Illinois Physics Grad Travel Awards

The Illinois Physics Department has been awarded significant funding to support expenses (e.g., travel, registration, lodging, etc.) for grad students to attend scientific conferences or workshops during 2012.

We invite Illinois Physics grad students to submit applications for conference travel funding using the Illinois Physics Grad Travel Fund application, the information and online form for which are available at http://physics.illinois.edu/grad/travel-award-fund.asp.

As described in the Grad Travel Fund information page, the grad travel application schedule for 2012 will be divided into three time periods with three separate deadlines, and I anticipate making ~5-6 awards of up to $800 each during each of the three funding periods.

The two elements required for a complete Grad Travel Award application include (i) a completed Grad Travel Award form (https://my.physics.illinois.edu/surveys/survey.asp), which should be completed by the grad applicant, and (ii) a brief note of support from the applicant's thesis adviser, which can be submitted to Lance Cooper via e-mail (slcooper@illinois.edu).  Please make sure to follow the instructions carefully when filling out and submitting your applications.

Note that the purpose of this funding is to increase the visibility of our graduate students and their research.  Consequently, funding priority will be given to students applying for travel expenses to attend special conferences or workshops that are not already supported by their adviser's research grants.  A committee of graduate students has been formed to provide funding advice on award applications, but the final funding decisions will be made by the associate head for grad programs.

The first deadline for applications is January 15, 2012, to support travel to conferences and workshops during the period March 1 - June 30, 2012.

If you have any questions about this travel fund or the application process, please contact Lance Cooper at slcooper@illinois.edu.  I hope that you can make use of these funds to provide greater visibility to you and all the great research that you do here in the department.