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Scholarships, Research Grants, & Travel Grants

Scholarship Form (Regular Academic & Field Camp Scholarship)

Under "Opportunities", "Recommended", search for "Geology and Geophysics General Application".

A majority of undergraduate majors in the Department of Geology & Geophysics receive some level of financial aid. Departmental scholarships to undergraduate Geoscience, Geological Engineering and Earth Science Composite Teaching majors generally are awarded once a year and are announced at the department’s Spring Awards Luncheon prior to the start of the academic year in which the scholarships will become effective. Scholarship monetary awards will be credited directly to the recipient’s tuition bill by the University Scholarship Office. To be considered for a departmental scholarship, please submit an application via the link above by February 15. Only one application is necessary for both regular scholarship funding and Field Geology (GEO 4510/4520). Check all that apply on the application.

Do you want to expand your educational and research experiences? Former students of Professor Chapman have established the David S. Chapman and Inga M. Chapman Fund to support unique educational and research opportunities. Educational opportunities for students supported by this fund may include research visits to collaborative labs; attendance at focused workshops, short-courses, and conferences; opportunities that broaden a student’s international experience; and opportunities to participate in collaborative field studies and research cruises. The fund does not support attendance at regular society meetings or conferences. This fund is intended to support both graduate and undergraduate students.

Graduate and undergraduate students majoring or minoring in Geology and Geophysics.

Applications will be received normally two times a year, on September 15 and February 15.

Proposals for unique, time-sensitive opportunities can be accepted on a rolling basis; please communicate your intention for an off-cycle proposal to the chair of Graduate or Undergraduate Affairs prior to submitting your proposal.

By the deadline, applications from graduate students should be emailed to the Graduate Affairs chair, Dr. Lauren Birgenheier, lauren.birgenheier@utah.edu; applications from undergraduate students should be emailed to the Undergraduate Affairs chair, Dr. Peter Lippert, pete.lippert@utah.edu.

Applications should be submitted as a single pdf document and include the following: 

  1. Title of the project/opportunity and name of person applying.
  2. A one-page description that includes:
    • The planned activity/opportunity;
    • How the activity fits into the applicant’s studies, research, or professional development; and
    • Likely impact of the opportunity on the applicant’s studies/career.
  1. An itemized budget with a brief justification of expenses.
  2. Signature of a sponsoring faculty member on the proposal indicating support.
  3. A two-page CV (NSF style: see the following link for guidelines and examples: https://adai.uw.edu/grants/nsf_biosketch_template.pdf).

Award levels of up to $1500 can be expected; larger requests will be reviewed in special circumstances. Contributing or matching funds from other sources are not required but will be considered a positive aspect of an application.

We seek applications to help students access educational and professional opportunities that will enhance your college experience beyond the standard curriculum. Applications for the Barbara Nash Research & Development Fund are accepted on a rolling timeline: send in your requests as they arise.The Barbara Nash Research & Development fund provides financial support for undergraduate students to access programs, initiatives, and educational and professional opportunities that will enhance their college experience beyond what course work provides. Examples of uses include (but are not limited to):

- Student research (e.g., field expenses, supplies, analytical laboratory charges, travel to museums for study, etc.).

- Attendance at professional meetings (e.g., GSA, AGU, AAPG, SEG…).

- Participation in short courses or professional development workshops.

- Participation in field trips such as those offered at professional meetings or by professional organizations.

- Other field experiences.

- Study abroad.

- Participation in programs and experiences that foster diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Earth sciences.

The fund does not support hourly wages, tuition, or course fees.

 

Award levels of up to $1000 can be expected; larger requests will be reviewed in special circumstances. Contributing or matching funds from other sources are not required but will be considered a positive aspect of an application.

Undergraduate students majoring and minoring in Geology and Geophysics.

Applications should be emailed to the Undergraduate Affairs chair, Dr. Peter Lippert, pete.lippert@utah.edu.

Applications should be submitted as a single document and include the following:

For the student: work with your mentor to prepare a not more than 2 page memo that includes the following information:

1. Name of Student

2. Name of Mentor (if this is for a research project)

3. Title of Project or Opportunity (if a meeting or field trip, be sure to include the dates of the trip and any supporting documentation, such as the meeting or trip website)

4. 4-8 sentence description of the Project or Opportunity (an abstract). If this is for research, be sure to includes the hypothesis that is being tested and how the request funds will be used to test this hypothesis. If this is for a meeting, field trip, or other travel, be sure to describe how this experience will enhance your college experience.

