2023 Student/Early Career Participation Awards

Thank you to those who submitted an application. 

CERF provides travel grants to support student and early career members attending and presenting at CERF 2023 in Portland, Oregon. Students and early career professionals in need of financial assistance to attend the 2023 conference may request travel support from CERF's William E. Odum/Scott Nixon Memorial Fund for Student Activities. Awards typically range from $150 to $300 per person. Student/Early Career Travel Awards are strictly to offset CERF 2023 expenses such as travel, accommodations, and meals. Students can use this award as leverage to gain additional support from their academic department or employer.

To apply for Student/Early Career Travel Awards, simply check the box that says “I would like to apply for a student/early career award” during conference registration and fill out the form at the bottom of this page.

Applications are now closed. Thank you to all who submitted.

Student members are also encouraged to participate in the Student Volunteer Worker program which provides a stipend towards registration fees in exchange for volunteer help at the conference. Applicants may apply for a Travel Award and participate in the Student Volunteer Worker program, but we anticipate that students will receive support from only one source.

Please note that Early Career members are not eligible for the Student Volunteer Worker program. Due to generous donations from our community, CERF anticipates being able to support the majority of Student members who apply for both Travel Awards and the Student Volunteer Worker program for the CERF 2023 Conference.

Please contact Brian Donnelly and Helen Cheng at [email protected] with questions! CERF Affiliate Societies (ACCESS, AERS, CAERS, GERS, NEERS, PERS, and SEERS) may also award conference travel money to students or early career members.

Eligibility and Application:*

To qualify for a Student/Early Career Travel Award, an applicant must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Be enrolled at a university or college for the 2023 spring, summer, or fall semester (Students).
  • Have graduated in a related science degree program any time after November 2018 AND willing to serve as a judge for student presentation awards (Early Career).
  • Be a CERF member in good standing when you apply.
  • Be registered for and present at the CERF 2023 conference.
  • Agree to fill out a conference evaluation form, including your observations and recommendations about student-related activities for future CERF conferences.

Applicants are highly encouraged, but not required, to submit an abstract to give an oral or poster presentation at the conference. Students or early career members presenting at the conference will be given priority. We will also prioritize students or early career members who have not received CERF travel awards in the past, but we encourage ALL eligible students or early career members to apply!

*Students, Recent Graduates, & Early Career: If you are a full-time undergraduate, graduate student, or are within 1 year of graduation while actively seeking employment, or if you graduated within the past five years are all eligible to apply.