CLAS Tinker Graduate Field Research Travel Grant

The CLAS Tinker Field Research Travel Grants support graduate students in their first experience developing an independent research project and conducting preliminary field research in Latin America. These grants are meant to help students acquire a comprehensive knowledge of language and culture, familiarize themselves with information sources relevant to their studies, conduct pilot studies and preliminary investigations, and develop contacts with scholars and institutions in their fields. CLAS will award 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 are eligible to apply. Past award recipients may not apply for a second award.

Funds may be used only 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), as outlined by the Tinker Foundation's guidelines.

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 faculty advisor
  • Home department's approval of potential funding (a letter, or email screenshot, that includes administrative confirmation of your eligibility to potentially receive this travel grant from CLAS)

Application Deadlines for AY 2026-27

Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. PT on the following dates:

  • Autumn or winter field research: Monday, November 16, 2026
  • Spring field research: Monday, February 8, 2027
  • Summer field research: Monday, May 10, 2027

Application coming soon!

Reporting

Awardees are required to submit a final report of their travel and research experiences that includes the following:

  • A finalized budget report of expenditures that the grant helped fund. The awardee may use the spreadsheet linked above.
  • A summary report (250–500 words) of the research conducted while traveling. The report should address how these funds supported the awardee's participation and/or contributed to their research.
  • Any relevant photos.

Awardees are expected to submit their final report within 30 days of completing their travels. Failing to do so may result in future ineligibility for CLAS funding.

This report may be made available online for stewardship and publicity purposes. Additionally, each awardee should expect to present their research at CLAS for its annual Graduate Research Symposium after conducting their fieldwork.

Awardees are also expected to:

  • Acknowledge the Tinker Foundation in any publication or mention of the research.
  • Participate in the Tinker Chronicles podcast, if invited.

Tinker Chronicles Podcast:

Logo of the TInker Chronicles - Episode 1

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.

For Further Information:

Contact us with any questions by email at latinamerica [at] stanford.edu (latinamerica[at]stanford[dot]edu).