5. Total amount requested.

6. A budget that describes how the funds will be used, including which labs and equipment will be used, registration fees, and travel costs.

7. Semester requested funds will be used.

8. If this is for a research project, then the student’s Mentor needs to provide an approximately ½ page letter of support of the project to be emailed to the chair of Undergraduate Affairs.

 

The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) provides undergraduate students and faculty members the opportunity to work together on research or creative projects.

UROP provides assistantships up to $1200 for any first-time UROP student who assists with a faculty member's research or creative project, or who carries out a project of her/his own under the supervision of a faculty member.

Students may apply for a UROP assistantship for any semester (summer included), and are eligible to apply for a one semester renewal of their assistantship. Renewals for any semester may be funded up to $1200.

For more information please refer to the UROP website.

Applications for Graduate Student Travel Assistance are invited from currently enrolled University of Utah graduate students whose research or creative projects have been accepted for presentation at professional meetings. This assistance is contingent upon the applicant presenting at the meeting. Applications must be received in The Graduate School prior to travel dates. Requests are considered up to a maximum of $400 and must be supported with a dollar-for-dollar match from university funds. Matching support must be from university funding sources, e.g., development, operation, service, research, etc. One award only will be made during each fiscal year (July 1-June 30) to any graduate student.

For more information on the application processes please refer to the Graduate School website.

The Office of Undergraduate Research provides funding opportunities for students whose research requires travel or other support. Check out the full details on the OUR Travel & Small Grant website.

When to Apply: Grants are considered monthly. Travel Grant and Small Grant applications are reviewed and applicants are notified of the outcome by the 7th day of every month. This means all applications (including faculty mentor portion) must be submitted no later than the last day of the previous month. Grants are for future expenses only (applications submitted in the same month as the travel will not be accepted). 

Eligibility
  • Applicants must be enrolled, degree seeking undergraduate students at the University of Utah at the time of application and at the time the funds will be used. 
  • Applicants must be working collaboratively with a University of Utah professor on a research project and the funds requested must go towards that project.
  • Requested funds may only cover the undergraduate student applicant’s future research-related expenses.
TRAVEL GRANTS
  • Funding from the travel grant program (max $500) might cover expenses for future: airfare, lodging, conference registration, mileage (funding may not be used for gas).
  • Students may be awarded a maximum of one travel grant.
  • Travel Grants may not be used for:
    • Travel related to research that is not conducted with a University of Utah professor.
  • Award preference will be given to students who:
    • Request travel funds for a conference at which they have been accepted to present.
SMALL GRANTS
  • Funding from the small grant program (max $500) can help with future purchases of: research supplies, special training fees, or other research costs related to the student’s original work.
  • Small grants may not be used to pay publication fees or to purchase books, software, or other supplies that are available to U of U students via the libraries, computer labs, Marriott Knowledge Commons, etc.
  • Students may be awarded only one small grant.
  • Award preference will be given to students who:
    • Request funds to purchase consumables rather than durable supplies.

Currently enrolled students of the University of Utah are eligible to request up to $600 towards certain travel related expenses* Requests are limited to one trip per student per year. These funds** support students with opportunities that enhance experiences here at the U. The ASUU Finance Director, the traveling-student’s College Student Council, and the ASUU Travel Committee review all travel requests. 

Travel requests must comply with the Travel Funding Guidelines  

** Funding from ASUU is available by reimbursement only. 

For full instructions, visit the ASUU Travel Grant website.

The Teach for Utah and Noyce Scholarships are for students who want to become secondary (middle and high school) science teachers. Students become eligible for the scholarships when they declare a major in Earth Science Teaching and the associated BS/MEd program. A minimum of a 3.0 GPA is required.

Scholarships are for $10,000 per year for up to 5 years, including the licensure/MEd year.

For more information about these scholarship opportunities, including how to apply for each, please visit the following websites: 1. Teach for Utah: https://teachforutah.utah.edu 2. NSF Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program: https://csme.utah.edu/teachstem/. Both these pages also have information on the BS/MEd pathway.

Students are welcome to contact Allyson Rocks or Sean Meyers for more information.

 

Last Updated: 2/13/23