Grants and Research Office
GRO Travel Grants
UST faculty and staff who are eligible to serve as a principal investigator on an external grant are invited to apply for travel funds to support the development of grant proposals directed to governmental agencies.
What are these GRO travel grants for?
Principal investigators are allowed to request up to $1,000 to support travel that will make the submission of a grant proposal possible or will significantly enhance the competitiveness of a proposal. These funds are intended to help our grantseekers carry out critical preparatory work that will position you to apply for grants for which you would otherwise not be competitive. These funds are also meant to encourage grantseekers to come forward who may want to apply for funding for a particular initiative but who have not yet done so because of an unfulfilled need for grant-related preparatory travel.
What can I request funding for?
It is anticipated that principal investigators will apply for support to pursue the following types of activities:
- Meet with program officers at federal agencies
- Discuss/develop a grant initiative with a distant collaborator;
- Consult with an expert who can help strengthen a proposal;
- Check out archives and other collections and meet with archivists;
- Observe best practices and consult with experts in their field;
- Attend a conference that is critical to an upcoming grant application; Explore a site that will be used for faculty/student collaborative research
- Principal investigators may use the funds for travel for themselves or to bring someone to campus.
What priorities are there for these travel grants?
Any principal investigator who needs extra assistance preparing a grant for submission to a state or federal agency is invited to seek an GRO travel grant. The following priorities will apply:
Absolute Priorities
In all cases, funds must be used in connection with the development of a grant proposal to a governmental agency. Principal investigators must demonstrate that the proposed travel is absolutely necessary and will make it possible for them to apply for a grant for which they would otherwise not be able to apply and/or significantly enhance the competitiveness of a proposal under development.
First-time principal investigators will receive priority under this program. Principal investigators seeking external grant funds to support innovative faculty/student research and service projects will receive priority under this program.
How can I apply?
There are no deadlines for applying for these funds. GRO travel grants will be awarded in the course of your collaboration with the Grants and Research Office as you develop a proposal for submission to a governmental agency and as it becomes clear that travel support is needed. Once that need becomes clear, you will be asked to submit a one-page proposal outlining your need for travel and your intended activities. So, the first step to accessing this kind of support is to consult with the GRO about your grant plans and get the ball rolling!
Where do I go with my questions?
Please contact David Steele (GRO director) with any questions that you might have. The GRO is very interested in a sustained partnership with you, and the travel grants are just one component of that partnership.
