BioE Majors
DO YOU DO RESEARCH?
Apply for the Dr. Thomas Budinger Bioengineering Exploration Award – revised in 2020!
Created to honor our first department chair and innovative researcher Dr. Thomas Budinger, this award recognizes outstanding research by BioE undergraduates.
Successful applicants receive up to $750 in reimbursement for travel to present at a scientific or academic conference. Up to three students per academic year may be funded. Rolling deadline.
Eligibility
- Undergraduate UC Berkeley bioengineering majors
- Current student, not yet graduated
Award Details
- Research may be part of a summer program, or done at another university
- Travel and presentation must be completed during their time as a UC Berkeley Bioengineering undergraduate student.
- Conference and travel plans must be presented to the department for approval before travel.
- Reimbursements must follow campus procedures, receipts are required. No cash awards.
Timeline
- It is preferred but not required to apply to present at the conference before applying for the award. If not yet notified if presentation is accepted, award may be contingent on acceptance.
- Apply for the award before registering (paying for) for the conference
- Allow two working weeks for award decision
- If accepted you will be notified of award, budget, and payment mechanisms
- Register for conference, book travel, etc, following all instructions. (some bills may need to be paid directly by department rather than reimbursed)
Funding note:
Attending a conference very probably costs more than $750 with travel, housing, food, and registration. We strongly suggest that your faculty research mentor should be willing to cover expenses over $750 as you will be representing their laboratory. As part of the application process you are asked to provide a commitment from your mentor to cover additional expenses, or an alternate funding plan if they are unable.
Application process – online application form includes:
- The abstract/information you are submitting for consideration to the conference
- Conference acceptance notification, if received
- Conference details
- Letter of support/recommendation from faculty mentor, with commitment to fund expenses over $750
- Proposed budget, with additional funding plan
- The research must be fully attributed, and the applicant should describe which portions of the work they performed.