SpectrumX 2026 Summer School and a Hackathon

NSF SpectrumX will provide support for a limited number of undergraduate students who have limited or no funding support to attend the 2026 SpectrumX Summer School. 

Please read the following information carefully before applying for a travel grant:

• Travel grants will be available to undergraduate students living more than 25 miles from the nearest Summer School host site, i.e., MIT Haystack Observatory, Westford, MA; National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) Headquarters, Charlottesville, VA; Northwestern University, Evanston, IL; University at Albany, Albany, NY; University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez, Mayagüez, PR.

• Travel grants are available for travel within the 50 US states, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia only.

• All travel applicants will be required to sign an NRAO Travel Authorization Form and Travel Expense Voucher (TEV).

• Travel grants will not be issued to successful applicants as an uncommitted cash lump sum. The NRAO will make and pay for travel arrangements on behalf of successful applicants, e.g., return air or rail and accommodation bookings, at US General Services Administration (federal government) rates. 

• Mileage to/from the selected Summer School host site can be reimbursed at a rate of $0.725 per mile. Mileage to/from the applicant’s accommodation to the Summer School venue will not be reimbursed. Mileage will be reimbursed into a US bank account belonging to the applicant only within one week after the Summer School and only if a signed TEV has been submitted.

• Per diem for travel days and breakfast/dinner on Summer School days (also at GSA rates) will be paid into a US bank account belonging to the applicant after the Summer School concludes.

• Travel grant applicants must register for the Summer School using the Summer School Registration Form before applying for a travel grant.

• Travel grant applicants must select their two nearest Summer School host sites when registering.

• Applicants will be required to complete the travel grant form and submit a one-page resume. Applicants should leave enough time to prepare these before the application deadline.

• Applicants must commit to attending all four days of the Summer School.

• Submission of a Travel Grant Application Form does not guarantee the award of a travel grant.

How to apply for a travel grant:

• Apply for a travel grant using the Travel Grant Application Form. 

• Applicants must submit a max. one-page resume to afourie@nrao.edu before 11:59 PM ET on May 22, 2026. The subject of the email must be "2026 3S Travel Grant: Resume of [Applicant’s Full Name]".

• Contact SpectrumX Education and Workforce Development Deputy Director, Anja Fourie, at afourie@nrao.edu if you have any questions or need more information before applying for a travel grant.