The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences will consider small (<$500) requests from EPS graduate students to meet immediate research needs when existing resources just fall short. Requests for funding must support the graduate student’s field or laboratory research or fund travel expenses to support research (through, e.g., conference presentations or external collaborations). The student must have already secured other sources of funding to meet the majority of planned expenses. These awards are intended to “bridge the gap” only—they are not intended to be the only or primary source of funding for any research activity, and only intended for those with a demonstrated, near-term need. (Example: the student has won a competitive travel grant but is just short of the required funds to complete the planned research activity.) Awards are not intended as a cost-sharing program for students or faculty with existing resources.  Requests are considered on an ongoing basis, but no student may receive more than one “Bridging the Gap” award per year. Funds may become exhausted over the course of an academic year. 

Application Requirements: Please fill in the following Google Form and provide the requested information in the text boxes: (1) a one to two paragraph description of the planned research activity and its relation to the student’s program of study and (2) a one to two paragraph explanation of the planned expenses, primary sources of funding, and need for the “bridging the gap” funds.

Eligibility: Earth and Planetary Science graduate students with demonstrated need. 

Application deadline: Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and will be evaluated within two weeks of receipt. 

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The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences will be offering awards for Spring 2024, summer 2024, and the 2024-2025 academic year. These awards are funded by EPS foundations and endowments and have a variety of eligibility requirements and restrictions on use of funds. Awards are designated for graduate students, undergraduate students, or both and range in size from small stipends to completely funded (tuition + salary) one-quarter GSR appointments. Each application will require one recommendation letter from a faculty advisor. Due to current circumstances, the EPS Awards committee is prioritizing Spring 2024 academic quarter awards and plans to make at least two selections. However, the EPS committee welcomes applications for summer 2024 and academic quarter 2024-2025 awards. Selections will be made for these periods if funds allow. The Awards Committee consists of Dr. Edward Schwieterman (Chair), Dr. Andrey Bekker, Dr. Wei Liu, and Dr. David Oglesby.

Application requirements: Please fill in the following Google form and provide the needed attachments: (1) a one-page research statement describing the proposed investigation and the need for award funds, (2) a one-page curriculum vitae, (3) a budget (if requesting funds in addition to a GSR), (4) contact information for one letter writer. Applicants should indicate whether they would like to be considered for spring 2024, summer, and/or 2024-2025 academic year funding, where applicable (e.g., Blanchard). Please justify your choice in the research statement. Please pay heed to the eligibility requirements. Undergraduate applicants are only eligible for the Mike Murphy Endowed Field Studies Fund. The applicants agree to allow the awards committee access to their UCR academic transcripts by applying.

Application Deadlines:
February 9 to be considered for Spring 2024 awards.
April 22 to be considered for all other awards.

Available Awards and Eligibility Requirements

• Roland Blanchard Fund—Graduate Application: One academic quarter GSR appointment (tuition + salary) or one summer quarter of funding (50% FTE) for graduate students working on any aspect of field geology, mineralogy, or geochemistry of mineral deposits other than oil. Additional eligible expenses such as equipment or travel may be considered and require an additional budget narrative. Awards will be based on merit and need. Eligibility: Graduate students who have not received a Blanchard award at any time in the past. Those who have received an academic award from another fund are eligible to apply, but priority will be given to qualified applicants who have not received an academic quarter award from the committee. To be considered for a Spring 2024 award, you must otherwise be scheduled to be a TA in that quarter. We will cross-check this list.
• Mike Murphy Endowed Field Studies Fund—Graduate Application: One summer quarter of funding (50% FTE) for graduate students engaged in field studies at the Department of the Earth and Planetary Sciences. Additional eligible expenses such as equipment or travel may be considered and require an additional budget narrative. Awards will be based on merit and need. Eligibility: Graduate students who have received no more than one-quarter of summer funding from the EPS Awards Committee in the past three years.
• Mike Murphy Endowed Field Studies Fund—Undergraduate Application: Awards of up to $3,000 to support the research of undergraduate students engaged in field studies at the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. Eligible expenses include travel support for field research or conferences, conference fees, research equipment, and summer research stipends. Awards will be based on merit. Eligibility: Undergraduate students. Note: in the Google form, type “N/A” for fields that do not apply to you.

The Google Form will request past support and other details that include:

• Current quarter at UCR (e.g., 5th quarter)
• Quarters supported by Fellowship (including Dean’s Distinguished Fellowship)
• Quarters supported by TA (not summers)
• Quarters supported by GSR (not summers)
• Summers supported and unsupported
• Fellowship applied for by the date (e.g., NSF, NASA, UCR internal, other external)

—David, Eddie, Wei, and Andrey (the Departmental Awards Committee)

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