Duquesne has a rich culture of undergraduate student research, and the Student Conference Fund is here to show it off. The Charles Henry Leach II Fund is offering funding to students to support involvement in research conferences. This endowment is given to students with the purpose of lessening the burden of paying for conference associated fees. Up to $1,000 may be awarded to use on eligible expenses at a regional, national, or international conference to present your research.
Last year, I was able to participate in two conferences at Duquesne: The Integrity of Creation (IOC) conference and Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Symposium (URSS). These were the first conferences I had attended as a presenter. I was able to learn how to communicate my research both visually and verbally. At the IOC, I had the opportunity to sit on a panel and receive questions about my research. At the URSS, I presented my poster in a large group and received an award for my research in environmental sciences. When I presented a poster at my internship the following summer, I was complimented on my ability to efficiently convey my conclusions and poster design. Due to my plentiful opportunities at Duquesne to present, I was able to go into a different environment and impress with my skills.
Students are eligible for this grant if they are an enrolled undergraduate student in any program, in good academic standing, and have already been accepted to present at a conference. Students may only receive this award once in the academic year (2023-2024). Expenses that are considered eligible include registration/membership fees and travel/accommodation fees. Expenses that are not eligible include personal expenses or meals. This is not a complete list of costs and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
I have had several lab mates who have traveled far and wide to participate in national and even international conferences. Having a fund that can help with fees allows for students to participate in these events without worrying about money. This opportunity is meant to allow students to focus on the research, and not the money.
The application for this fund is located on their website as well as its requirements. Components of this application include a project abstract, developmental statement, your resume and transcript, the completed application form, and budget in the formatting conveniently listed on the website. Applications are received all throughout the academic year and responses are communicated within 5-7 business days. When applying to this fund, it is important to apply quickly after acceptance to the conference to confirm maximum time for this process to work.
After the conference, the student is expected to submit several materials, including a photo of the student/poster at the conference, a 100–250 word summary of the experience, and a summary of expenses.
The link to the website for this grant will be listed below and if you have any questions regarding this opportunity, please reach out to the Director of Student Research, Joel Ward at wardj@duq.edu
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