9/16/2026 GRACA is now CLOSED to all new proposals from students graduating after May 2027
Graduate Research and Creative Activity (GRACA) grants support faculty-mentored graduate student research and creative activity. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until funding runs out.
- You are graduating in May 2027 and NOT continuing on to another degree program at UNO. You must submit your proposal no later than December 8, 2026 to be eligible for this funding timeline (activities February-May 2027).
- Your proposal was previously denied funding due to missing sections, formatting errors, not adhering to the guidelines, etc. We consider this a resubmission.
Before contacting the Office of Research and Creative Activity (unoorca@unomaha.edu), please FIRST carefully read the GRACA Guidelines AND read the Frequently Asked Questions.
Looking for other student funding opportunities? Visit our external student funding opportunities page.
What is UNO’s GRACA Grant?
Graduate Research and Creative Activity (GRACA) grants support faculty-mentored graduate student research and creative activity.
Grants of up to $5,000 per student are available to currently enrolled UNO graduate students.
Eligibility is restricted to those UNO graduate students (and students from other NU programs) who pay their student fees through UNO.
Please read the guidelines and FAQs for additional details about GRACA.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until funding runs out. There is no specific deadline for GRACA applications (Except for students graduating in Spring 2027. Please see guidelines.), but we recommend students apply as early as possible.
The GRACA Application
9/16/2026: GRACA is now CLOSED to all new proposals from students graduating after May 2027.
- You are graduating in May 2027 and NOT continuing on to another degree program at UNO. You must submit your proposal no later than December 8, 2026 to be eligible for this funding timeline (activities February-May 2027).
- Your proposal was previously denied funding due to missing sections, formatting errors, not adhering to the guidelines, etc. We consider this a resubmission.
Before you apply for a GRACA award, we strongly advise you to speak with The Office of Financial Support and Scholarships about how an award may impact your financial aid or scholarship package.
The GRACA competition is run through NuRamp. You will need your NetID and password to log in.
Click here to access the GRACA application beginning on Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Select "Graduate Research and Creative Activity (GRACA) 2026/2027" from Internal Competitions.
- You will need your faculty mentor to assist you in completing the "compliance" section of the application.
Compliance Approvals
If the proposed project involves any form of work with human subjects or their personal data (including interviews), vertebrate animals, and/or biohazardous materials, the student and mentor must obtain either approval or a waiver from the IRB (human subjects), IACUC (vertebrate animals), and/or IBC (biohazards).
If you are unsure whether or not this applies to the proposed project, visit one of the following websites to confirm:
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
IRB is for those working with human subjects or their personal data.
Complete the “Does My Project Require IRB Review?” questionnaire, even if you don’t think your project will need it.
IRB Office Hours
Please direct questions regarding office hours to the IRB Education Coordinator:
Megan Berger mberger@unmc.edu or 402.559.6044
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
IACUC is for those working with live vertebrate animals
Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)
Sample GRACA Proposals
Click here to view the full list of GRACA proposals funded in AY 2025-2026