Every student in the Molecular Biology PhD program that has officially joined a thesis lab is eligible for a $750 annual travel award for conferences with the expectation that it is matched by the PI’s research funds. 

 

• To receive this award students must:

  • be in good standing (GPA of 3.0 or above)

  • have officially joined a thesis lab

  • present either a poster or an oral presentation

 

One award is available per student per academic year starting in Fall. Unused funds from previous years do not carry over to the next academic year. 

 

• Award funds can be used for:

  • Conference registration

  • Registration associated membership costs (for conferences that require being part of an association in order to register)

  • Travel (air travel, train, car (rental or miles), public transport from and to the conference and during the conference from and to the accommodation to the meeting)

  • Accommodation for the time of the conference +1 day before and after

  • Meals during the conference according to USC travel rules

 

• To receive award funds students must:

  • Submit receipts after the conference for all eligible items for reimbursement

    • Receipts must be submitted within 45 days of the conference

    • All items submitted for reimbursement must conform with the USC rules for travel reimbursement. 

 

• To apply for Molecular Biology travel funds students must:

  • Fill out Travel Grant Reimbursement Form

 

Important: Deadline to submit the application is 45 days after the first day of the conference. After submitting the application, please give MBGSA 14 days to review the application before reimbursements are submitted. 

 

For general questions about the travel award please contact MBGSA: mbgsa@usc.edu.

 

For special case requests and approvals please contact Carolyn Phillips: cphil@usc.edu. 

 

Travel fund applications can be submitted all year round. Funding cycle for 2021/2022 conferences stops on August 16th, 2022. Conferences starting after August 16th will roll over to the 2022/2023 travel funding cycle. This award can be combined with other awards.