Funding Opportunity: The Wetland Foundation Travel Grant

Organization: The Wetland Foundation

Who can apply: Any student currently enrolled full-time at an academic institution in the USA and who meets the specific criteria for one of the types of grants listed to the left. The funded activity (conference, research, course) may take place anywhere, including non-USA locations, and international students are eligible IF they are attending a university in the USA.

Grant application deadline: Deadline for the 2015 travel grants is Nov. 22, 2014.

Selection Criteria:

1. Demonstrated interest in wetland science.  Travel grants are to support participation in wetland science education and research activities.  The successful grantee will demonstrate this interest in the application package.
2. Demonstrated intent to use the grant for wetland science-related activities.  The successful grantee will clearly document this intent in the application package.
3. Demonstrated aptitude to succeed in a wetland science career.  The successful grantee will clearly document their potential to succeed in pursuit of a career in wetland science.
4. Demonstrated need for the grant.  Travel grants are meant to aid promising students with limited travel funds.  The successful grantee will demonstrate need in the application package and document it through current and pending support and letters of support.

Description: To learn more about these travel grants, visit the Wetland Foundation website.

Conference Travel Grant Type 1 ($600): For advanced undergraduate and graduate students who have never attended a wetland scientific conference and who have limited funds for travel.

Conference Travel Grant Type 2 ($1200): For advanced undergraduate and graduate students with limited funding to present their wetland research findings at a conference.

Field Travel Grant Type 1 ($800): For outstanding graduate students with limited funding to defray field expenses associated with thesis or dissertation research on wetlands.

Field Travel Grant Type 2 ($1000): For promising undergraduate students to attend field courses focused on wetlands.

How to apply: The application package should be prepared by the applicant and include six components:

1. A 1-2 page resumé and a separate, high-resolution photograph (jpg) of you doing fieldwork, labwork, or a hobby.
2. A statement of what you hope to be doing in five years (one page or less).
3. Transcripts of undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) records. It is acceptable to send a photocopy or a downloaded copy of a transcript, but it must contain the institutional name/logo, your name, and all of your coursework, grades, and GPA.
4. 2 letters of support, one from your department chair and/or advisor who can attest to your academic standing, academic financial status, need for travel funds, and interest in wetlands.  The letters must include an official letterhead and complete contact information and should be sent separately by your references via email.
5. Current and pending support for you and your major advisor (indicate what portion pertains to you) (C&P.doc).
6. Description of how the grant would be spent (depends on type), including a budget (budget.docx):

Conference Travel Grant Type 1 :  provide the name, the location, and the dates of the conference; in addition, provide a 1-2 paragraph description of why you want to attend this conference and what you hope to gain from the experience.

Conference Travel Grant Type 2:  provide the name, the location, and the dates of the conference; in addition, provide the title of the paper you plan to present, names and contact information of other authors (if any), and a copy of the abstract to be submitted.

Field Travel Grant Type 1:  provide a 2-page description of your research, including title, and how the grant would be used.

Field Travel Grant Type 2: provide information about the field course or workshop (what, when, where, how much) and a 1-page description of why you want to attend and what you expect to get out of the experience.

The student should submit the application package by email; applications submitted by the student’s advisor will not be considered; if university rules require grant applications to be submitted by their sponsored programs office, the student must be copied on the submission email. The application package should be emailed to [email protected] by the close of business (5 pm CST) on November 22. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all required documents are submitted; incomplete applications will not be considered.