Resources to fund Scholarship, Meetings, or non-STEM Research
Some funding mechanisms are intended to support individuals in their pursuit of scholarship and research outside of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. Often this support comes in the form of individual fellowships that are awarded directly to individuals; the funding does not flow through the university.
Other funding can be requested to support activities that do not involve research explicitly, including workshops and conferences to develop new collaborations, writing books and compilations, holding exhibitions, and travel to visit collections. Such funding may or may not flow through the university.
If faculty and staff have questions about individual fellowships, workshop grants, publication funds, or other activities that are not considered research, contact:
Proposal Development Services for assistance on funding from federal agencies
Foundation and Corporate Engagement for assistance on funding from private organizations
Scholarship
Many federal agencies offer fellowships for researchers of differing career stages. If you're interested in a fellowship, be sure to look at federal agencies in your field of study to see what they support. You may also want to browse our resources by funding agency for more information.
Students interested in fellowship opportunities should contact Grad Studies.
Conference Grants
Funding is available for those interested in organizing conferences and workshops on specialty topics. Below are some of the external funding sources that support funding in this area.
NIH Support for Scientific Conferences (R13 and U13)
Support for high quality conferences/scientific meetings that are relevant to NIH's scientific mission and to the public health.
NSF Conference Proposal
NSF supports conferences in special areas of science and engineering that bring experts together to discuss recent research or education findings or to expose other researchers or students to new research and education techniques. NSF encourages the convening in the U.S. of major international conferences.
NEH Collaborative Convening Grant
Supports scholars working together to advance humanistic knowledge by funding conferences and working groups. Convenings are one of four project categories in the Collaborative program, along with planning international collaboration, manuscript preparation, and scholarly digital projects.
PDS Resources for NEH Convenings
- Collaborative (Convening) Workflow Calendar
- Collaborative Grant (Convening track) Narrative Template
- Collaborative Grant (Convening Track) Proposal Checklist
FDA Scientific Conference Grant Program
This funding opportunity supports small conferences or scientific meetings. Examples include a symposium, seminar, workshop or any formal meeting, whether conducted face-to-face or virtually. The purpose is to exchange information and explore a defined subject, issue, or area of concern impacting public health within the scope of the FDA's mission.
Wenner-Gren Conference Grant
Supports meetings and events that promote the development of inclusive communities of anthropologists and advance significant and innovative research. Conferences that we support are public events directed at large audiences of anthropologists. We prioritize scholarly gatherings that bring together members of large, international anthropological organizations.
Travel Funding
Travel grants support students, postdocs, and faculty in subsidizing travel to participate in academic conferences and other opportunities for career and research advancement. Typically a travel grant will cover some or all of the costs of airfare, hotel, conference fees, etc. Travel grants are available to faculty and students at various stages, and are offered by home institutions, professional organizations and funding agencies.
From UC Davis
Undergraduate Research Center travel grant
For undergraduate students who are presenting at research conferences, meetings of regionally, nationally or internationally recognized professional societies
UC Davis Graduate Studies travel award
Graduate students at or near the completion of their studies who have not previously received this award and who are presenting a research paper (acceptance of paper may be pending at time of application) are eligible.
Postdoctoral Scholars Association travel grant
Current UC Davis postdoctoral scholars who need financial assistance to present their work at conferences. Postdoctoral scholars with full support to travel to conferences may apply; priority is given to applicants with limited or no funding.
Academic Senate faculty travel grant
The purpose of these grants is to support Academic Senate faculty travel to meetings or virtual conference attendance for which funding is not available from an external source.
External Travel Funding
NSF Travel Support
Funding for travel support, either domestic and/or international, for participation in scientific and engineering meetings is handled by the NSF organizational unit with program responsibility for the area of interest.