2026 Trainee Travel Award
The Center of Microbiome Science (CoMS) and Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) Microbial Communities Thematic Program are offering travel awards to support trainees attending conferences, workshops, and training opportunities.
Awards are intended to enhance trainee development and support microbiome and microbial communities research.
Award Details
- Travel awards will be provided to partially defray the cost of travel (transportation, lodging, registration, etc.).
- Up to eleven Travel Awards of $700 are available. You may request less than $700.
- Applications will be reviewed after both the first and second deadline, but only 1 application may be submitted per trainee at either deadline. (Aka, you may not submit applications at both deadlines.)
- Applications will be reviewed and the first round of award winners will be announced at the OSU Center of Microbiome Science Graduate Student Union Symposium on April 9th, 2026. Please register (free) to attend.
- Award winners selected after the second deadline will be notified via email.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be an undergraduate, graduate student, postdoc, or research scientist at OSU or Nationwide Children’s
- Be a member of CoMS and/or IDI
- Attend a relevant academic or professional event
- Use funds for travel after April 15, 2026
Preference given to trainees.
Need to sign up as a member?
CoMS membership link: https://go.osu.edu/joincoms
IDI membership link: https://idi.osu.edu/members Link to registration on the page.
Application Requirements
Applications must include:
- Applicant and PI information
- Description of meeting/training
- Statement of relevance (300 words max)
- Microbiome connection (100 words max)
- Abstract (if presenting)
Timeline
- Priority Deadline: April 1, 2026
- First Awards Announced: April 9, 2026 (GSU Symposium)
- Rolling Awards: Weekly through mid-May until funds are exhausted
Apply for award
Apply here: https://go.osu.edu/trainee_travel_award_application
Have questions or issues with the application form? Contact microbiome@osu.edu with your question.
Example Conferences:
FYI: Upcoming relevant conferences include (but are not restricted to):
- Midwest Microbiome Symposium
- At University of Illinois Urbana Champaign May 11-13, 2026. See here for more info.
- At Purdue in May 2027
- Penn State University One Health Microbiome Symposium. May 13-14, 2026. See here for more info.
- ASM Microbe. June 4-8, 2026. Washington D.C. See here for more info.
- EuroBiofilms. June 17-20, 026. Guimarães, Portugal. See here for more info.
- Montana Biofilm Meeting. July 15-17, 2026. Bozeman, Montana. See here for more info.
- Any professional conference related to Microbial Communities or Microbiome Sciences.
For Award Winners:
- Award winners are not eligible to seek travel award funding from the IDI or CoMS for one calendar year.
- Award funds will be transferred to the trainee’s home unit to assist in covering travel costs
- An award letter will be sent to the recipient for signature prior to funds being transferred
- All university and college/department/unit travel policies and procedures apply
- Work with your college/department/unit fiscal/travel professional to plan travel
- Awardees should acknowledge receipt of this travel award in their poster, presentation, or summary of the experience as follows: “Travel to this conference was partially supported by The Ohio State University Infectious Diseases Institute and Center of Microbiome Science.”
Travel award recipients are encouraged to present their research and/or a brief summary of their experience at a relevant OSU forum within 1 year of travel. Forums include:
- OSU Microbial Communities Symposium
- Monthly Biofilms meeting
- Local or departmental seminar
- Infectious Diseases Institute Works in Progress Seminar – contact Dr. Murugesan Rajaram (murugesan.rajaram@osumc.edu)