Robert C. West and R.J. Russell Graduate Student Research Awards
Travel awards for Master and doctoral students in good standing in the Department of Geography & Anthropology to carry out thesis or dissertation research. For doctoral students, the award is intended for preliminary research as a pilot project that will lead to external funding. For Master students, the award is intended for thesis research. Students are encouraged to apply to NSF, Sigma Xi, and other agencies. Funds are limited and allowed only for travel (and not for stipends, supplies or equipment, assistants). Average awards have been $600. Student may receive one award during their degree program. Deadlines are March 1 and Nov 1 of each year. The March 1 deadline is for summer research. The November 1 deadline is for research over the winter break and spring. A report (500 words and a photo of applicant doing research) is due Nov 1 (for March 1 awardees) and March 1 (for November 1 awardees). Awardees will be instructed to log on to the LSU award portal to register in order to receive the funds. The West and Russell applications will be reviewed by the G & A Research & Scholarship Committee who will notify the awardees.
The application should be uploaded to the department web page under the West/ Russell icon and must include:
1. Cover page with student’s name, advisor, degree program, title of project, and amount requested, statement that the student’s advisor has read and approved the proposal
2. Project Description, including goals and significance, methods, location of research, description (maximum total 300 words)
3. References Cited: maximum one page
4. CV: maximum one page
5. Budget, itemizing travel costs
Budget justification (students should justify that they have found inexpensive travel options; state per-diem and gas mileage not allowed; use actual gas costs and food purchases, for example)
Application Deadline
Deadlines are March 1 and November 1 of each year.
How to Apply
Please email your cover sheet, project description (300-500 words), one-page references cited, completed budget and budget justification form, and one-page cv as a single pdf file to Dr. Heather Mckillop (hmikill@lsu.edu).