Travel Grants for Undergraduate Scholars

Travel grants are awarded to encourage undergraduate research scholars to present their scholarly work at a regional or national conference. A maximum of up to $ 400 may be awarded to a student to defray the incurred travel expenses. It is expected that the faculty mentor and/or the department will provide additional funds to cover the remaining travel expenses. Only one travel grant per student per year will be awarded.

Benefits of presenting at a conference

COMMUNICATE YOUR RESEARCH

When you present your research at a conference, you are sharing your findings with other researchers in the field who value your contributions. You also have the opportunity to learn more about the exciting developments in your field of research.

NETWORK WITH THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY

You have the opportunity to introduce yourself to the wider scientific community and explore other areas of interest. These interactions might lead to fruitful collaborations or to future jobs, internships, or graduate school admissions.

h

become a professional researcher

When you attend a conference, you grow as a professional. You gain more opportunities, tools, and the skills to accomplish goals in a timely fashion. You also meet other researchers in a setting that helps you thrive and enables you to refine your research.

Additional information

What's Covered with a Travel Grant?
  • A maximum of $400 may be reimbursed to defray the student’s travel expense.
  • The travel award can be used for the following expenses: airfare, lodging/hotel and registration fees (If you are splitting the cost of your hotel room with another person(s), you must let me know). 
  • The travel award cannot cover the membership fees, gas, meals, or international travel expense at this time.
  • Travel grant application should be submitted at least 30 days prior to the conference departure.
  • Please note that only the amount that was approved prior to the travel will be reimbursed when the student submits all the required receipts within 20 days of conference return.
Requirements:
  • Proof of conference acceptance required at the time of submitting a travel grant application.
  • The faculty mentor and/or department should provide additional funds to support the student’s travel.
  • Applicant must be an enrolled Mines student when traveling to the conference.
  • Travel awards are reimbursement grants. Students are responsible to submit paperwork within 20 days of conference return to get reimbursed. Keep the receipts safe as we will need copies.
  • Travel awardees are required to present their work at the Mines undergraduate research symposium held annually in April.
Eligibility and Selection Criteria:
  • Applicants must be currently enrolled Mines undergraduate student conducting research with a  Mines faculty.
  • Applicants must present their scholarly work at the conference.
  • Only one travel award per student per year.
  • Applications for the travel awards will be considered on a rolling basis until the travel funds are exhausted.

Competitiveness of application and exact award amount will depend on the following: Applicants will be preferenced who are first-authors or sole presenters; have participated in research through Undergraduate Research Scholars (ie MURF).

Click Here to Apply for a Travel Grant

Travel Grant Recipients

2025-2026

Emily hansen

Emily Hansen, a Chemistry senior, presented her research at the 86th New Mexico Regional NMR^2 Meeting in Alburquerque, NM. According to Emily, “This experience was valuable to my research because I had the opportunity to present my work to experts who specialize in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), which is the spectroscopic tool our group utilizes the most. Since I had never attended a regional meeting like this before, it aided in my professional development because I was able to network with fellow faculty, post-docs, scientists, and graduate students to learn what kinds of opportunities are available after I graduate. This impacted my future plans by granting me the necessary exposure and experience with presenting my work to scientific experts to aid in graduate school applications and future conferences I attend.”

Mentor: David Halat, Chemistry

Caroline Hufnagel

Caroline Hufnagel, a Chemical Engineering senior, traveled to the AVS International Symposium and Exhibition in Charlotte, North Carlolina to present her research, “The Impact of Plasma Enhancement Gasses on Hydrogen Superpermeation Through Palladium Alloy Metal Foil Pumps.” According to Caroline, “I learned a lot attending the AVS 71st International Symposium. I attended many talks, some related to my field, some not in my field at all. I also gained a better understanding of how conferences are structured and how they operate. Since my goal is to go to graduate school, learning about conferences and presenting my own work was a valuable experience.”

