Conference Funding

Applicants must:

• Apply for funding well before the conference. Funding cannot be applied for retroactively. 
• Be enrolled Harvard College degree-seeking students. Graduating seniors are eligible only through Commencement. 
• Remain enrolled during the semester in which the conference takes place
• Serve as the lead presenter at the conference. Students presenting collaboratively must each submit separate applications. 
• Present original, independent research in the form of a paper or poster
• Provide proof of conference acceptance
• Projects do NOT need to have been mentored by a Harvard-affiliated faculty mentor. Applications must, however, be supported by a reference from a Harvard-affiliated faculty member.
• Students may only receive conference funding once per academic year.

Award amounts are:

• Up to $500 for domestic conferences
• Up to $750 for international conferences

Funding may be used to support conference-related expenses, including travel, lodging, registration fees, and presentation materials.

Applicants are typically notified of funding decisions within approximately two weeks of submission.

Additional funding: Students receiving additional funding for the same conference presentation outside of this program must notify the conference funding administrator of all other sources, amounts, and eligible expenses covered.

In order to be reviewed, all elements of the Conference Funding application must be complete and submitted, including the letter of reference. Applications are evaluated based on:

• The quality and significance of the research project
• The student’s preparation for conference presentation
• The relationship between the conference and the student’s academic or research goals
• The educational value of the conference opportunity
• Faculty support for the project and presentation (we expect that projects will have faculty supervision but that need not be by a Harvard affiliated faculty member)

Applications are submitted on a rolling basis through the Harvard University Funding Portal (HUFP) after students receive acceptance to present independent research at an academic conference. Applications should be submitted at least two weeks before the conference presentation date. URAF is only able to make funding decisions on completed applications; letters of reference must accompany the application. 

Applicants should prepare the following materials for the application:

• Application Form. Complete the application form. In addition to basic biographical information, you will be asked to share information about the conference, travel, and the project presented.
  • IRB or Committee on the Use of Human Subjects Approval (if applicable). If the research project involved human subjects research with IRB or Committee approval, applicants should upload approval documentation.
  • Pre-Departure Requirements. If the conference is being held abroad, students will need to complete the pre-departure requirements. While we'll ask about conference location in the application, these requirements will need to be completed outside of the URAFConference Funding application (https://www.globalsupport.harvard.edu/travel/register-travel).
  • Budget Form and Narrative. Complete the budget section form, listing anticipated costs and spending categories. This should be accompanied by a brief Budget Narrative (maximum one page) explaining and justifying these expenses.
• Conference Funding Proposal
  Submit a 2–3 page double-spaced proposal describing the research project and conference participation. The proposal should address:
  • The conference and the student’s planned participation, including motivation for attending and goals for the experience
  • How the conference presentation fits into the student’s academic trajectory and/or research goals
  • The objectives, significance, and implications of the research project
  • The current status of the research project and how the conference presentation fits into the broader research plan
  • The anticipated use of funding, including estimated conference-related expenses
  • Faculty involvement in the project
• Conference Acceptance Proof. Upload a screenshot or document confirming conference acceptance.
• Letter of Recommendation. One academic letter of recommendation is required from a Harvard-affiliated faculty member familiar with both the student’s research project and plans to present at the conference. The recommender does not need to be the direct supervisor of the research project if the research was conducted with a non-Harvard faculty member. The recommendation should:
  • confirm support for the conference presentation; and
  • comment on the status of the research project and the student’s preparedness to present the work.
• Current Resume. Submit a current resume (maximum one page) describing significant activities, achievements, and experiences.
• Current Unofficial Transcript. Upload a current unofficial transcript from my.harvard.edu.

Students who receive URAF Conference Funding must complete a conference report following their presentation.

Conference Report

Submit a 2–3 page, double-spaced narrative report reflecting on your conference and presentation experience. Your report should address:

• Your research and presentation: Briefly describe your research project and your experience presenting it at the conference. Discuss any challenges or surprises you encountered and anything you might approach differently in a future presentation.
• The presentation experience: Reflect on the experience of presenting your research, whether in person or virtually. You might consider the questions, feedback, or conversations that were particularly useful to you.
• Academic and research impact: Explain how the conference experience will influence your remaining time at Harvard, your thesis or other research, and/or your continuing interest in the topic.
• Faculty engagement: If applicable, describe your interaction with your faculty sponsor in connection with the conference or your presentation.

The conference report is a requirement of the award and must be submitted via your original application in the Harvard University Funding Portal no later than two weeks after your conference presentation.