Travel Awards

PDPA offers travel awards to BU postdocs to present their work at conferences or attend for professional development. Postdocs with full financial support to travel may still apply, but preference will be given to scholars with limited or no available funding.

Awards are given for opportunities up to $500. Funding must be used for the purpose detailed in the application, and excess funds will not be disbursed.

Selection Criteria

Applications are open to any individual with a postdoc appointment at Boston University, though scholars may only receive one award during the duration of their postdoc.

A panel of faculty will evaluate travel grant applications using the following selection criteria:

  • Value of the professional development opportunity as described in application and/or letter of support
  • Merit of research demonstrated by research abstract, or strength of connection between professional development opportunity and candidate’s research as described in course/workshop description
  • Merit of the individual’s research background and scholarly activities as described on their CV/resume
  • Financial need

Submission Deadlines and Award Dates

This award has three review cycles per year. The deadlines for each cycle are:

Submission Deadline Award Issue Date
July 19, 2019 Mid- August
October 18, 2019 Mid- November
February 14, 2020 Mid- March

Electronic submission is required using the form below. PI letters of support can be sent separately to postdocs@bu.edu, but must be received by the award cycle deadline. Applications without a letter of support will not be considered for funding.

Postdoc Travel Award Application

  • Who are you?
  • What is your BU email?
  • Where do you work?
  • Where do you work?
  • Name of your research mentor
  • Is this a conference, course, etc?
  • Short summary of your research and findings
  • Describe why you want to take part in this opportunity and how attending will help you meet your professional development goals.
  • Accepted file types: pdf.
    Upload a copy of your CV or resume in PDF format.
  • Accepted file types: pdf.
    Upload letter from your research mentor in PDF format. Letter must describe value of the professional development opportunity, scholar's merit, and whether or not there is a need for financial support.