International Research Travel Award Program
The purpose of this award is to promote international research collaborations between physicists in high incomes countries and lesser-resourced countries by awarding up to $2,000 US for travel and lodging expenses while visiting a collaborator abroad.
Following the initiative of the APS Forum on International Physics (FIP), the sponsors of the APS International Research Travel Award Program (IRTAP) recognize that funding for collaborations between high income and lesser-resourced country scientists is often insufficient to meet existing needs and opportunities.
While the needs are great, and though we have only limited resources to stimulate the growth of longer-term collaborations, we believe an International Research Travel Award Program, even a modest one, may make a significant difference.
Rules and eligibility
Support for the growth of existing collaborations will be given preference over new ones. An example of an existing collaboration is joint publications.
Applicants for this travel grant must meet the following criteria:
- One co-applicant must be an APS member and a member of an APS unit that sponsors IRTAP.
- One co-applicant must be from a lesser resourced country and the other must be from a high income country
- The trip can be in either direction, but preference is given to travel from lesser resourced countries to high income countries
- The visit must be for a period of at least one month
- The travel grant must be used within two years
Process and selection
Applications for this award program should include a narrative proposal, as well as additional information.
Narrative proposal
The narrative proposal should include:
- An explanation, in detail, of the role of the principals in the collaboration
- An explanation of the expertise or facilities that each co-applicant brings to the proposal
- A description of how the collaboration became established
Additional application materials
In addition to the narrative proposal, the application should also include:
- Lists of up to five of the most relevant publications of each of the two co-applicants, including papers co-authored by the co-applicants, if relevant
- Statement of financial support from an appropriate representative of other sources (leverage)
- Indication of which co-applicant is a member of one of the APS units that sponsors IRTAP (specify which unit)
- Outline of benefits to junior scientists, students, or postdocs from a lesser resourced country
- Description of the travel plan and budget
Application review
The Executive Committee of FIP, with assistance from the Committee on International Scientific Affairs (CISA), the APS International Affairs department, and other sponsoring APS units, is responsible for managing the review process.
When reviewing applications, consideration will be given to:
- Merit: A past record of research accomplishments and promise of future accomplishments as well as invited talks be delivered during the trip, particularly at APS-sponsored meetings
- Need: Under-represented countries and ethnic groups will be given priority
- Other funding: Resources from other sources with matching funds (leverage) is a positive factor, while not seeking other available potential supports is considered a negative factor
Five travel grants are typically awarded twice a year, for a total of 10 grants per year.
Establishment and support
FIP and CISA thank our funding partners for their support of this program. We also seek support from additional APS units. With additional funding, larger awards with broader aims and a relaxation of the restriction on APS membership are anticipated.
Financial supporters include:
- APS Division of Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics (DAMOP)
- APS Division of Astrophysics (DAP)
- APS Division of Biological Physics (DBIO)
- APS Division of Chemical Physics (DCP)
- APS Division of Computational Physics (DCOMP)
- APS Division of Condensed Matter Physics (DCMP)
- APS Division of Fluid Dynamics (DFD)
- APS Division of Gravitational Physics (DGRAV)
- APS Division of Laser Science (DLS)
- APS Division of Nuclear Physics (DNP)
- APS Division of Physics of Beams (DPB)
- APS Division of Particles and Fields (DPF)
- APS Division of Plasma Physics (DPP)
- APS Division of Polymer Physics (DPOLY)
- APS Forum on International Physics (FIP)
- APS Office of International Affairs
- APS's Presidential Line
- APS Topical Group on Magnetism and Its Applications (GMAG)
- US Liaison Committee of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP)
If your unit would like to sponsor an International Research Travel Award Program, please contact APS's director of international affairs.
The membership of APS is diverse and global, and the nominees and recipients of APS Honors should reflect that diversity so that all are recognized for their impact on our community. Nominations of members belonging to groups traditionally underrepresented in physics, such as women, LGBT+ scientists, scientists who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), disabled scientists, scientists from institutions with limited resources, and scientists from outside the United States, are especially encouraged.
Nominees for and holders of APS Honors (prizes, awards, and fellowship) and official leadership positions are expected to meet standards of professional conduct and integrity as described in the APS Ethics Guidelines. Violations of these standards may disqualify people from consideration or lead to revocation of honors or removal from office.