Mentor: Colin Wolden, Chemical and Biological Engineering

Wyatt Brooks

Wyatt Brooks, a senior in Chemistry, presented his research at the Gulf Coast Undergraduate Research Symposium in Houston, TX.  According to Wyatt, “The experience of presenting to other undergraduates, Rice graduates and Rice faculty was an amazing way to expand my connections and meet interesting people. Having met many people from universities across the country allowed me to see the breadth of research happening, and has me excited to continue working in chemistry. Being able to receive feedback and talk to graduate students also gave me great insight into the PhD experience in chemistry, reinforcing my decision on returning to school for an advanced degree.”

Mentor: Michael McGuirk, Chemistry

Karsten Kunneman

Karsten Kunneman, a Chemical Engineering senior, presented his research at the 2025 AIChE Annual Student Conference in Boston, MA. According to Karsten, “My time presenting at the AIChE Annual Conference exposed me to the greater chemical engineering and academic community, and I was able to receive feedback from all different kinds of people which will bolster my future work. Getting the chance to sit in on talks from representatives from various universities and all over the world exposed me to so much of what chemical engineering can offer, and I am doubtlessly more motivated to excel and innovate than before.”

Mentor: Amadeu Sum, Chemical and Biological Engineering

Omar Mansurov

Omar Mansurov, a Chemical Engineering senior, presented his research at the 2025 AIChE Annual Student Conference in Boston, MA. According to Omar, “By disseminating my work to the wider chemical engineering community, I strengthened my academic presentation skills while bolstering my confidence in research work. Through discussion with peers, fellow researchers, and faculty, I have forged connections across graduate schools and various research labs that will serve me well in my future career as an academic and researcher. My conference experience is a major highlight of my senior year at Mines and an amazing start to my graduate education.“

Mentor: Diego Gomez-Gualdron, Chemical and Biological Engineering

2024-2025

Ethan Arends

Ethan Arends, a QBE student, presented his research at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists in Pittsburgh, PA. According to Ethan, “This conference has been one of my best undergraduate experiences. I have been sure that I have wanted to pursue a dual-degree (MD/PhD) and focus my research on diseases associated with aging ever since the end of second year at Mines, but was really unsure about all the specific requirements I would have to meet in order to achieve this goal. This conference not only introduced me to peers who are on similar paths to me, but also showed me the number of opportunities that I have when pursuing my path. From the institutions I met with that offered dual-degrees, I was able to refine my list of interested schools and learned about programs that I had never heard about.”

Mentor: Eduardo Davila, University of Colorado, Anschutz

Kagan Killough

Kagan Killough, a Chemical Engineering student, traveled to the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) 2024 Annual Meeting in San Diego to present his research, “Nanoscale Engineering of Ceramic Supports for High Permeance Membrances in Hydrogen Reforming.” According to Kagan, “This October, I had the great experience of attending the AIChE annual conference in San Diego, where I presented research I had been working on for the past year and a half. This conference provided ample opportunities to meet others and network. I exchanged ideas with other researchers on similar projects, many of whom had experienced similar problems and results but tackled them differently, or began working on tangential issues. I received advice about pursuing a Master’s or Ph.D from current and past students, many of them international, which is something that I hope to pursue in my future.”

Mentor: Colin Wolden, Chemical and Biological Engineering

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Rewa Raizada

Rewa Raizada, a junior in the QBE program, presented her research at the American Chemical Society (ACS) Fall 2024 Conference in Denver, CO.  According to Rewa, “Attending the ACS Fall 2024 conference was an incredibly fulfilling experience that allowed me to collaborate with chemists and researchers from around the globe. As a member of the Trewyn Research Group, where I have been working for the past two years, this conference presented the ideal venue to showcase our work on fabricating mesoporous silica nanoparticles with an iron core for transporting organometallic catalysts and exogenous enzymes.This experience expanded my understanding of current global research in chemistry and inspired new perspectives on how we can further our work. It reaffirmed the importance of such gatherings in fostering meaningful collaborations and advancing the field of chemistry. The ACS conference, without a doubt, was a crucial step in my professional development and deepened my appreciation for the vast, interconnected nature of the scientific community.”

