Research & Conference Funding for Graduate Student Departmental Leadership Roles
In most universities and departments, faculty engaged in demanding leadership roles are offered supplemental resources to help support their research and professional development. Our department takes the position that graduate students’ departmental leadership should be supported in similar ways. To recognize graduate students’ extraordinary leadership in department life while serving in the roles listed below, the department will offer $500 for allowable research costs and/or costs of participation in academic conferences (travel, registration, meals and incidentals). These funds must be used by the start of the next academic year following the term of service (i.e. if service was in 2021-22 academic year, funds must be claimed by the start of 2022-23 academic year), and you must be enrolled as a student at the time the funds are claimed. Normal state rules apply and funding cannot be used for personal reasons.
To claim reimbursement, graduate students must submit receipts and the non-travel reimbursement form and/or Pre-Travel Approval form to Parwati for eligible expenses. If you are uncertain whether a particular research or conference cost can be reimbursed, please ask Parwati before you make the expenditure.
Eligible Roles
- GGSA Co-Presidents (up to 2 members)
- Colloquium Committee (up to 3 members)
- DEI Committee (up to 3 members)
- Participation in faculty search committee (up to 1 member)
Departmental Howard Martin Funds
The Department of Geography distributes modest research support for graduate students twice each year from funds dedicated to the memory of Howard Martin, who was a long-time professor and founding chair (1935-50) in this department. Because of Professor Martin’s tremendous dedication to graduate education and mentoring, these funds are used to support field research and travel by geography graduate students that can be meaningfully advanced with fairly small amounts ($100 – $1500) of assistance.
Applications are accepted twice a year in autumn and spring quarters. Enrolled students can expect a call for proposals in the early part of fall and spring quarters from the Graduate Program Coordinator.
The UW Dissertation Writing Award (aka Presidential Dissertation Fellowship)
This is a one-quarter award from the Graduate School that carries with it a stipend at the level of Predoc TA II. Applying for this award requires a letter from your dissertation adviser. Each department is limited to submitting two nominees each year. Therefore, the submission process occurs as follows:
- all applications from geography graduate students are reviewed and ranked by the Graduate Studies Committee;
- the first- and second-ranked applications are forwarded to the Graduate School for the full review.
- If one of these two applications is successful but the other is not, the unsuccessful applicant for the UW Dissertation Writing Award then receives the departmental Gerlach Fellowship.
- If neither application receives the award, the application ranked number one then receives the Gerlach Fellowship.
- If both applications sent to review receive the university-wide award, the third-ranked application receives the Gerlach Fellowship. For more information, please visit: http://www.grad.washington.edu/students/fa/dissertation/index.shtml or contact Marilyn Gray in the Graduate School at megray@uw.edu or (206) 685-4248.
Department of Geography Gerlach Award
The Gerlach Award provides one quarter of financial support for advanced Ph.D. students in the writing stage of their graduate program. Please see the description of the UW Dissertation Writing Award (directly above) for information about how this award is granted each year.
Graduate School Fund for Excellence and Innovation (GSFEI) Travel Awards
Any graduate student may apply for this travel award fund that is used specifically to pay your transportation costs (airfare and ground transportation only). The Director of Academic Services must approve and submit your application; you cannot do it on your own. You must apply in advance of your intended travel based on the following schedule; funding will not be awarded retroactively. When you receive this award, schedule a meeting with the department Fiscal Specialist, Parwati Martin. The department will purchase your airfare (or fare for other mode of transport). Do not purchase this on your own. After accepting the award in MyGrad, you will need to fill out a Geography Pre-Travel Approval Form for UW Travelers in order to complete payment of your travel expenses. Attach the award notice to your form and send it all to Parwati to review and route to the Chair, Sarah Elwood, for approval. This needs to be done BEFORE you travel. Parwati can also advise you on purchasing airfare or other transportation expenses that will be paid on these funds.
Deadlines:
June 1 for travel between July 1 and August 31
July 1 for travel between August 1 and September 30
Aug. 1 for travel between Sept. 1 and Oct. 31
Sept. 1 for travel between Oct. 1 and Nov. 30
Oct. 1 for travel between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31
Nov. 1 for travel between Dec. 1 and Jan. 31
Dec. 1 for travel between Jan. 1 and Feb. 28/29
Jan. 1 for travel between Feb. 1 and March 31
Feb. 1 for travel between March 1 and April 30
March 1 for travel between April 1 and May 31
April 1 for travel between May 1 and June 30
May 1 for travel between June 1 and July 31
For more information, visit: http://www.grad.washington.edu/students/fa/gsfei/travel.shtml
UW Graduate and Professional Student Senate Travel Grant
This award is open to all UW graduate students and funds conference travel (except meal per diem). $300 domestic, $500 international. The deadline to submit an application is midnight on the Friday of the fourth week of the quarter. Consult the departmental Fiscal Specialist for the relevant budget number to include on your application, and also provide the Fiscal Specialist with a copy of your application. Once you receive the award, schedule a meeting with the Fiscal Specialist to purchase your airfare.
For more information, see: http://depts.washington.edu/gpss/services/funding/travel-grants
Miscellaneous Non-Travel Reimbursements
If, under some circumstance (e.g. financial support through some external fund or fellowship), a graduate student pays for something out-of-pocket that they expect to be reimbursed for, it is of utmost importance that one first consult with the department Fiscal Specialist to verify that it is an approved expense for reimbursement.