Student Research Grants

CSS Student Grants Program from our Memorial Funds

The Colorado Scientific Society invites junior and senior undergraduates and graduate students in Master’s and Ph.D. programs at accredited colleges and universities to apply for research grants to be awarded in late April 2025. Approximately a dozen to fifteen grants ranging from $600 to $1000 each will be awarded for field-oriented research on geology, engineering geology, geochemistry, and geophysics on the Rocky Mountain region. Applications should be submitted via email.

E-mail applications consist of the 2025_CSS_Research_Grant_Application (MS Word .docx) and the 2025_CSS_Research_Grant_Applicant_Appraisal (MS Word .docx) as attachments to e-mails sent to: jpigati@usgs.gov

In email subject line, put “CSS 2025 Grant application”

DEADLINE:  E-mail applications must be received by March 31, 2025.

History:

Since 1984, the Colorado Scientific Society has established six funds that are supported by the gifts in memory of past members Ogden Tweto, Steven Oriel, Edwin Eckel, Bill Pierce, George Snyder and Bruce Bryant. The income from these funds is used to support undergraduate and graduate student research in the Rocky Mountain west.

  • The Ogden Tweto Fund was established to support field investigations of regional geologic and stratigraphic problems with emphasis on the geology of Colorado.
  • The Steven Oriel Fund focuses on regional geologic and stratigraphic problems with emphasis on the geology of the Rocky Mountain Region and the Overthrust Belt.
  • The Edwin Eckel Fund primarily supports research in engineering geology.
  • The Bill Pierce Fund supports studies of the Heart Mountain fault, northwest Wyoming, and of Quaternary geology.
  • The George Snyder Fund supports field studies in the Rocky Mountains, focusing on Precambrian igneous and metamorphic geology and basement tectonics.
  • The Bruce Bryant Fund supports the studies of a young and upcoming geologist in his or her field-oriented student research, honoring our 1985 CSS President’s lifelong study of the geology of Colorado and other states.

Note: CSS Student Research Grants are not limited to only the subjects listed above.
See Student Research Grants awarded in recent years for examples.

Income from the Memorial Funds is provided to undergraduate and graduate students to support field-based research in the earth sciences. Since 1984, the Society has awarded grants that currently (2024) total between around $11,000 and $15,000 each year.

See Student Research Grant Memorial Funds for the Colorado Scientific Society members honored by our memorial funds. For an individual, click on their name above.

In addition, the Charles Pillmore Fund supports student participation on Society field trips.

Since the inception of the Memorial Fund grants, the Society has helped support the graduate research of over 200 students, awarding more than $160,000 (an average of almost $800 per grant).

Policies

GRANT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES (PDF)
GRANT ACCEPTANCE POLICY (PDF)

Forms

CSS 2025 RESEARCH GRANT APPLICATION form (MS Word .docx)
CSS 2025 APPRAISAL OF APPLICANT form (MS Word .docx)

Grant History

See the research grants awarded in:

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