Mentor: Brian Trewyn, Chemistry

Maya Maes Johnson

Maya Maes-Johnson, an Applied Mathematics & Statistics senior, presented her research at the American Geophysical Conference Annual Meeting in Washington D.C. this December 2024. According to Maya, “AGU 2024 was an enriching experience as an undergraduate researcher. I had the opportunity to connect with various faculty and students from the universities I had been researching for graduate school. By far, the most enjoyable and impactful part of this experience was attending and presenting at one of the poster sessions. Conducting research as an undergraduate can feel a little intimidating and presenting at an international conference with so many influential researchers made me a little worried about the reception of my project. Despite this, while presenting, I had several conversations with other geoscientists and was excited to realize that many people were interested in the work I had done. I left AGU feeling capable as a researcher and excited for the next steps in my academic career.”

Mentor: Piret Plink-Bjorklund, Geology & Geological Engineering

Alexander Kleen

Alexander Kleen, a Mechanical Engineering senior, presented his research at the Solid Freeform Fabrication Conference in Austin, Texas in August 2024. According to Alex, “Traveling to the Solid Freeform Fabrication Conference was an incredible experience. I was able to spend several days at the conference listening to research done in many different fields of additive manufacturing, as well as having the opportunity to present my own research. I learned about the types of additive manufacturing I was not super familiar with, such as Vat Photo Polymerization and Directed Energy Deposition, as well as seeing where additive manufacturing was making an impact in industry. I plan on having a career in additive manufacturing, working to use additive to complete tasks that tradition manufacturing may not be able to complete easily.”

Mentor: Joy Gockel, Mechanical Engineering

Zhuoyi Wang

Zhuoyi Wang, a Compuater Science senior, presented his research at the American Physical Society Global Summit in Anaheim, California in March 2025. According to Zhuoyi, “Attending the APS conference and presenting my research on ultra high energy cosmic rays had been a valuable experience. I got to learn the research and ideas at the forefront of physics in addition to obtaining valuable presentation experiences, such as scientific communication, at conferences. Professional wise, the opportunity for me to attend sessions for quantum computing and machine learning reinforced my passion to continue research in the field. Seeing other people’s research at a conference which I have also presented at makes me believe that I will produce good research results if I continue down this path with hard work and talent.”

Mentor: Eric Mayotte, Physics

Addison Olstad

Addison Olstad, a Quantitative Biosciences and Engineering senior, presented her research at the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics  Conference in Denver, CO this May 2025. According to Addison, “Attending the SIAM conference was an incredibly valuable experience for my academic and professional development. I had the opportunity to meet researchers and students from around the world, which broadened my perspective on the global scope of mathematical research. Engaging with a diverse range of talks deepened my understanding of current work in applied mathematics and helped me better envision the role I want to play in the field. The conference also provided a platform to discuss research opportunities, and as a result, I now have a connection with a university in Canada that may lead to a potential PhD position—something I hadn’t expected going in. This experience has reaffirmed my interest in pursuing graduate studies and a research-focused career in quantitative biosciences.”

Mentor: Cecilia Diniz-Behn, Applied Mathematics and Statistics

Amber Congdon, Evan Christie, Vanessa Watson, and Thomas perkins

Amber, Evan, Vanessa, and Thomas, four students in Dr. Kamil Ciesielski’s VIPER “Quantum Materials Discovery” group, presented their research at the 2025 VIP Consortium Annual Meeting in Atlanta, GA. According to Vanessa, “The Vertically Integrated Projects Consortium provided me with many opportunities for personal and professional development. I was able to present my research in an understandable way to people outside of my discipline, which is a valuable skill for an aspiring researcher such as myself. I also learned about diverse research projects from placebo testing a skin cream to elementary science education. Through these presentations and subsequent conversations, I was able to connect with other rising researchers from various disciplines to grow my professional network.”

