The application for the Company Of Biologists Travel Grant Closes on 30 September 2023
The Company of Biologists travel grant supports student and early career scientist SEB members with taking part in conferences, workshops, research trips, and laboratory visits. Eligible members may also apply for funding to support registration for virtual or online events and training courses.
The funding is very kindly provided by The Company of Biologists, a not-for-profit publishing organisation dedicated to supporting and inspiring the biological community. The Company of Biologists facilitates scientific meetings, provides travel grants and support research societies.
Before you make an application, take some time to check that you meet the eligibility criteria and also read the terms and conditions.
Overview
The Company of Biologists travel grant supports students and early career scientists so they may gain research experience and develop their careers.
Student and early career scientist SEB members can apply for up to £800 funding to cover the costs of travel associated with taking part in conferences, career development workshops, research trips, and laboratory visits. This funding can also be used to support registration fees for online events and training courses.
As part of your application, you will be asked to provide the following documents in PDF format:
- two reference letters (one will need to be from your supervisor)
- a letter from your university administration or head of department confirming your student or early career scientist status
As part of the application form, you will also need to provide:
- a justification outlining how the conference/event/ training course/lab exchange visit/ field trip is relevant to your research and how it relates to future professional goals and current research interests (see judging criteria)
- an abstract on your research or on the presentation that you are intending to give (see judging criteria for details on how this aspect will be judged)
- a breakdown of expected costs (see judging criteria for details on how this aspect will be judged)
The funding has been kindly offered to the SEB by The Company of Biologists.
This grant has 4 application rounds per year:
- 31 March 2024- for activities taking place after 1 May 2024
- 30 June 2024 - for activities taking place after 1 August 2024
- 30 September 2024 - for activities taking place after 1 November 2024
- 31 December 2024 - for activities taking place after 1 February 2025
The meeting you're applying for should be at least 1 month after the application deadline. Please submit your applications as far as possible in advance of your trip. For example, if your conference or meeting is after 1 November, you don’t have to wait until 30th September to apply. You can send us your application before the March or June deadlines.
Eligibility and Criteria
To be eligible for The Company of Biologists travel grant:
- you must be a student or early career scientist member of SEB
- you must be in the second consecutive year of membership or pay for a multi-year membership when joining if you qualify for it
- you must not have received funding from the Company of Biologists in the previous 12 months
- your research needs to be within SEB's remit. This is restricted to the subject areas that are covered by our activities (animal, plant, and cell biology). Research directly related to medicine is precluded as it is better funded than most biological disciplines
- your travel/ activity date must occur at least 1 month after the application deadline for the quarter. For example, if your meeting is on 15 October, apply by 30 June.
- the maximum funding award is £300 for travel within own country, £600 for travel within own continent, and £800 for travel beyond own continent
- the maximum funding award for attending virtual conferences and training is £250
- applications from scientists who are presenting at a conference or meeting are looked on more favourably than those who are not presenting
- if demand outstrips supply, priority will be given to: applicants from low and middle-income countries as specified by the World Bank and applicants who are incurring travel costs
Terms and Conditions
- Claim your award within three months of the award notification date
- Funds can only be used for the meeting/ research trips/ workshop that you applied for unless express permission is given by the SEB beforehand
- Grant recipients who claim their award but do not attend the event will be required to repay the grant in full
- You must acknowledge the SEB in any presentation you give. A copy of the SEB and The Company of Biologists logos will be given to successful applicants for this purpose.
- After your trip, you must send us electronic copies of your receipts to show how you spent the grant
- we also require that you write a report of your trip upon your return. A grant report form will be sent to successful applicants for this purpose. Pictures from your trip are also welcomed but not compulsory. Your report may be published on the SEB website or in the SEB Magazine.
- Grant holders are required to turn in any part of the grant that has not been spent when the grant activities have been completed
Judging Criteria
Applications will be judged using the points-based system detailed below.
|
Research relevance to experimental biology |
The abstract is very well presented and provides clear and detailed information on their research. The research is very relevant to experimental biology and to the animal, plant and cell section.
|
3 |
|
The topic is relevant to animal, plant, or cell biology, but not specifically in the field of experimental biology. |
2 |
|
|
The topic is loosely relevant to experimental biology, exploring more general themes of biology. |
1 |
|
|
The topic is not at all relevant to experimental biology and explores themes outside of animal, plant or cell biology. |
0 |
|
|
Benefits to research |
The applicant provides specific details, such as topics, concepts, and issues regarding their research/work and its relevance to the conference/event/ lab visit/ research trip/ training course the applicant is attending/ undertaking. |
3 |
|
The applicant provides general information regarding topics, concepts and issues regarding their research/ work and its relevance to the conference/event/ lab visit/ research trip/ training course the applicant is attending/ undertaking. |
2 |
|
|
The applicant provides a description of the conference/event/ lab visit/ research trip/ training course the applicant is attending/ undertaking but explanation of the conference’s relevance to their research/work is vague. |
1 |
|
|
Conference/event/ lab visit/ research trip/ training course is not relevant to applicant's research or work. |
0 |
|
|
Professional Development |
The applicant is specific as to this conference/event/ lab visit/ research trip’ training courses’ relationship to future professional goals and current research interests. |
3 |
|
The applicant is vague about the conference/event / lab visit/ research trip’ training courses’ r relationship to future professional goals and current research interests. |
2 |
|
|
Relevance of the conference/event/ lab visit/ research trip/training courses’ relationship to the applicant’s professional development is unclear or underdeveloped. |
1 |
|
|
Conference/event is not relevant to applicant's professional development. |
0 |
|
|
Budget |
Applicant describes a detailed and complete budget (travel, lodging, etc) |
2 |
|
Applicant gives some information on expected costs |
1 |
|
|
No detail on expected costs |
0 |
|
|
Presentation |
The applicant is presenting a talk or poster |
1 |
|
The Applicant is not presenting |
0 |
|
|
The Applicant is not presenting (application is not for conference) |
2 |
|
|
Geographical area |
Applicant is from Low income country |
3 |
|
Applicant is from low-middle income country |
2 |
|
|
Applicant is from upper-middle income country |
1 |
|
|
Applicant is not from low or middle income country |
0 |
|
|
Travel |
Applicant is travelling outside continent |
3 |
|
Applicant is travelling within continent |
2 |
|
|
Applicant is travelling within home country |
1 |
|
|
Applicant is not travelling |
0 |
In the event that demand outstrips supply, preference will be given to:
- members from low-income, and middle-income economies as defined by The World Bank according to their latest report
- applicants who are incurring travel costs
To apply, please click the button below:
