Postdoc Travel Awards

 

Request for Funding Proposals for UNM Postdoctoral Travel Awards, Fall 2025

 

Purpose: 
UNM's dynamic population of postdoctoral researchers are integral contributors to our reputation for research excellence.  The UNM Office of the Vice President for Research and Office of the Provost are pleased to announce Postdoctoral Travel Awards to reduce barriers to the dissemination of research at national or international conferences. Up to five awardees will be selected per cycle based on: (a) how participation in the conference will contribute to the applicant's professional development; and (b) need with respect to prior opportunities to attend conferences or alternative sources of travel funds.  Preference will be given to applicants presenting research conducted while holding a position at UNM. This is not to be used for travel to support research activities (e.g. off-campus field study, archive access).


Funds: 

Up to $1,500 per award for costs associated with one conference:

  1. Travel 
      1. air, train, or boat fare and
      2. ground transportation between airport and hotel or airport and residence by taxi, Uber, or Lyft or
      3. mileage reimbursement at the federal rate on the date your application is accepted as defined by https://www.gsa.gov/travel/plan-book/transportation-airfare-pov-etc/privately-owned-vehicle-mileage-rates for privately owned automobiles and
      4. parking fees (excluding parking citations)
  2. Lodging
  3. Per diem based on rates at the time of acceptance as defined by https://www.gsa.gov/travel/plan-book/per-diem-rates  or https://aoprals.state.gov/web920/per_diem.asp for international conferences
  4. Conference registration fees. This may include the cost of an annual membership to the applicable professional organization, provided this is associated with discounted registration.

All use of funds must comply with UNM policy. Funds will be provided as a reimbursement to awardee upon provision of receipts/invoices/statements showing amount due and amount paid. Documentation must be provided to OVPR within 60 days of the first day of travel. If awardee is not able to provide payment upfront, bookings/registration may be made by OVPR with advance notice.

  

Open Date: April 17, 2025 

Deadline for Submissions: May 16, 2025

Notification Date: June 6, 2025 

Funding Available for conferences occurring: July 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025

 

Eligibility: 

  1. UNM affiliated postdocs working at least 0.5 FTE are eligible, including those from central, branch, and health sciences campuses. You must be eligible under this criterion at the time of application and at the time that the conference will occur. 

This includes: 

  1. Individuals classified as research postdoctoral fellows by the Office of Academic Personnel (FHB B2.3.12)
  2. Individuals paid by external postdoctoral research fellowships, provided that UNM is the primary affiliation, and the fellowship does not include a travel allowance (or applicant provides an explanation as to why that allowance is insufficient)      
  3. Funds must be used to support travel to present research (via oral or poster presentation) at a major national or international research conference.

      a. The conference must occur between 7/1/25 and 12/31/25.

      b. Applicant must have submitted an abstract by the time of application (unless abstract submission is not yet            opened); funding will be contingent upon proof of acceptance.

      c. Applicant may not have been awarded any other travel award for the conference specified in this application and no costs for which applicant has already received any type of funding will be reimbursed.

      d. Applicant may not have been awarded a travel award from this program within the past year (i.e. can only receive one award per full year or every other six month funding cycle). Note: preference will be given to candidates who have not previously received a UNM Postdoc Travel Award.

 

Application Materials:

All materials must be submitted by the deadline, with the exception of the Abstract Acceptance Communication

  1. Application: link here
    1. Name
    2. Email
    3. Dept
    4. Primary postdoctoral mentor
    5. What is the source of funding for your postdoctoral position at UNM [e.g., paid through research grant to PI/advisor, external fellowship from (specify agency)]?
    6. Dates of your postdoctoral contract/fellowship
    7. Name and date of most recent conference attended before this one
    8. Name and dates of conference for which you are requesting funds
    9. Link to conference registration information
    10. Abstract that was submitted to conference
    11. Are you presenting an (a) invited oral presentation; (b) contributed oral presentation; (c) invited poster; (d) contributed poster; or (e) other (explain)?
    12. Personal statement (350 words max). In the statement, please explain:
      1. How your presentation relates to the broader context of your postdoc at UNM.
      2. Your career goals after the postdoc
      3. How this conference will promote your professional development 
    13. What, if any, sources of funding for travel are available from your fellowship, department/program, or from the conference, and whether you have applied to/received any other sources to support your travel to this conference.

The following questions will NOT be used for selection of awardees. We are gathering this information to support the development of programming by the UNM Postdoc Association (PDA).

    1. How have you engaged with meetings and events organized by the PDA? 
    2. What kind of events for postdocs are you likely to attend?
    3. During which days of the week and times are you typically available to attend events?
  2. Curriculum vitae. Use the naming convention surname_ CV_ Fa2025 and upload in the application form.
  3. Budget: Breakdown of costs including category, dollar amount, and justification for dollar amount (e.g. link to website with rates for hotel or airfare on your dates of travel). Use the format in the example provided below. Use the naming convention surname_budget_Fa2025 and upload in the application form.
  4. Letter of support from mentor explaining the importance of attending the conference and why they are not providing funding for the conference. Use the naming convention applicant's surname_LOS_Fa2025 and send as an attachment to raqthomas@unm.edu.
  5. Correspondence from conference organizers indicating acceptance of abstract (required before award funds will be released). Forward to raqthomas@unm.edu.

 

Reporting and Service Requirements

Awardee must present their research at the annual NM Postdoc Research Symposium (NMPRS). In the event that the awardee is not able to present at the NMPRS, they must make arrangements to present at another PDA-associated event. Awardees are also expected to serve on the Postdoc Travel Award Application Committee during at least one of the cycles after receipt of Notification of Award.

 

Example Budget:

Item Cost

Cost Each

Quantity 

Total Cost

Source for Cost

Airfare

$xx

1

$xxx

delta.com search for actual 2024 conference dates (6/16/23)

Hotel

$xx

3

$xxx

Conference Rate at Hyatt Regency https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/event/2024ACReg

Registration

$xx

1

$xxx

https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/event/2024ACReg

Per Diem

$xx

3

$xxx

U.S. General Services Administration (https://www.gsa.gov/travel/plan-book/per-diem-rates, accessed 6/16/23)

Transportation - hotel to airport

$xx

2

$xxx

https://www.lyft.com/rider/routes/seattle-tacoma-intl-airport-to-hyatt-regency-seattle

FINAL TOTAL

$xxxx

 

 

 

AWARD CYCLES

cycle

open date

submission deadline

notification

for conferences occurring

Spring 2025

11/11/2024

12/2/2024

12/18/2024

1/1/25 - 6/30/25

Fall 2025

4/17/2025

5/16/2025

6/6/2025

7/1/25 - 12/31/25

Spring 202610/13/202511/7/202511/28/20251/1/26 - 6/30/26
Fall 20264/17/20265/16/20266/6/20267/1/26 - 12/31/26