Mentor: Kamil Cieciliski, Physics

Additional 2024-2025 Travel Grant Recipients

 

Calvin Hinkle

William Pham

 

 

 

 

2023-2024

AmIi LAMM

Amii Lamm, a Physics student, presented her research at the American Physical Society April 2024 Meeting in Sacramento, CA. According to Amii, “As a senior entering a PhD program in the Fall at the University of Michigan, this experience was a very valuable steppingstone into my career as a scientist. From understanding the basics of beginning and intentionally working on a research project to preparing a presentation in a way that was relevant to the audience, the entire process gave me an introduction to what my work might look like for the next five years as a PhD student. I am very grateful for the opportunity that was given to me, and I look forward to continuing my academic pursuits and gaining confidence in presenting at these settings in the years to come.”

Mentor: Kyle Leach, Physics

Charles Vath

Charles Vath, an Electrical Engineering student, traveled to the 2024 International Applied Computational Electromagnetics Society (ACES) Symposium in Orlando, Florida to present his research, “An Interactive Visualization of Electrostatic Electric Field and Potential Distribution.” According to Charles, “Attending the Applied Computational Electromagnetics Society (ACES) conference in Orlando, Florida facilitated great connections with innovative research and researchers. [This experience] increased not only my knowledge of computational electromagnetics, but also facilitated new insights into areas of research that I could [continue to] pursue.” 

Mentor: Atef Elsherbeni, Electrical Engineering

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Madie Addis

Madie Addis, a Chemical Engineering student, was awarded a Travel Grant to deliver an oral presentation at the 2024 REMADE Circular Economy Tech Summit and Conference in Washington, D.C. in April 2024. His presentation was titled “Global material flow of macro and micro plastics to support a circular economy.” According to Madie, “This conference was an incredible opportunity to learn more about current research centered around creating a circular economy. I gained so much knowledge at this conference and was exposed to areas of research I may want to pursue in my future. I intend to start applying to PhD programs in the fall, and this conference widened my perspective of my prospects, which is super valuable. “

Mentor: Amy Landis, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Lisa Elmiladi

Lisa Elmiladi, an Electrical Engineering student, presented her research, “Wireless Monitoring of S-Parameters Measurement using a Nano-VNA for Biomedical Applications,” at the 2024 International Applied Computational Electromagnetics Society (ACES) Symposium in Orlando, Florida. According to Lisa, “Participating in the ACES conference and presenting my research was an invaluable experience that significantly contributed to my educational pursuits, professional growth, and future career objectives. The experience gained through this research and presentation aligns perfectly with my ambition to pursue graduate studies and a PhD in Electrical Engineering, focusing on RF and antennas for biomedical applications. The feedback and insights received from experienced professionals at the conference have shaped my understanding of the field’s needs and where future research could be most impactful.”
Mentor: Peter Aean, Electrical Engineering

Ryan Carbajal

Ryan Carbajal, an Quantitiative Biosciences and Engineering student, presented his research, “Hydrogen storage in subsurface: influence of rock and geofluid chemistry” at the American Chemical Society Spring 2024 Meeting in New Orleans, LA. According to Ryan, “This experience was invaluable, as it challenged us to address questions and concerns from a diverse audience. These varied perspectives highlighted aspects of our research that we might not have considered otherwise, enriching our understanding and other considerations of research within our field. Traveling to the conference enabled me to make meaningful connections and broaden my professional network, significantly contributing to my future aspirations. As I foresee research within my future, this experience will prepare me to be even more confident when I prepare to travel or have conversations regarding research I’m conducting.”
Mentor: Parisa Bazazi, Petroleum Engineering

Alyssa Hanson

Alyssa Hanson, a Computer Science student, presented her research, “The Power of Advice: Differential Blame for Human and Robot Advisors and Deciders in a Moral Advising Context” at the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)/Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) International Conference on Human Robot Interaction in Boulder, Colorado.

