in advance for projects, we are piloting an off-cycle funding process to provide same-AY access to SPICE funds for brand-new projects. The off-cycle application process is now open. If you have an idea for a SPICE project that you want to implement in winter or spring quarter 2024, click the apply button above to start your application today! 

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and decisions will be announced within 1-2 weeks following submission. 

Annual Application Cycle 

Regular Application Opens: April 1, 2024

Regular Application Deadline: May 12, 2024

AY2024-25 Award Notifications: June 2024

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SPICE is piloting an off-cycle funding program for new projects taking place during winter or spring quarter 2024. 

Apply Now!

Off-Cycle Final Deadline: Sunday, May 5, 2024

Contact vpgeapplications @stanford.edu with any questions.