Conference Travel Grants

The current Conference Travel Grant process is under review. We will be implementing a new application form by Wednesday, October 19, 2026. We will provide the new form and instructions on this site at that time. Thank you for your patience as we streamline this important process. 


This program provides support to engineering Ph.D. candidates and postdoc researchers traveling to professional conferences to present papers on their research.

Benefits and Goals

  • Reimbursement of up to $500 for the conference trip
  • Network with potential collaborators, sponsors, and employers
  • Share your conference experiences with fellow graduate students

Requirements

  • You must be a College of Engineering graduate student or postdoc.
  • You must have passed your preliminary exam or are scheduled to take your preliminary exam prior to attending the conference.
  • You must be presenting a paper at the conference at least two months before your graduation date.
  • You must provide at least one LinkedIn social media post about your conference experience during or within one week following the event. Be sure to tag the Purdue Graduate Engineering LinkedIn account. 

Note: the last two bullet points are for graduate students

How to Apply

  • Forms must be completed electronically at least two weeks before the conference (The form is forthcoming; it is not available at this time).
  • Your signature and your advisor's signature are required on the form. Electronic signatures and email approvals will be accepted.

Eligible Expenses

  • Conference registration, travel, and meals (per diem)

Uncovered Expenses

  • Professional association memberships

Restrictions

  • Travel grants will be awarded to Ph.D. candidates and postdocs for conferences until funds are exhausted.
  • Awardees will be selected on the basis of information provided on the request form with the following constraints:
  1. The number of travel grants per school will be roughly proportional to the size of the school’s Ph.D. or postdoc program.
  2. No more than two students and one postdoc from any one advisor’s group will receive travel grants in a calendar year.
  3. No student will receive funds to attend more than one conference.
  • Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Reimbursement

  • Upon return from your conference, please email engrgrad@purdue.edu to let the Graduate Education Office know you have returned and are filing for reimbursement. 
  • The Grad Education Office will then provide you with the appropriate documentation you will need to provide for reimbursement for the travel award amount through the Concur travel system. 
  • Within one week after returning from the conference you should have the Concur Expense Report completed. 
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Email engrgrad@purdue.edu with any questions about this grant. Write "Conference Travel Grant Question" in the subject line.

Other Sources of Travel Grants at Purdue