Activities such as attending conferences and workshops, conducting research in archives and delivering papers at conferences play an important role in the professional and intellectual development of graduate students. Accordingly, the Graduate Group strongly encourages students to explore this avenue for professional development, as part of full preparation for a career that includes teaching and publication of research. The following procedures have been devised to ensure the fairest distribution of funds.
Students wishing to apply for a financial subvention should
- discuss the suitability of attending a conference with the Graduate Chair and with their advisor or the chair of their dissertation committee.
- show evidence that they have applied to SASgov, GAPSA, and any other appropriate funding source. (Some conferences offer subventions for graduate students).
- supply the following details to their Graduate Chair and advisor:
- Title and theme of the conference
- Location and date of the conference
- Title and abstract of the proposed paper
- Brief explanation of the paper's relevance for the student's dissertation and research
- Budget including all travel and accommodation costs.
The Graduate Group cannot subvent more than one conference or research-related professional activity per year for each graduate student, and the amounts awarded for travel bursaries are contingent on the number of applications received. Under no circumstances will applications be accepted after a conference.
Other Sources of Funding for Summer Projects, Travel, and Conferences at Penn
Retroactive Research Student Travel Grant
President Gutmann Leadership Award
GAPSA – Provost Fellowship for Interdisciplinary Innovation
Provost's Campaign for Community
Graduate students seeking funding for summer projects, travel, and conferences are also encouraged to talk to their advisor and the Graduate Chair about potential sources for funding from outside the university.