Support for Research

A critical aspect of graduate education is attending and presenting at national and international conferences.  Thus, the CDBN provides Travel Fellowships of up to $500 to support trainee participation in meetings and workshops. 

Eligibility:

• requests should be sent prior to the conference/workshop

• the student must be first/presenting author of the work

• the student's faculty advisor must be a CDBN member

To request a Travel Fellowship, simply send the abstract for your presentation with your request to the Center Director (tdeak@binghamton.edu) and copy Amy MacDonald (amacdon@binghamton.edu). Once travel is completed, reimbursement forms must be submitted within 30 days. Travel reimbursement is only for allowable expenses (hotel, transportation, meeting registration, etc); receipts must be provided.

Travel Fellowships are provided as funds are available, and are generally limited to one conference per year for each trainee.

Historically, the CDBN has been awarded 1-2 Graduate Assistantships annually to support graduate research and training. These state-funded positions provide a full stipend and tuition scholarship for the named Fellow. The goal of the fellowship is to (i) enable collection of preliminary data to support grant applications by the student and their faculty advisor; and (ii) support data collection efforts that will yield rigorous, high quality scientific publications. To be eligible, students must be nominated by their faculty advisor, who must be an active member of the CDBN.  Ideally, students must  achieve "ABD" status prior to appointment and be in their 4th or 5th year. Terms of appointment are typically 1-2 semesters. CDBN does not provide summer support for graduate students.

Current and former CDBN Fellows:

• Matthew Fecik, 2024-25

• Natalie Lipari, 2023-24

• Ashley Centner, 2022-23

• Michael Shaw, Spring 2023

• Meredith Gamble, 2021-22

• Trevor Towner, 2020-21

• Kathryn Lanza, 2019-20

• Kiera James, Fall 2019

• Nicole Chambers, 2018-19

• Donald Huang, 2017-18

• Dennis Lovelock, 2016-17

• Anny Gano, 2015-16

The CDBN receives the majority of its funding through indirect costs generated by faculty research grants.  As a result, supporting the development and submission of future grant applications is a top priority for the CDBN. Center members can simply send a brief 1-page letter summarizing the project goals, proposed budget, and timeline, as well as a Specific Aims page for the grant to be submitted to the Center Director.  The request should address:

• the topic to be studied and experiment(s) to be conducted;

• intended uses for the funds (note: these funds cannot support personnel).

CDBN will also support shared instrumentation grants.  Depending on cost, CDBN may be able to purchase equipment independently, or will cost-share with other agencies.  Typically, instrumentation grants are intended to support technical growth within the Center, and must include 2 or more CDBN members who will benefit from the acquisition

All requests will be reviewed by the Center Director and Associate Directors.  We will get back to you within a few short business days, often sooner.