Dartmouth provides funding to support graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in their research and career development. These resources help cover expenses related to thesis research, conference travel, and professional skill-building.
The Guarini Graduate Student Travel Fund
Postdoc Professional Development Award
Alumni Research Award
The Alumni Research Award, funded through the generosity of Dartmouth alumni, supports thesis research for currently enrolled PhD, MS (thesis track), MFA, and MALS students. Every school year, current graduate students can apply for funding of up to $1000 to support their thesis research.
Eligibility & Limitations
- Maximum award: $1,000 (with no more than $500 for travel).
- Covers research-related expenses but excludes conference travel and lab equipment.
- Requires a detailed budget and must be submitted via the application form.
- Requests for travel to attend a scientific meeting or to purchase computers, peripherals, or other forms of laboratory equipment will not be considered.
- Available to graduate students once during their studies.
How to Apply
Submit your application, which must include the following:
- A letter of support from your advisor
- A one-page description of your research
- A detailed budget proposal for the award funds. The award is designed to enhance your thesis research activity, and as such, your request must propose something that you might not readily accomplish otherwise.
Some examples are: provide access to a library archive to examine an original manuscript; provide access to a specialized item of equipment not available at Dartmouth; provide payment for additional subjects; perform field work at a distant site that might add an interesting perspective to data collected from your existing, local field site(s).
Post-Award Requirements
As part of this award, we’ll be featuring your research in a spotlight article on our news and social channels, highlighting the impact these awards have on graduate student research for our alumni community. Once approved, the Guarini School communications team will send you a short questionnaire about your project.
If you have questions about this award, email Amy Gallagher.
Recent Alumni Research Award Recipients
- Jacob Chalif ’21, Earth and Planetary Sciences
- Jae Hyung Woo, Psycological and Brain Sciences
- Reng Zhao, MALS
- Sarah Cuprewich, Ecology, Evolution, Environment, and Society (EEES)
- Ameya Kulkarni, Ecology, Evolution, Environment, and Society (EEES)
- Rodrigo Martinez, Sonic Practice
- Ivory Yang, Computer Science
- Nan Darham, MALS
- Allen Song, Engineering
- Baptiste Gibrat, MALS
- Zhuoya Zhang, Quantitative Biological Sciences
The Guarini Graduate Student Travel Fund
The Guarini School offers up to $1,000 in travel funding for graduate students attending a professional conference or workshop. Funds cover transportation, conference registration fees, and hotel expenses. Meals are not eligible.
Students supported by a research grant should use grant funds for travel — not the Travel Award.
Eligibility & Limitations
- Available once per student during their studies, this award is open to Guarini graduate students. Guarini graduate students include all PhD, MA, MALS, MET, and MFA students; and MS students in Engineering, Computer Science, and Earth and Planetary Sciences.
- Covers one conference or workshop; funds cannot be split across multiple events
- Preference is given to students in their final year, but all graduate students may apply
- All travel and reimbursement requests must be completed before graduation.
- Expenses charged to a Dartmouth credit card or chart string cannot be reimbursed to the student directly, but they can be covered by the Travel Award
How to Apply
- Submit your application before your conference or workshop (you will need to log in using your NetID). Have this information ready:
- Event description
- Estimated budget
- Other available travel funding sources
- Completed application form, with the event’s dates and location
- Letter of support from your advisor or department chair (see below)
- Detailed budget for your requested travel funds
You’ll receive a confirmation email once your form is submitted. Applications are reviewed within 7 business days, and you’ll be notified by email of the outcome, including your approved award amount (up to $1,000).
Letter of Support
Ask your advisor or department chair to write a letter that includes:
- The conference or workshop title
- The value of this travel for you, your graduate program, and Dartmouth
- Whether they support your attending this event
Reimbursement Process
- Within 30 days of completing your travel, submit your personal receipts as a single PDF, along with an itemized expense form provided by Guarini
- Expenses charged to a Dartmouth credit card or chart string cannot be reimbursed to you directly, but can still be covered by the Travel Award through a separate process
- All reimbursement requests must be completed before graduation
Important Note for International Travel
- Register in the Dartmouth Travel Registry if traveling internationally for Dartmouth-related business
- Registration is recommended, but not required, for all other travel
Postdoc Professional Development Award
The Dartmouth Postdoc Association (DPA) and the Guarini School offer a one-time award of up to $750 to support postdocs in professional development activities. This funding helps postdocs access training and experiences that may not be covered by their research funding.
Eligibility
- Open to postdoctoral researchers at Dartmouth.
- Must be used for an upcoming professional development activity (not past events).
- Applicants without dedicated professional development funding receive priority.
What the Award Covers
- Conference attendance
- Workshops & training programs
- Other career development opportunities
How to Apply
- Review eligibility criteria and application details here.
- Submit a request before the activity takes place.
Why This Matters
Postdoctoral training is a critical time for career development. However, many postdocs lack access to funding for training beyond their immediate research focus. This award helps scholars enhance their skills, expand their networks, and prepare for future career opportunities.
