Funding for Language Assistants and Experimental Subjects

This page is primarily about what the title announces. However, the department offers two other sources of research funding for grad students, from donor funds: (1) Ladefoged scholarships, and (2) Bye funding for purchase of language corpora (contact the chair of the department, who is ex officio the chair of the Bye Funds committee).

Funding for Language Assistants and Experimental Subjects

Funding is approved by the Student Research Support Committee.

The Linguistics Department is remarkably generous in supporting student research as it contributes to a dissertation, thesis, and paper writing, as well as to students’ general growth as linguists.

However, there is a budget for such funding requests and it is not unlimited. Requests are considered on a first come, first serve basis. Strong preference is given to work related to theses and dissertations or contemplated publications. Assistant/subject funding per student is limited to $1,000 per academic year, with an additional limit of $500 for the first 6 months of the year (July-Dec). Please note that you may not apply for funding while you are on a leave of absence. Students working on experiments are strongly encouraged to use the SONA system to recruit subjects, if possible.

Please submit all requests at least 3 weeks in advance.

This will ensure that the Fund Manager and the Academic Personnel Officer are able to complete all necessary paperwork to request funding, complete all necessary paperwork to hire the language assistants, or both. If you submit a LATE REQUEST, we will not guarantee funding or reimbursement of funds paid out of pocket.

Eligibility 
Can I ask for funding?
Yes
  1. Research has been discussed with faculty member willing to serve as advisor on the project.
  2.  Student MUST sign up for Ling 59X under the faculty advisor’s name.
No
  1. Your work is supported by a faculty member’s grant or a grant/fellowship to you.
  2. Your work is done under the auspices of Ling 210A or Ling 210B or other classes.
I’m eligible, what’s next?
Mandatory

All student research that may result in publications may be closely monitored by UCLA’s Office for the Protection of Research Subjects (OPRS).

Students requesting funding must obtain a certification in research with “human subjects.” There is an online course whose completion results in a certificate.

I have my certification in research, do I need an IRB?
Yes
  1. All experimental work, including online experiments, must have IRB approval. If you are recruiting participants using the UCLA Psych pool, flyers, email listservs, Amazon Mechanical Turk, etc. IRB approval is required.
  2. IRB approval can be gotten through a review (A) or, under certain circumstances, you can request an exemption from review (B)

A. If you are doing any experimental work with children, or experiments with adults that is considered “semi-invasive”, e.g. measuring eye movements, touching other than with a head-mounted microphone, etc., you will be subject to IRB review.
B. If you are testing adults in non-invasive experiments you can request an IRB exemption.

No

One-on-one work with language consultants does not require IRB approval.

Quick reference guides for UCLA IRB studies:

What forms do I need to complete? What procedures are needed?

You are strongly encouraged to use the Psychology subject pool for subject recruitment. These are free subjects. In this case you do not need to submit a Student Research Application Form, but you will still need IRB approval for your study.

U.S. Experimental Subjects and Foreign Experimental Subjects
  1. Student Research Application Form (PDF fillable form)
    a. Must have signature from Ling 59X Faculty Advisor (electronic or physical)
    b. Email from Ling 59X Faculty Advisor directly to Student Research Committee will be accepted in lieu of signature.
    c. Submit form to the Student Research Committee for approval.
  2. Certification in Research with Human Subjects
U.S. Language Assistants
  1. Student Research Application Form (PDF fillable form)
    a. Must have signature from the Ling 59X Faculty Advisor (electronic or physical)
    b. Email from the Ling 59X Faculty Advisor directly to Student Research Committee will be accepted in lieu of signature.
    c. Submit form to the Student Research Committee for approval.
  2.  Language Assistant Time Card (PDF fillable form)
    a. Student must keep track of hours completed with their Language Assistant.
    b. Time card must be turned in once hours are used up to Academic Personnel Officer.
              *If you go over your allotted hours without first obtaining approval for additional funds, you may be required to pay for these hours yourself.*
  3. Language assistant must be hired in order to receive pay 
    a. Have your language assistant make an appointment with Academic Personnel Officer after your application has been approved.
    b. Language assistants are not allowed to work until after they have been hired in the system.
    c. We cannot guarantee payment for hours worked outside the official dates of employment.
  4. Certification in Research with Human Subjects
Foreign Language Assistants
  1. Student Research Application Form (PDF fillable form)
    a. Must have signature from the Ling 59X Faculty Advisor (electronic or physical)
    b. Email from the Ling 59X Faculty Advisor directly to Student Research Committee will be accepted in lieu of signature.
    c. Submit form to the Student Research Committee for approval.
  2. Language Assistant Time Card (PDF fillable form)
    a. Student must keep track of hours completed with their Language Assistant.
    b. Time card must be turned in once hours are used up to Academic Personnel Officer.
    *If you go over your allotted hours without first obtaining approval for additional funds, you may be required to pay for these hours yourself.*
  3. Certification in Research with Human Subjects