ASP Research Travel Grants

Lillian Calvert ’25 traveled to Peru to explore the different modes of sustainable agriculture being implemented by local farms. She visited three different regions to learn about the history of these techniques and how to put them into practice. Lillian worked on two different farms in both the Amazon and the Apurimac regions. She learned a great deal about sustainability, plant medicine, and environmental stewardship from the people she had the opportunity to live and work with in Peru. To view her work, click here.

Take a look at our latest newsletter highlighting some Winter Break projects.

ASP Research Travel Grant Funding, Eligibility, Requirements

The ASP Research Travel awards are designed to support research projects that involve smaller-scale travel compared to traditional study abroad or off-campus learning opportunities.

These awards provide funding for short-term travel to conduct interviews, observe natural or cultural events, or visit specialized archives. It's important to note that ASP Research Travel funds cannot be used to support internships or pay tuition at another institution. Other restrictions may also apply.

Funding is limited, with grants available for up to $2,000 for projects conducted during winter, spring, or summer breaks. In exceptional circumstances, grant requests totaling more than this amount may be considered if accompanied by a full expense breakdown in the required budget form. Full-time, continuing students at Oxy from any major are encouraged to apply.

Terms and Conditions

Failure to meet any of these requirements, terms, or conditions may result in the rescission of your funding.

• Proposals for joint projects will be considered for funding but will require special consideration. Each student must apply individually and have their own research perspective and plan that can be completed independently if the other student is not funded. Each application should also clearly acknowledge the contributions of all collaborators.
• Students must disclose all other college funding applied for or secured in the budget form.
• International travel: Projects involving international travel require up to six weeks for review and approval. This process includes the URC application review, International Programs Office (IPO) travel clearance, and IRB approval, if applicable. Funding is conditional upon completing all required approvals. Students must follow the College’s Global Projects Policy and complete the required Travel Clearance before departure. 
  • The College does not guarantee approval for travel to all countries or locations. Travel to locations designated as Level 3 or 4 is prohibited. The College may decline an application or rescind prior approval if the proposed travel is determined to present significant risk. For additional information, please review the College’s Global Projects Policy.
  • Do not begin the IPO clearance process until you receive official notification that your project has been approved.
• If your project requires IRB approval, you must obtain it before starting the project.
• Funds will be released only after all required approvals and clearances have been completed, and documentation has been provided to the URC at urc@oxy.edu.

Application

Complete the Google Form Application. At the end of the form, you will need to upload your application packet merged as a single PDF file, saved as LastName, FirstName_ASPResearch.pdf, in this order:

• Project Description: (Limited to two pages, written by the applicant.) Must begin with a clear, one-sentence research question or project goal that you expect to address throughout your project. This should be followed by an elaboration of the project, a discussion of its importance, an explanation of the methodology you expect to use, a review of prior investigations by you or others, and literature citations where appropriate (for tables, figures, and quotes).
• Personal Statement: (Limited to two pages, written by the applicant.) Should describe prior work that prepares the student for the proposed project and the importance of the proposed activity to the student's intellectual or professional development.
• Itemized Budget: (prepared by the applicant.) Use the URC ASP Budget form to provide a detailed list of all project costs. The fillable PDF form is available for download. Note: Budgets should reflect the project's total cost, and funding expected from other sources should be listed.
• Mentor: Must complete the Mentor Support Form by the deadline.

Deadlines

Due by 5:00 PM local time on the specified due date.

Final Report

The final report for your trip is due two weeks after the return date, as listed in your award letter. The report should include a comprehensive overview of your travel experiences, including insights and any relevant data gathered during the research journey. Additionally, all copies of the boarding passes must be included, as they are required for verification purposes.