Graduate Student Research Grants

Click here for a Sample application.

The primary role of the GSA research grants program is to provide partial support of master's and doctoral thesis research in the geological sciences for graduate students enrolled in universities in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Central America. In 2008, 53% of the applicants received funding.

GSA strongly encourages women, minorities, and persons with disabilities to participate fully in this grants program.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundataion under Grant No. 045648.

The Geological Society of America is required to issue 1099 forms at the end of each calendar year according to rules set by the IRS. Issuance of a 1099 does not necessarily mean the income is taxable to the recipient. You need to make that determination which may require professional advice. GSA cannot offer such advice.

ELIGIBILITY

• Eligibility is restricted to GSA members. How to Join GSA.
• Applicants (US or non-US) must be currently enrolled in a U.S., Canadian, Mexican or Central American university or college in an earth science degree program (with a geologic component).
• Students may now only receive a GSA graduate student grant once at the Master's level and once at the Ph.D. level. This policy is retroactive to the beginning of your GSA research grant activity. Grant applicants who have applied in the past and have not been awarded may re-apply.
• You must have a valid e-mail address to apply.

DEADLINES

• All applications and appraisal forms must be submitted by Friday, 11:59 p.m. (MST), 1 February 2008.
• Award letters will be mailed out in late April. Results will not be disclosed by e-mail or telephone.

APPLICATIONS

• Please read all instructions before starting your on-line application.
• No transcripts are required.
• If you are applying for a Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division award (J. Hoover Mackin Award (Ph.D.) or the Arthur D. Howard Award (M.S.), please visit the QG&G Web page for more instructions. Any application that has "Quaternary geology and geomorphology" selected under "general field of research project" will be eligible for consideration for these awards regardles if you have received a prior GSA grant.  You do not have to be a paying member of the QG&G Division to apply.
• If you are applying for a Southeastern Section graduate student research award, please visit Southeastern Section Web page for more instructions. Any application that has a home state included within the Southeastern Section geographical region will be eligible for consideration for these awards.
• The Minorities and Women in the Geosciences Committee offers one $500 research grant to a qualified minority student. By indicating ethnicity (other than "White, not of Hispanic origin") on your application, you will automatically be considered for this grant.

APPRAISAL FORMS

• One appraisal is required with each application which must come from the primary advisor. Advisors do not have to be members of GSA or come from the same institution as the applicant.
• Requesting appraisals is one of the steps in the application process.
• Once the application has been started and either submitted or "saved for later", a dialogue box asking you to invite your advisor to fill in an appraisal form will appear. This will prompt an e-mail to the advisor; that e-mail will contain a link which will connect the advisor to a personalized appraisal form. Once submitted, the form will then be automatically linked to your application.
• The Appraisal Forms must be submitted by the advisors electronically. No mailed or emailed letters of reference will be considered.
• Applications missing the appraisal form will not be eligible.

PROGRESS REPORT FORMS

• All 2008 grant recipients are required to submit a progress report by 31 March 2009.
• A progress or final report, MS Word format, for any previous GSA research grant must be included with a current proposal regardless if one has already been submitted to GSA for other purposes.

TAXATION

• The Geological Society of America is required to issue 1099 forms at the end of each calendar year according to rules set by the IRS. Issuance of a 1099 does not necessarily mean the income is taxable to the recipient. You need to make that determination which may require professional advice. GSA cannot offer such advice.

For additional information please contact:

Program Officer

Grants, Awards and Recognition

Geological Society of America

P.O. Box 9140

Boulder, CO 80301-9140

Phone: (303) 357-1028

awards@geosociety.org

Thank you for your interest in our program.

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