Activating your Grant:

Congratulations on receiving your MDRF grant!  In order to activate your grant, you must complete the following procedures:

1. Read the MDRF Guidelines and Obligations

2. Watch the MDRF Mandatory Informational Video

3. Sign and return (within 60 days) the Certificate Of Understanding And Acceptance (U&A) via email to gsa-mdrf@buffalo.edu, slfrank@buffalo.edu, dstaly@buffalo.edu, or to the GSA office at 310 Student Union.

4. Schedule a 15-minute mandatory Zoom meeting with the MDRF Director (gsa-mdrf@buffalo.edu) to discuss the specifics of your grant and utilizing funds. This meeting must occur after all missing documentation is on file (ATC confirmation, U&A form, and IRB/ Animal Use Documentation, if applicable). In your email, please list several days and times you are available to meet. Grant funds will not be released until the meeting takes place. Meetings will not occur before all documentation is received.

Please Note: All grants must be activated within 60 days of the start date of the grant period.  All Acceptance to Candidacy notices/letters must be on file with the MDRF Director prior to releasing funds. The MDRF Director will be in contact with the Graduate School to obtain Acceptance letters shortly after award notifications are sent. Application to Candidacy application forms are not acceptable and do not qualify as an Acceptance to Candidacy.

Utilizing Grant Funds

When you are ready to utilize grant funds, please complete the appropriate forms based on the information in the Guidelines and Obligations document and the MDRF Mandatory Informational video.

IMPORTANT: YOU WILL NEED ONE REQUISITION REQUEST FORM FOR EACH CHECK THAT NEEDS TO BE CUT. 

For students being reimbursed for items or travel expenses, list all approved expenses in one requisition request form (DO NOT SUBMIT ONE FORM PER ITEM). 

For students being reimbursed for human subjects compensation, you may submit one requisition request form for the total approved amount of participant payments and note in the description that the PO should be a blanket order so that the balance remains open after each reimbursement submission.

• • Requisition Request Form

Please Note: The requisition request form is an online form used for all of the GSA’s business. The Account Number is N/A for MDRF recipients (please mark with zeros). If you have any questions, please contact the MDRF Director or the GSA professional staff!

• • Ordering Form
  • Human Subject Expense Log
  • Mileage Reimbursement Form

Budgetary Guidelines

MDRF operates on GSA’s Budgetary Guidelines and their subsequent deadlines. This year’s important deadlines are:

Requisition deadlines for Fall 2023 Grantees: Monday, October 14, 2024

Requisition deadlines for Spring 2024 Grantees: Monday, March 10, 2025

Requisition deadlines for Summer 2024 Grantees: Monday, June 9, 2025

All expenses must be incurred and expended within the grant period while conducting research for one’s thesis, dissertation, or final project as a registered, GSA fee paying graduate student.

PLEASE NOTE: GSA’s fiscal year ends July 31st annually and therefore, no use of funds can occur between July 15th and July 31st each year to allow for the proper closing and reconciliation of the annual budget.