According to Alyssa, “Attending the Human-Robot Interaction conference was a unique and valuable experience that enabled me to connect with experts and peers in my field, offering networking opportunities that will benefit my future. The experience also enhanced my presentation skills, allowing me to practice speaking in front of a larger audience. By sharing my work at this event, I made a valuable contribution to my field and received peer feedback, which will be instrumental in refining my future interactions and interviews.”

Mentor: Tom Williams, Computer Science

Cailyn Smith

Cailyn Smith, a Computer Science student, presented her research, “Perspectives on Level of Autonomy Decisions in Space Robotics” at the ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human Robot Interaction in Boulder, Colorado. According to Cailyn, “Attending the Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) Conference was an amazing experience to talk with faculty at other universities in the field I hope to pursue a PhD in, network with PhD students, and meet other undergrads who are similarly interested in research! The sessions gave me insight into the variety of ongoing research in the HRI field as well as areas of research that I would like to explore in the future. Having the opportunity to present my work at the conference helped to enhance my communication skills in an academic setting and created opportunities for fascinating conversations with professionals in academia, industry, and government. It was incredibly beneficial to attend and present at the HRI conference, and I am very grateful to the Office of Undergraduate Research Scholars for providing funding towards it!”
Mentor: Tom Williams, Computer Science

Kenny Hora

Kenny Hora, an Electrical Engineering student, presented his research, “Sensor Data Relay System for Underground Mine Communications” at the Aplied Computational Electromagnetics Society Conference in Orlando, Florida. According to Kenny, “It was an amazing experience travelling to the Applied Computational Electromagnetics Society (ACES) Conference in May to present my research. As I am finishing up my undergraduate degree, being able to participate in the ACES conference and go through the steps of drafting a paper, submitting it for review, revising, and having it accepted were very enlightening to me, especially as I shift into studies for my Master’s degree and potentially a PhD. It was also amazing meeting other leading researchers in the field, hear about their experiences, and discuss how other research that I am doing might be improved. I am excited to bring this learning back to Mines in the fall and see how it might be pursued.”
Mentor: Atef Elsherbeni, Electrical Engineering

Armand Ovanessians

Armand Ovanessians, a QBE senior, was awarded a Travel Grant to deliver an oral presentation at the Pacific Symposium on Biocomputing in Waimea, Hawaii in January 2024. His presentation is titled “Creation of a Curated Database of Experimentally Determined Human Protein Structures for the Identification of Its Targetome.” Armand’s research has the potential to begin answering the question, “How can we develop a platform that illuminates the impact of specific drugs or ligands on every individual human protein?”

Mentor: Susanta Sarkar, Engineering Physics

Claire Nelson

Claire Nelson, a Chemistry senior, was awarded a Travel Grant to deliver an oral presentation at the ACS Rocky Mountain Regional Meeting in Laramie, WY in September 2023. Her presentation was titled “Examining the physical interactions of surface-initiated cationic polymer brushes with therapeutic nucleic acids for gene delivery.” Claire’s research has the potential to provide a new polymeric model that could be viable for other forms of drug delivery besides nucleic acids.

Mentor: Ramya Kumar, Chemical & Biological Engineering

Frances LeDuke

Frances LeDuke, a Geological Engineering sophomore, was awarded a Travel Grant to poster presentation at the Geological Society of America Connects conference in Pittsburg, PA in October 2023. Her poster was titled “Correlation of electrical resistivity profiles and soil properties at mine waste sites.” Frances’ research is trying to understand the extent to which contamination due to legacy mining can be determined or measured.

Mentor: Rennie Kaunda, Mining Engineering

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Additional 2023-2024 Travel Grant Recipients

 

Keith Borbridge

Alexis Capitano

 

 

 

Annie Huang

Wayne Snodgrass

 

John Taylor