You've finished a project, submitted the paper, and now you need to get there!

You now get to do the fun part of research: travel to tell others about it. But of course, traveling can be expensive. Airfare, hotel, taxis and busses, food, and conference registration all cost money. Few, if any, graphics conferences are in the midwest, so you're looking at around $1,000 to attend even the cheapest conference.

So how do you get money?

Well, the answer is complex. I'll help you get there, but I expect you to look for other sources of money besides me. My willingness to fund you depends on a number of issues, most importantly how much I have to give, but if you look for money from numerous other sources, I'll be much more excited about picking up the rest.

Luckily there are numerous parts of the University that want to give you money! But you have to ask. Nicely. And follow the rules. And deadlines.

1. The computer science department has money to support travel. The process here is simple: e-mail the department chair (send it to me or your advisor, as well, please).
   • Say you are going to a conference and would like departmental support.
   • Specify that you will be presenting. (If not, don't bother asking.)
   • Include the name, dates, and location of the conference.
   • Include the name of your work.
   • Specify if it is a paper or poster presentation.
   • Award: $300-400 (as a "reimbursement")
   This is available to graduate or undergraduate students, for either domestic or international travel. Usually the department will only fund one trip per year, though this depends on where you are presenting and the amount of money available.
   
   
2. The Graduate Student Senate has travel funds.
   • Deadlines occur 5 or 6 times a year.
   • Must be presenting original research.
   • Make sure to follow the instructions.
   • Reviewed by students, so significantly tone down the jargon and tech-speak.
   • Limit one award per year.
   • Award: $200-400 (as a "fellowship")
   You can apply anytime after your paper has been accepted, up to 3 or so months after the conference. But you probably want the money sooner. Funding here is only available to graduate students, though both domestic and international trips are supported.
   
   
3. The Executive Council of Graduate & Professional Students has travel funds. In the near future, the web page may move here.
   • Deadlines are 4 times a year.
   • Must be presenting original research.
   • Make sure to follow the instructions.
   • Reviewed by students, so significantly tone down the jargon and tech-speak.
   • Limit two awards per year.
   • Award: $50-200 (as a "grant")
   You can apply anytime after your paper has been accepted, up to 6 months after the conference. But you probably want the money sooner. Funding here is available to any student (undergraduate or graduate) for any sort of travel. More distant conferences appear to get higher priority.
   
   
4. The Graduate College has travel funds.
   • No deadline. (Applications accepted anytime).
   • Need not be presenting (presumably a presentation improves funding chances).
   • Limit one award per fiscal year (July 1 - June 30).
   • Award: $300-500 (as a "reimbursement")
   
   
5. The UI International Programs Office has travel funds.
   • Deadlines three times a year (October, February, April).
   • Priority given to students presenting at refereed conferences.
   • Limit one award per year.
   • Award: $300-500 (as a "reimbursement")
   This program is only available to graduate students who are traveling to international conferences. "Canada" counts as international, but reduces the funding priority and limits funding to $300.
   
   
6. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has travel funds for undergaduates.
   • No deadline. (Applications accepted anytime).
   • Applications must occur before the travel, so apply as soon as you know your work is accepted.
   • Limited to one award a year.
   • Must have a faculty letter of support.
   • Award: ~$300 (as a "grant")
   These awards are looking to foster faculty-undergraduate relationships, so we should have been working closely for me to write a good letter. There are only a very small number of awards per year, so looking for other funds in addition to these would be wise.
   
   
7. The Women in Science and Engineering has travel funds.
   • Deadlines twice a year (mid-October and mid-February).
   • Must be giving an oral presentation (no posters).
   • Limit one award per year. (Unlikely to receive more than one while at Iowa).
   • Award: $300 (as a "grant")
   These awards are only available to female doctoral students. Travel may be for either national or international conferences. May apply anytime after the paper is accepted, up to the end of the fiscal year (June 30).
   
   
8. From me. To get money from me, you need to come talk to me.
   • You need to have a rough budget.
   • You also need to tell me where else you plan to look for money.
   • Award: Varies (as a "reimbursement")

Last Modified: Friday, October 17, 2008

Chris Wyman (cwyman@cs.uiowa.edu)