Tinker Graduate Field Research Travel Grant

Tinker Graduate Field Research Grants (TGFRG) support graduate students with their first experience in developing an independent research project and conducting preliminary field research in Latin America. These grants are meant for students to acquire a comprehensive knowledge of language and culture, to familiarize themselves with information sources relevant to their studies, to conduct pilot studies and preliminary investigations and to develop contacts with scholars and institutions in their fields. CLAS will distribute grants of up to $3,500 for approved proposals.

Eligibility

Stanford graduate students in any department who will conduct preliminary field research in Latin America during the academic year 2025-26, including summer 2026. Past TGFRG recipients are not eligible to apply for a second award.

Funds may be used for travel and field-related expenses for pre-dissertation or thesis field research in the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries of Latin America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela). Please note that funding will not be provided for non-travel related expenses.

Application Requirements

Cover sheet (must include name, SUNet ID, student ID Number, email, home department, research title, location(s), dates of travel, and amount requested)
Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume
Brief research proposal narrative (500 word maximum)
Complete itemized budget (i.e. airfare, lodging, local transportation)
Graduate transcript (unofficial or official)
Letter of recommendation from your advisor
Proof of home department eligibility confirmation (a letter or email screenshot that includes administrative confirmation of your financial eligibility for this grant)

Deadlines

Applications for:

Autumn or winter field research are due by 11:59 PM PT on November 17, 2025.

Apply Here

Spring field research are due by 11:59 PM PT on February 9, 2026.
Summer field research are due by 11:59 PM PT on April 13, 2026.

Reporting

Awardees are expected to:

Submit a one-page report of the research conducted ready to be posted on our website AND a complete budget report within 30 days after the completion of their travel.
Potentially present their research at CLAS after they have conducted their fieldwork.
Acknowledgement of the Tinker Foundation in any publication and/or mentioning of the research.
Potentially take part in the Tinker Chronicles podcast.

Tinker Chronicles Podcast:

The Tinker Foundation created a Tinker Field Research Collaborative, which is composed of several universities that currently administer Tinker Graduate Field Research Grants in their respective institutions. The collaborative is developing a series of podcasts, called Tinker Chronicles, aiming to highlight the research conducted by former TGFRG awardees. Click to listen to the first podcast on Climate and Environment , which features past TGFRG awardee Arjuna Dibley.