Having gone from an undergraduate researcher to undergraduate mentor and Ph.D. student to Dr. Harrold - I've come across many pathways to fund everything from salaries, to equipment, analyses and fieldwork! For your convenience, I've compiled and categorized many resources below.
The only way to win is to apply! So get out there and start applying!
1. For Undergraduate and Graduate Students
A Note to Foreign Students:
Many of the big-budget funds (i.e. NSF and NASA) are for US citizens or green-card holders only. But definitely check them out to be sure and for ideas on competitive grant writing.
1.1 Fund finding resources
The only way to win is to apply! So get out there and start applying!
1. For Undergraduate and Graduate Students
A Note to Foreign Students:
Many of the big-budget funds (i.e. NSF and NASA) are for US citizens or green-card holders only. But definitely check them out to be sure and for ideas on competitive grant writing.
1.1 Fund finding resources
Some specific examples for students at the University of Washington:
Graduate School funding webpage and links therein: http://www.grad.washington.edu/students/fa/otherfunding.shtml
GPSS funding website and links therein – incl. conference funding
http://depts.washington.edu/gpss/services/funding
UW libraries funding webpage and links therein, including seminars and workshops on grant writing
http://commons.lib.washington.edu/services/funding-1
Graduate Funding Information Service (GFIS)
http://commons.lib.washington.edu/services/gfis
Graduate School funding webpage and links therein: http://www.grad.washington.edu/students/fa/otherfunding.shtml
GPSS funding website and links therein – incl. conference funding
http://depts.washington.edu/gpss/services/funding
UW libraries funding webpage and links therein, including seminars and workshops on grant writing
http://commons.lib.washington.edu/services/funding-1
Graduate Funding Information Service (GFIS)
http://commons.lib.washington.edu/services/gfis
this one has may links to government grant webpages and funding search engines.
http://guides.lib.washington.edu/content.php?pid=231972&sid=2617332
Funding databases. An account with COS can be set up with filters for your research field and interests and will send you email updates on new grants, fellowships and upcoming deadlines.
http://www.washington.edu/research/guide/funddata.html
1.2 Small travel and conference grants
Look for funding sources at your institution that will support research, and conference travel. Funding may be available through your department, graduate school organization etc.
Conference specific funding – Check the GSA, AGU, EGU and Goldschmidt webpages for meeting specific student funding and volunteer opportunities
1.3. Geo-Grad Student research and internship funding sources
http://guides.lib.washington.edu/content.php?pid=231972&sid=2617332
Funding databases. An account with COS can be set up with filters for your research field and interests and will send you email updates on new grants, fellowships and upcoming deadlines.
http://www.washington.edu/research/guide/funddata.html
1.2 Small travel and conference grants
Look for funding sources at your institution that will support research, and conference travel. Funding may be available through your department, graduate school organization etc.
Conference specific funding – Check the GSA, AGU, EGU and Goldschmidt webpages for meeting specific student funding and volunteer opportunities
1.3. Geo-Grad Student research and internship funding sources
GSA GeoCorp – A wide range of summer and year-long geo-internships.
http://rock.geosociety.org/g_corps/index.htm
GSA Research Grants – Funding for specific research projects. Average funding amount: $ 1,800. Deadline: early February
http://www.geosociety.org/grants/gradgrants.htm
NSF Pacific-East Asia fellowships – Multiple ESS students have received these. Deadline: November
http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5284
NSF and selected foreign counterpart science and technology agencies sponsor international research institutes for U.S. graduate students in seven East Asia and Pacific locations at times set by the counterpart agencies between June and August each year. The Summer Institutes (EAPSI) operate similarly and the research visits to a particular location take place at the same time. Although applicants apply individually to participate in a Summer Institute, awardees become part of the cohort for each location. Applicants must propose a location, host scientist, and research project that is appropriate for the host site and duration of the international visit.
An EAPSI award provides U.S. graduate students in science, engineering, and education: 1) first-hand research experiences in Australia, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, or Taiwan; 2) an introduction to the science, science policy, and scientific infrastructure of the respective location; and 3) an orientation to the society, culture, and language. It is expected that EAPSI awards will help students initiate professional relationships to enable future collaboration with foreign counterparts.
The NSF award includes participation in the Pre-Departure Orientation, summer stipend of $5,000, and roundtrip airplane ticket to the host location. EAPSI partner agencies pay in-country living expenses during the Summer Institutes.
