ISF Announces Travel Grant Availability

Purdue’s Institute for a Sustainable Future promotes collaborative research that advances understanding of persistent global sustainability challenges.  This process includes training of the next generation of researchers in sustainability, which for our purposes align, broadly speaking, with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.  To this end, in spring 2023, ISF will award travel and small research project funding to defray costs for graduate student/post-doctoral researchers.  Conference travel or research projects should take place between December 1, 2022 through June 30th 2023. We anticipate running a similar program for Fall 2023.

ISF will prioritize awards for collaborative projects engaging with topics of interest to ISF as represented by its Research Communities and Special Initiatives. Request priority will be given for large, well-recognized conferences and for research projects with potential to scale up substantially in terms of future funded research. Active participation in ISF by the mentor and alignment with ISF’s mission will also be considered. The goal is to offer this support for both spring and fall semesters in the future, funding allowing.

Additional Guidance:

• Up to $16,000 is available for grants in spring 2023, with no more than $800 per graduate student or post-doc.
• No more than $1600 will be provided to any given lab (in any combination of travel, research, graduate student, or post-doctoral awards), and the PI will be consulted as to how to award the funds.
• A member of a relevant RC/SI, whose graduate students are not applying, will serve as a contact for application decisions if additional input is needed.
• Each recipient will have the money transferred to the research account of the faculty mentor for distribution by June 30, 2023.

Applications are being accepted here. And  requests the following:

• Applicant’s name
• Email
• Name of mentor(s)
• Email of mentor(s)
• Degree sought (PhD/MS) or Post-Doc
• Department(s)
• Title of research presentation/project
• Conference title/date/location (if applicable)
• Abstract of research (as submitted to conference) or abstract of project (in 750 words or less)
• Total estimated cost of travel for conference or proposed budget for project
• Other sources funding pursued/secured:
• Amount requested

Please also plan to attach confirmation of your ISF faculty mentor’s approval.  This could be an informal email from them noting support for your application/project.  

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.  You should receive word of funding within two weeks of application. If offered, presentation must acknowledge support of ISF, logo will be provided.