BGSA Travel & Conference Award
The Biology Graduate Student Association (BGSA) is incredibly proud to introduce this year’s newest initiative: the BGSA Travel & Conference Grant! This award was pioneered by BGSA to provide a new source of funding support to offset costs incurred by graduate students presenting research in academic and professional settings.
Funded through BGSA's gift fund — including proceeds from our vendor shows and other fundraising efforts — this grant reflects our dedication to increasing access to graduate-student professional development opportunities and supporting academic excellence. We believe this initiative will also strengthen the graduate programs offered by the Department of Biological Sciences and help showcase UIC research both nationally and internationally.
To increase the accessibility and impact of this grant, BGSA intends to support at least 30 awardees during the 2026-2027 fiscal year (July 2026-June 2027). Eligibility, award amounts, and application requirements are outlined below.
Eligibility
To be eligible for this award, applicants must:
- Be an active BGSA graduate-student member in the Department of Biological Sciences. To maintain active-member status, two main requirements are: 1. Pay membership dues; 2. Actively engage with and participate in BGSA activities, including attending meetings (minimum 1), and events, or contributing to initiatives. Further active member requirements are described in Article III, Section 8 of the BGSA Constitution.
- Be in academic good standing with the UIC Department of Biological Sciences.
- Be presenting original research through a poster, oral presentation, or invited talk at an eligible academic or professional event during the current fiscal year.
- Not have previously received the BGSA Travel & Conference grant within the current fiscal year.
Individual awards may be made for up to $150. Applications are reviewed on a rolling, first-come-first-served basis while funds remain available. The BGSA Budget Committee determines final award amounts based on available funding and the number of eligible applicants. Students are encouraged to apply once their conference participation is confirmed.
The BGSA Budget Committee will notify each awardee of the approved gross award amount. The University will process the award through the recipient’s student account or issued through direct deposit, as permitted by University procedures. Applicable taxes, fees, account balances, or other University-required deductions may reduce the amount ultimately received by the recipient.
What the Award Covers
The grant helps offset reasonable expenses associated with conference participation, including registration, transportation, lodging, meals, baggage fees, local transit, and travel insurance.
Unexpected or incidental expenses associated with eligible travel may also be considered. The BGSA Budget Committee will review these types of expenses on a case-by-case basis.
Application Steps and Requirements
A complete application includes:
- A completed Excel application form, including:
- A breakdown of other funding sources contributing to the total conference costs.
- A brief description of the event and purpose of travel.
- Proof of conference participation, such as an abstract, acceptance letter, or event programming identifying the applicant’s scheduled oral presentation, poster presentation, or invited talk.
- Proof of conference registration, such as a registration confirmation or receipt. This requirement does not apply to invited speakers participating in academic or industry events for which registration is not required.
All applicants must complete the following steps:
- Download the Excel application form from biosgsa.com.
- Complete the Excel application form.
- Combine all supporting documents into one PDF named: BGSA_Supporting_Doc_2026_2027_FirstName_LastName.pdf
- Email the completed Excel form and supporting-document PDF to [email protected].
Review and Payment Timeline
The BGSA Budget Committee will generally notify applicants of their decision within one to two weeks, upon submission of a complete application. Incomplete applications may require additional review time. Following approval, payment timing will depend on University processing procedures.
| bgsa_travel_award_09172026.xlsx |
