Eligibility
Grants will be available to graduate students and postdoctoral and junior scientists for work related to their theses or for other purposes. Eligibility for applicants with doctorates is limited to those five years or fewer beyond their Ph.D. or equivalent degree, although, rarely, exceptions may be made. A graduate student applicant should ask their academic supervisor or field trip leader to write one of the two letters of recommendation, specifying the role of the student in the field trip and the educational contribution of the trip.

Budgets should be limited to travel and related expenses, including subsistence and lodging while away from home. Personal field equipment is also an eligible budget item.

The competition is open to U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, and foreign nationals formally affiliated with a U.S.-based institution, who may carry out research anywhere in the world. Applicants from outside of the United States may apply for funding to carry out research in the United States.

When appropriate, applicants should provide assurances that safety measures will be taken for potentially hazardous projects. When necessary, the applicant and their supervisor should describe the field training that will be provided and the provisions for experienced supervision. The applicant should reference the connection of the project to astrobiology via the Astrobiology Roadmap. This information should be included in the Statement of Purpose.

Awards
Amounts will depend on travel costs, but will ordinarily range between $5,000 and $7,000. Grants are payable to the individual applicant. Blumberg Grants are taxable income, but the APS is not required to report payments. It is recommended that grant recipients discuss their reporting obligations with their tax advisors. Grant funds may not be applied retroactively and are not to be used to pay income tax on the award.

Requirements
Each grant recipient will submit brief reports on their trip per the instructions provided at the time of the award. The project and financial reports are due one month after completion of the funded portion of the work, per the time frame indicated on the proposal.

Retrieve the application form via the link to the right.

Maintain the specified format. Type all information; use nothing smaller than 11 pt. Respond to every section in the space provided. The completed application should be submitted as an e-mail attachment to [email protected].

Download the referee letter form, forward it to your letter writers, notify them of the deadline, and instruct them to send the completed form to [email protected]; confirm with them that the letters have been sent in time.

Questions concerning the eligibility of a project, applicant, or use of funds, as well as requests to confirm receipt of the application and required two letters of support, should be directed to Linda Musumeci, Director of Grants and Fellowships, at [email protected], or 215-440-3429.