ECSA Visitor Fund Requests

Early Career Scientist Assembly Visitor Funds Program

Funding is available for NSF NCAR employees only. 

Applications are due Thursday, September 26th 2024 by 11:59 PM MT.

Apply Here

If you have any questions regarding the ECSA travel funds please contact: Mariana Cains

The ECSA is pleased to offer visitor funds to early-career scientists who would like to invite a visitor to NSF NCAR for a collaborative visit. These visits have the goals of enhancing partnerships with other public and private institutions, and furthering the science done by early-career scientists at NCAR. To be eligible you must qualify as “early-career” as defined by the NSF NCAR ECSA (see below) and be a current NSF NCAR employee.

We will be accepting applications from and for ECSA members to collaborate in-person or virtually with U.S. or foreign visitors from other public and private institutions. Awards are competitive; to maximize the number of awards, we strongly encourage applicants to look into the possibility of cost sharing with other funding sources.The length of the visits should be appropriate for the purpose. Awards for in-person visits to NSF NCAR will be limited to $5,000 to cover expenses related to travel, accommodations, etc. Awards for virtual visits will be in the form of a stipend of up to $500/month, with a maximum total stipend of $3,000. Stipends are fully taxable, and it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that they adhere to the IRS rules. For more information, see UCAR’s guidelines on Stipend Payments.

Please answer each question in the online application with full consideration. The pertinence of the response will weigh heavily in the final decision of allocating any funds.

The application consists of the following sections:

  • Applicant information
  • Administrative assistant's details
  • Visitor information
  • Visit details (bulk of application)
    • What is the purpose of the visit?
    • How will the science completed during the visit benefit you (the applicant) and NSF NCAR?
    • What do you expect to achieve as a result of this visit?
  • Type of visit
  • Budget
  • Cost sharing
  • Past ECSA awards

Your application will be evaluated based on the following by three members of the ECSA Steering Committee:

  • Is the scientific merit, including innovation and objectives, clearly described?
  • Is the significance to the career development of the ECSA member clearly identified?
  • Does the proposed visit have well-defined focus and goals? Is the length of the visit appropriate for the purpose?
  • Is the amount requested reasonable for the purpose and duration of the visit?
  • Has the applicant looked into the possibility of cost sharing with other funding sources?
  • Has the applicant recently received an ECSA visitor award? Recipients of ECSA visitor awards within the last two fiscal years will be given a lower priority to ensure there are sufficient funds for other eligible applicants.

The ECSA is dedicated to enhancing the diversity of future scientific communities and sharing our science with a broader audience. Applicants are encouraged to describe how they, based on their personal background and life experiences (including social, cultural, familial, educational, or other opportunities or challenges) and/or their proposed collaborative visit, will contribute to this mission.

If funding is awarded, you will be required to write a one-page summary of the achievements as a result of the visit. The ECSA may also request the funded visitor to give a seminar (in-person and/or virtual) during their visit. Funded collaborative visits (in-person or virtual) to NSF NCAR should begin within the calendar year.

Who is “early-career”?

The ECSA nominally defines early-career as NSF NCAR staff members who are in the ECSA and within 12 years of having earned their highest degree. However, consideration will also be given to those who are still in the early stages of their careers, but have seen interruptions due to family leaves, military service etc.

Note: It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all UCAR policies and Lab procedures have been followed.  Examples include, but are not limited to: obtaining Lab approval for all visitors, obtaining a cost estimate, obtaining proper travel authorizations and completing appropriate paperwork, and ensuring that the visit follows all UCAR policies and codes of conduct.  If you are unsure about any of your Lab's policies or UCAR travel and visitor policies, please ask your lab administrative staff for assistance.  All visitor support will be handled by the applicant’s lab including visitor offer letters, Workday and Concur entries, and communication with the visitor.

The EdEC staff will also be happy to assist you with UCAR policy and procedures questions (Todd Amodeo: amodeo@ucar.edu, Perrin Ahlers: pahlers@ucar.edu, or the ECSA Steering Committee: ecsa-steer@ucar.edu).