Exxon Mobil Geoscience Grants – Not an annual offering? Other grants and internships available though our Exxon Rep, Mark Nell mark.nell@exxonmobil.com
Mazamas research grant – “The Mazamas Graduate Student Research Grants are intended to help graduate students cover travel, per diem, supplies, and other costs of conducting master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation research.” Good for local Pacific NW research involving fieldwork (i.e. glaciers/quakes on Rainier!). Grad award amount 1,500. Funding also available for faculty. Grad Deadline: early February.
General grant link: http://www.mazamas.org/your/adventure/starts-here/C99/
Grad funding link http://www.mazamas.org/your/adventure/starts-here/C193/
Colorado College Co-teaching internship – Contact past participants and CC Environment program or Geology department.
American Alpine Club – A range of grants for exploration and conservation. https://www.americanalpineclub.org/grants
Deals on fieldwork gear – contact Patagonia, Outdoor Research and other companies for pro-deals. A nice letter about the environmental impacts of your research can go a long way! Please use discretion and do not abuse this route so students can continue to gain Pro-deals for their fieldwork
1.4. Graduate Fellowships
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (3-year, 32,000/year fellowship). Open to first and second year graduate students. Second year applicants are encouraged to include preliminary data in their application. Fellowship deadline in early November.
http://www.nsfgrfp.org
American Water Works Association – Abel Wolman Fellowship that covers finishing graduate student salary and tuition. Awarded for excellence in water resources research. Deadline: early January. Additional/Other related funding available though link.
http://www.awwa.org/membership/get-involved/student-center/awwa-scholarships.aspx#4211329-american-water-scholarship
Ford Foundation Fellowship – Pre-doctoral, Dissertation and Post-Doctoral awards. “Awards are made to individuals who, in the judgment of the review panels, have demonstrated superior academic achievement, are committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level, show promise of future achievement as scholars and teachers, and are well prepared to use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students.” Deadlines: mid November
http://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/FordFellowships/index.htm
National research Council (NRC) Research Associate Programs (RAP) – Graduate, Post-doctoral and senior level awards. “In these programs, prospective applicants select a research project or projects from among the large group of opportunities listed on this website. Prior to completing an application, prospective applicants should contact the proposed Research Adviser to assure that funding will be available if their application is recommended by NRC panels. Once mutual interest is established between a prospective applicant and a Research Adviser, an application is submitted through the NRC WebRap system. Reviews are conducted four times each year and review results are available approximately 6-8 weeks following the application deadline.”
http://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/rap/
2. For Postdoctoral Researchers
NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship – For all sciences. Check the website for field specific deadlines
Menden Hall Geology Post-Doc Fellowship – Deadline: October/November geology.usgs.gov/postdoc/
NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI) Post-doc Fellowship – Deadline: early March
Agoroun – Private institute with funding opportunities in Geobiology. http://agi.org
Fullbright fellowships
Loreal Post-Doc - For women in science
National research Council (NRC) Research Associate Programs (RAP) – Graduate, Post-doctoral and senior level awards. “In these programs, prospective applicants select a research project or projects from among the large group of opportunities listed on this website. Prior to completing an application, prospective applicants should contact the proposed Research Adviser to assure that funding will be available if their application is recommended by NRC panels. Once mutual interest is established between a prospective applicant and a Research Adviser, an application is submitted through the NRC WebRap system. Reviews are conducted four times each year and review results are available approximately 6-8 weeks following the application deadline.”
http://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/rap/
Ford Foundation Fellowship – Pre-doctoral, Dissertation and Post-Doctoral awards. “Awards are made to individuals who, in the judgment of the review panels, have demonstrated superior academic achievement, are committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level, show promise of future achievement as scholars and teachers, and are well prepared to use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students.” Deadlines: mid November
http://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/FordFellowships/index.htm
Science and Technology Policy Fellowship - EPA, Deadline Nov. 1
http://rock.geosociety.org/g_corps/index.htm
GSA Research Grants – Funding for specific research projects. Average funding amount: $ 1,800. Deadline: early February
http://www.geosociety.org/grants/gradgrants.htm
NSF Pacific-East Asia fellowships – Multiple ESS students have received these. Deadline: November
http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5284
NSF and selected foreign counterpart science and technology agencies sponsor international research institutes for U.S. graduate students in seven East Asia and Pacific locations at times set by the counterpart agencies between June and August each year. The Summer Institutes (EAPSI) operate similarly and the research visits to a particular location take place at the same time. Although applicants apply individually to participate in a Summer Institute, awardees become part of the cohort for each location. Applicants must propose a location, host scientist, and research project that is appropriate for the host site and duration of the international visit.
