Summer Research Travel Grant
Summer Research Travel Grant (SRTG)
Grant Overview
Eligibility
The Summer Research Travel Grant supports undergraduate and graduate or professional students conducting thesis or dissertation research related to Latin America and the Caribbean over the Summer break. This grant is elegible for PhD Students preferably in Years 1-4, Master’s Students preferably Year 1 in a 2-Year program or Year 2 in a 3-Year program, and Undergraduate Students whom are Juniors (rising Seniors).
Basic Requirements:
- For graduate students, preference will be given to applications related to dissertations. However, students may apply for capstone or other related projects.
- For undergraduate students, the applications must be for thesis research.
- Research proposals are accepted from all disciplines, but must be directly related to the region.
- Research can be comparative. In cases like this DRCLAS will only cover the Latin America-related traveling expenses.
- All applicants must be returning students in the following fall semester and must be in good academic standing.
Additional Preferences:
Preference for a minimum time abroad of at least 4 weeks.
Students may be in more than 1 location, so long as their stays are closer to 3 weeks per location or a relevant justification for a quick trip is made.
- Location can be outside of Latin America, as long as the research is focused on the region and that destination is required for conducting research.
Students conducting research in groups must apply separately and detail the groups nature of the project
Preference will be given to students who are not returning to their home country or city.
Availability of Funding
Students are encouraged to apply to multiple research funds across the university in order to increase their chances of receiving funding.
DRCLAS funds may be applied to: travel-related expenses to conduct research in the field, including airfare, lodging, meals, transportation, visa fees, and vaccines; research materials, including data, images, or software to which the awardee does not have free access; monthly fees for electronic devices required for data collection; and stipends and fees for research-related support services such as translation and interpretation services. Requests for hardware purchases for data collection are discouraged but may be taken into consideration with adequate justification.
DRCLAS funds cannot be applied to: student's salary support, tuition, or indirect costs and cannot be used to replace existing sources of funding. Applicants are strongly discouraged from allocating disproportionately large portions of their budgets for expenses with equipment or third party services. Additional restrictions may apply, at the committee’s discretion.
Please note: Applicants are required to notify DRCLAS of any funding received from another source; in most cases the program will adjust its award. Students may not receive duplicate funding for the same budget items from different grants. Students who have been funded twice from this fund or other DRCLAS grants will receive lower priority.
Application
Next Deadline: February 9, 2026
Students will complete the application on CARAT which includes:
- A proposal of up to 750 words that succinctly describes the research project, its significance and expected impact, and any proposed collaboration with Latin American academics and researchers (two additional pages of supplemental information such as citations may be included). Proposals must clearly state how the research relates to the applicant's dissertation or thesis.
- Applicants are strongly encouraged to include a timeline detailing field work activities and whether those activities are confirmed or pending.
- A letter of support from a faculty advisor
- Resume/CV
- Spring 2026 semester transcript
- A detailed project budget that justifies each expense item
- Must be a returning student to apply for this grant.
If your research is linked to a faculty member or working on a faculty member's project, your letter of recommendation must come from that faculty member. If you are working in a group or with a partner, each student must submit separate applications.
Grant Report
As a condition of acceptance of the award, all grant recipients must complete a mandatory follow-up report detailing their outcomes. The report is structured as a form with guided questions to ensure comprehensive responses. Additionally, any materials produced in relation to the awarded projects must acknowledge the support of the Student Research Funds of the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies (DRCLAS).
Contact Information
For funding inquiries, please contact the Student Engagement Team.
FAQ
Is this grant available for non-Harvard students or affiliates?
Unfortunately, this grant is only available for Harvard University enrolled undergraduate and graduate students.
I’m graduating this summer; can I still apply?
Unfortunately, this grant is only available for returning students.
Can I apply for this grant multiple times?
You can apply for this grant more than once.
Can my research take place outside of Latin America or the Caribbean?
Yes, as long as your research proposal is focused on Latin American & Caribbean themes. For example, we have had student researching Latin American & Caribbean immigrant populations.
Can I change my traveling dates?
Any modification to your initial proposal must be communicated to DRCLAS and approved by the faculty committee.
Can I change my budget?
If your budget has increased, you must resubmit DRCLAS a new budget and reasoning for the changes. It will be reviewed by the faculty committee, but we can’t guarantee your stipend will be increased. If your budget has decreased, you must communicate this to DRCLAS and return the remaining balance.
What happens if I’m unable to conduct my research?
If you are unable to conduct your research, you must communicate this to DRCLAS immediately. If you have already received your stipend, you must return it to DRCLAS in a check addressed to Harvard University.
Do I have to submit any deliverables?
At the end of your time abroad, you will be asked to complete a report about the research you conducted. We advise students to take notes during their time abroad to provide detailed answers in the requested report.
How is funding determined?
Once the student submits their applications, the proposals are read by a selected faculty committee. Based on the student’s application materials and DRCLAS budget, the committee decides the amount of funding. We highly encourage students to apply for more than one summer research travel grant across the university for a higher possibility of being completely funded.
Can I receive funding from other Harvard University sources?
Applicants are required to notify DRCLAS of any funding received from another source; in most cases the program will adjust its award. Students may not receive duplicate funding for the same budget items from different grants. Students who have been funded twice from this fund or other DRCLAS grants will receive lower priority.
If you are a College Student, you must abide by the Harvard University Summer Funding Policy. You can receive funding from other Harvard resources as long as the funding is directed towards the same project/proposal. You can’t accept participation in other summer programs (internships, fellowships, summer school, etc.) if you accept research funding. If you are a graduate student, the Summer Funding Policy does not apply to you.
What is the maximum amount that DRCLAS awards?
The amount awarded will be determined by the student’s application materials, their research complexity, and the faculty committee. The grant awards range from $1,000-$5,000. DRCLAS rarely fully fund students. Students should apply to more than one funding source for a higher possibility of being completely funded.
What is the timeline to receive my funding?
Application deadline is early February. Students are notified of their award by mid-late April and their award should be processed late April or early May. Please make plans based on this timeline.
How long does it take to receive notice after applying?
While our application deadline is early February students are not notified of their awards until late April. After students receive their award letters, they must complete a set of pre-departure requirements to receive their funding. The sooner the pre-departure requirements are completed, the faster students receive their award.
How do I receive my award?
Students are required to register in the Buy2Pay portal. If you are already registered, we will request you double check your profile information to make sure everything is updated. If you are not registered, you will receive a direct invitation to register from the DRCLAS finance team. Your grant is received either by a physical check or a direct deposit through your Zelle account.