Travel Awards for Graduate Students

Group of people standing and chatting around a table at a conference

The Irving Institute for Cancer Dynamics (IICD) is pleased to announce the availability of travel awards for graduate students. With a maximum reimbursement of $1,000, these awards are designed to support graduate students in IICD core and associate groups who wish to present their research at regional, national, and international conferences. The specific award amount is contingent upon the availability of funds. The travel awards will correspond to matching funds from the research advisor or the student department. The maximum amount of each travel award is $1,000 or the matching amount from the advisor/department, whichever is smaller.

Apply here (see below for application process): https://forms.gle/bSVcnp7rguXfg477A

  • MS or PhD student supervised by an IICD core or associate faculty member (see complete list here)
  • The award is limited to one graduate student per lab and fiscal year (July 1st - June 30th). If another member of your research group was approved to receive an IICD travel award in the same fiscal year, you will not be eligible to apply.
  • The graduate student must be presenting at the conference (e.g.: poster, paper, presentation).
  • The conference or event must be relevant to the student’s graduate research.
  • All applicants must follow current Columbia University travel requirements, including complying with the Columbia International Travel Planning Policy if applicable.
  • Students must mention the Irving Institute for Cancer Dynamics as an affiliation when registering for the conference and must add the IICD in the acknowledgements section for their presentation/poster/etc.
  • If the IICD approves the travel award, the recipient, including details about the poster/paper/presentation at the conference, will be featured in the IICD newsletter and on social media.

- Apply at least three months before the conference takes place.

- Complete the travel award application form and provide the supporting documentation:

  • details about the conference you wish to attend
  • a title and scientific abstract for your poster/presentation
  • a statement (up to 500 words) that outlines why attending the conference/event would offer a valuable opportunity for your professional development
  • a short statement from your faculty advisor explaining why they support your attendance at the conference and how the experience will contribute to your professional development
  • a letter of acceptance, a formal invitation, or a program agenda or schedule as evidence of acceptance (if applicable)
  • a realistic budget estimate for expenses that will be incurred. e.g.: provide a spreadsheet or table including registration fee, estimated lodging and travel expenses, per diem meals ($25/breakfast, $35/lunch, $75/dinner), etc. A reminder that expenses must follow current Columbia University travel requirements.
  • an annotated list of any additional outside funding sources (confirmed or potential one(s) you are applying for). e.g.: research advisor funding, department funding, conference travel grants, fellowship, etc.

Link to application: https://forms.gle/bSVcnp7rguXfg477A

The Institute will review the application and grant the awards based on an internal review. Applicants will be notified of the decision via email. Please anticipate a two to three weeks turnaround time for review of your application.

The award is not guaranteed, and requests are considered on a first-come, first-served basis based on remaining available funds. The award is limited to one graduate student per lab and fiscal year (July 1st - June 30th). If applications exceed available funds, students who have not received an award in previous years will have priority.

If selected for the award, funds will be dispensed after the conference as a reimbursement. Ensure to keep the receipts for all costs incurred, such as airfare, lodging, registration fees, meals, etc., during the conference.

- Send to Lorenza Favrot (Assistant Director, Outreach and Communication, [email protected]) the following information: name of the conference, title, and abstract of the paper/poster/presentation, a link to the relevant page in the conference program/webpage, a picture of you presenting at the conference (in priority) or a headshot if the first option is not available.

- Complete the conference travel reimbursement: https://cancerdynamics.columbia.edu/iicd-intranet. For any questions related to travel reimbursement, please get in touch with Reed Black, IICD Admin Coordinator, at [email protected].

Please send an email to [email protected].