An EAPSI award provides U.S. graduate students in science, engineering, and education: 1) first-hand research experiences in Australia, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, or Taiwan; 2) an introduction to the science, science policy, and scientific infrastructure of the respective location; and 3) an orientation to the society, culture, and language. It is expected that EAPSI awards will help students initiate professional relationships to enable future collaboration with foreign counterparts.
The NSF award includes participation in the Pre-Departure Orientation, summer stipend of $5,000, and roundtrip airplane ticket to the host location. EAPSI partner agencies pay in-country living expenses during the Summer Institutes.
Exxon Mobil Geoscience Grants – Not an annual offering? Other grants and internships available though our Exxon Rep, Mark Nell mark.nell@exxonmobil.com
Mazamas research grant – “The Mazamas Graduate Student Research Grants are intended to help graduate students cover travel, per diem, supplies, and other costs of conducting master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation research.” Good for local Pacific NW research involving fieldwork (i.e. glaciers/quakes on Rainier!). Grad award amount 1,500. Funding also available for faculty. Grad Deadline: early February.
General grant link: http://www.mazamas.org/your/adventure/starts-here/C99/
Grad funding link http://www.mazamas.org/your/adventure/starts-here/C193/
Colorado College Co-teaching internship – Contact past participants and CC Environment program or Geology department.
American Alpine Club – A range of grants for exploration and conservation. https://www.americanalpineclub.org/grants
Deals on fieldwork gear – contact Patagonia, Outdoor Research and other companies for pro-deals. A nice letter about the environmental impacts of your research can go a long way! Please use discretion and do not abuse this route so students can continue to gain Pro-deals for their fieldwork
1.4. Graduate Fellowships
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (3-year, 32,000/year fellowship). Open to first and second year graduate students. Second year applicants are encouraged to include preliminary data in their application. Fellowship deadline in early November.
http://www.nsfgrfp.org
American Water Works Association – Abel Wolman Fellowship that covers finishing graduate student salary and tuition. Awarded for excellence in water resources research. Deadline: early January. Additional/Other related funding available though link.
http://www.awwa.org/membership/get-involved/student-center/awwa-scholarships.aspx#4211329-american-water-scholarship
Ford Foundation Fellowship – Pre-doctoral, Dissertation and Post-Doctoral awards. “Awards are made to individuals who, in the judgment of the review panels, have demonstrated superior academic achievement, are committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level, show promise of future achievement as scholars and teachers, and are well prepared to use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students.” Deadlines: mid November
http://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/FordFellowships/index.htm
National research Council (NRC) Research Associate Programs (RAP) – Graduate, Post-doctoral and senior level awards. “In these programs, prospective applicants select a research project or projects from among the large group of opportunities listed on this website. Prior to completing an application, prospective applicants should contact the proposed Research Adviser to assure that funding will be available if their application is recommended by NRC panels. Once mutual interest is established between a prospective applicant and a Research Adviser, an application is submitted through the NRC WebRap system. Reviews are conducted four times each year and review results are available approximately 6-8 weeks following the application deadline.”
http://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/rap/
2. For Postdoctoral Researchers
NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship – For all sciences. Check the website for field specific deadlines
Menden Hall Geology Post-Doc Fellowship – Deadline: October/November geology.usgs.gov/postdoc/
NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI) Post-doc Fellowship – Deadline: early March
Agoroun – Private institute with funding opportunities in Geobiology. http://agi.org
Fullbright fellowships
Loreal Post-Doc - For women in science
National research Council (NRC) Research Associate Programs (RAP) – Graduate, Post-doctoral and senior level awards. “In these programs, prospective applicants select a research project or projects from among the large group of opportunities listed on this website. Prior to completing an application, prospective applicants should contact the proposed Research Adviser to assure that funding will be available if their application is recommended by NRC panels. Once mutual interest is established between a prospective applicant and a Research Adviser, an application is submitted through the NRC WebRap system. Reviews are conducted four times each year and review results are available approximately 6-8 weeks following the application deadline.”
http://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/rap/
Ford Foundation Fellowship – Pre-doctoral, Dissertation and Post-Doctoral awards. “Awards are made to individuals who, in the judgment of the review panels, have demonstrated superior academic achievement, are committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level, show promise of future achievement as scholars and teachers, and are well prepared to use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students.” Deadlines: mid November
http://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/FordFellowships/index.htm
Science and Technology Policy Fellowship - EPA, Deadline Nov. 1
