INSTAAR grad student scholarships

Special funding opportunities provide support for INSTAAR graduate students either annually or during summer research.

Sarah Crump Graduate Fellowship 

Sarah Crump, in purple coat, stands in front of a dramatic Baffin Island landscape of colorful tundra suddenly broken by towering cliffs.

Next application deadline: Late February, 2026.

Thanks to the efforts of Sarah's family and 1200+ generous donors, we met our first funding goal in May 2023 and created an endowment that supports a CU Boulder grad student every summer. Sarah's summer fellowship gives a boost to their study of Earth or environmental science in Arctic, Antarctic, or alpine regions. It also acts as a lever for equity and underserved communities. Our next goal is to extend summer support into the school year. Please consider contributing.

Learn about Sarah & her fellowship   Contribute to Sarah's fellowship

George Aiken Graduate Fellowship

George Aiken, wearing a blue button-up shirt, stands in bright sunshine with the Colorado Front Range foothills and mountains behind him

Next application deadline: To be announced.  The previous deadline was 15 June 2023

CU Boulder graduate students can apply for up to $3,000 in funding in support of collaborative water-related research.

Funding can be applied to tuition, salary, and research expenses (not including equipment).

Learn about George & his fellowship   Contribute to George's fellowship

INSTAAR Summer Scholarships for grad students

Sade Clemons twists a hand auger to take a narrow core from a tree

Next application deadline: March 5, 2025.

INSTAAR graduate students are invited to apply for INSTAAR Summer Scholarships. These awards are intended to support the scientific research of INSTAAR graduate students who enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within INSTAAR. Each scholarship recipient will be awarded compensation in the form of a research stipend, equivalent to a 50% RA position for three summer months.

As INSTAAR is dedicated to broadening support in the Earth sciences, we particularly encourage applications from individuals who are members of communities that are historically marginalized in the Earth sciences; including students who are Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Hispanic or Latinx. We also encourage applications from students who can show dedicated engagement with Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion principles. Preference will be given to applicants who plan to continue their research at INSTAAR for at least one academic year following the scholarship award. 

See more about our Summer Scholarships