Travel Grants to Support Multisite or Multidisciplinary Water Science Research

Graduate training in water science often focuses on a single field site, analytical or modeling approach. To assist graduate students in enhancing their research program by moving beyond this "one site, one view" approach, CUAHSI will provide travel support for graduate students to make an extended visit (ca. 1 – 3 months) to broaden their research. Travel may be to an additional field site to conduct comparative research, to collaborate with a research group using alternate approaches or modeling methods, or to work with researchers on adding an interdisciplinary dimension to a water science research project.

CUAHSI encourages applicants from across the broad range of water science. Preference is given to students advanced enough in their graduate studies to conduct substantive research during the travel period, and to research plans that clearly demonstrate how the travel and collaboration substantially enhances and broadens the student's current research.

General Conditions and Requirements of the Award

CUAHSI will fund up to five graduate students, with a $5000.00 maximum award for each recipient, to cover travel costs. Funds will be available for travel starting February 2012.

Recipients must be enrolled in a graduate program at a US university. International students studying at a US university are eligible, but students enrolled in a non-US institution are not.

Support for this Fellowship will be provided on a reimbursement basis in accordance with CUAHSI Travel Policy (see below). One-third (1/3) of the budgeted funds may be requested as an advance to cover large initial expenses. Recipients will also be required to submit a final report documenting effort and significant outcomes of the sponsored activities to receive full reimbursement.

Testimonials from Previous Awardees

My CUAHSI Pathfinder-funded trip to the University of Aberdeen was an amazing learning experience as a PhD candidate in the later stages of my degree. The opportunity to pick up and move in with another research group for an extended visit was quite stimulating from both professional and personal perspectives. The skills I learned and relationships I developed are certainly an incredible asset to my graduate experience and future career.

Cody Hale, 2009 Pathfinder Recipient, traveled to the Northern Rivers Institute (NRI- www.abdn.ac.uk/nri/) at the University of Aberdeen in Aberdeen, Scotland, UK

I specifically chose . . . to work with internationally recognized sediment transport expert Dr Marwan Hassan. His flume lab and detailed field monitoring site at East Creek were vital to my research… My PhD dissertation has greatly improved as a direct result of this research. Without this funding I would never have been able to conduct research with Professor Hassan nor conduct experiments vital to my thesis. Thank you.

Hal Voepal, 2010 Pathfinder Recipient, traveled to the University of British Columbia

• 2011 Pathfinder Fellowships Awardees.
• 2010 Pathfinder Fellowships Awardees [Press Release].
• 2009 Pathfinder Fellowships Awardees.