As part of UBC's ongoing efforts to support its young research talent, in 2011 the Faculty of Graduate Studies and UBC Science launched a travel award program for postdoctoral fellows.

The awards are designed to assist PDFs with travel to conferences to present research performed at UBC. Approximately four awards are allocated, three times a year. Funding will be provided to a maximum of $2,250 per recipient for travel associated with a conference presentation. UBC Science will contribute up to $1,500 towards eligible travel costs contingent on one-third of the travel expenses being reimbursed by departmental or research funds.

The next application deadline is June 30, 2012 and is for conference travel between the period August 1 and December 31, 2012. Michele Jayasinha in the Office of the Dean of Science administers the PDF Travel Awards.

Eligibility

• The applicant must be accepted to present an oral presentation or poster at a conference and must be the 1st author of the accepted abstract.
• The applicant’s supervisor’s administrative home must be in the Faculty of Science.
• No previous UBC PDF Travel Awards have been received by the applicant.
• The presentation must be on research performed during a PDF appointment at UBC.
• The applicant must be a current UBC PDF at time of application and at time of travel.
• Preference will be given to holders of major fellowships external to UBC that do not have associated funding for conference travel.

Allowable Costs

• Travel costs.
• Accommodation expenses.
• Meal expenses.
• Conference registration fees.

For information about per diem rates and other eligible travel expenses, please see UBC Policy #83: Travel and Related Expenses.

Application Procedures

Application deadlines are October 31, March 1, June 30 or the first working day thereafter. To apply, the following documents (pdf format preferred) must be submitted electronically to Michele Jayasinha at jayasinha@science.ubc.ca.

1. A completed PDF Travel Awards Application Form (FAMILY NAME.APPLICATION.PDF).
2. A copy of the applicant’s CV (4 page maximum) (FAMILY NAME.CV.PDF)
3. An outline of the conference (FAMILY NAME.OUTLINE.PDF)
4. Proof that the applicant will be presenting at the conference (FAMILY NAME.PROOF.PDF) **

** If official confirmation of acceptance of the abstract has not been received before the travel award application date, please submit proof of abstract submission. Receipt of an award is conditional upon being accepted to present at the conference.

Adjudication Procedures

Applications are adjudicated by committee, and applicants will be notified of the status of their application by email approximately two weeks after the closing date.

Reimbursement

In order to be reimbursed, accepted applicants must provide the following within one month of returning from travel.

By mail, to the finance manager of the Applicant’s department:

• A completed PDF Travel Awards Reimbursement Form.
• Original, itemized and dated receipts.
• Copy of completed PDF Travel Awards Conference Report.

By email, to jayasinha@science.ubc.ca

• A completed PDF Travel Awards Conference Report.

Payment will be generated by Financial Services. For questions pertaining to payment, please directly contact Financial Services Requisition Processing. Please note that original receipts will not be returned.

Reporting

Applicants agree to submit a 200-word report of the activity to the Postdoctoral Fellows Office (PDFO) and the Office of the Dean of Science via email within a month of their return, granting the PDFO permission to post this report on its website.

Further Information

Please email Michele Jayasinha at jayasinha@science.ubc.ca should you have any questions.