ICAR 2026 Travel Funds for US Scientists
ICAR 2026: the 36th International Conference on Arabidopsis Research
22 - 26 June 2026 | National University of Singapore | https://icar2026.sg/
US Early Career Travel Funding Application Information
for Students & Postdocs engaged in Arabidopsis research at U.S. Institutions
APPLICATION DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 10, 2026
Awards provided by the North American Arabidopsis Steering Committee (NAASC), generously funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) via Award No. 2516566. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
Travel awards: up to 4 awards of up to $1,035 USD each. US Citizens and Permanent Residents that perform research in Arabidopsis may apply.
Up to $1,035 in travel funds are reimbursed after ICAR, with eligible receipts. This travel award may be used for conference registration, economy airfare (US-owned airline) round trip, lodging, and/or meals for the awardee. Selected awardees must consult with the University managing the award prior to booking any travel for costs you wish to be reimbursed for to ensure full compliance with current guidelines.
Applicants must be current members of the Arabidopsis Community, supported by NAASC.
Join here. If you think you are a current member, you can email us to check. Fee waiver program available if fee is a barrier.
Key Deadlines:
February 10: application submission deadline
February 17 selected awardees announced so you will know if you have funds before the oral abstract deadline
February 21: oral abstract submission deadline (submit directly to ICAR to be considered for giving a talk
April 29: poster abstract submission deadline (submit directly to ICAR, poster abstracts automatically accepted)
Award Eligibility:
Undergraduate, graduate students and/or postdoctoral scholars conducting Arabidopsis research at U.S. institutions.
Must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident and hold a current US passport.
Must demonstrate financial need.
Must be current Arabidopsis Community group member. Join here if not already a member; contact Joanna Friesner if a fee waiver is needed due to financial barriers.
Awardees must submit a short (1 pg max) report by July 30, 2026 describing your conference experience and activities, e.g. something you learned, sessions you enjoyed, networking and/or professional collaborations you established, etc. Email this report to Dr. Friesner arabidopsisconference@gmail.com.
Ineligible: Awardees selected by the Root & Shoot initiative for a travel award to ICAR 2026. If you haven’t been notified of an award from R&S yet, you may apply; however, you may only receive at most one of the 2.
*NSF requires that US-owned airlines be used for airfare to be reimbursed. Other eligible costs include: ICAR registration and lodging associated with attending ICAR. Only costs for the awardee are eligible.
Complete Applications (by February 10, submitted via online portal) Include:
Statement of Financial Need for Travel Award (100-300 words)- Describe why you need a travel award to participate in ICAR.
Statement describing any additional resources you have access to that will cover remaining conference costs (up to 300 words, i.e., how do you plan to cover your expenses- accommodations, travel, beyond what this award covers?)
Statement of Value/Benefit of attending ICAR (100-300 words) Describe why you want to attend this ICAR and how it would benefit you/your career, professionally and/or personally; your goals for attending.
Research Title/Abstract (up to 300 words.) Note: submitting your abstract to NAASC is for award selection only and is not an official ICAR abstract submission. You must submit your abstract to ICAR via the abstract portal by 21 Feb (if you want to be considered for a talk) or 29 April (for poster only). You are required to register before submitting an abstract. We will announce awards by Feb 17 so you will know if you have travel funds before the oral abstract deadline closes. If your abstract is not selected by ICAR for a talk, you will have a poster accepted automatically.
Brief CV/Resume (2 pages max, include education, current position, relevant publications, awards, mentoring, outreach & education, etc.)
Support letter: often from your PI, but may be another mentor that knows you in a professional capacity. You or your letter writer can upload a 1-2 page Letter of Support PDF during the application process, or if your letter writer prefers, they can email it to us by February 10 to arabidopsisconference@gmail.com (ask writer to put your last name in the filename with email subject: “last name” ICAR support letter). Letter writers that upload the letter will do so via the same application portal.
Selection Criteria for Awarding Travel Funding (in no specific order)
Financial need
Statement of Value/Benefit to your professional/personal career of attending ICAR
Research Abstract
Letter of Support
Brief CV/Resume
Whether applicant has received funding from NAASC for ICAR before (and if so, how recently)
Additional Requirements for Selected Awardees
Awardees must present a talk or poster at ICAR. If your abstract isn’t accepted for a talk, they will allow you to bring a poster. NOTE you must submit your abstract for ICAR directly to ICAR. Your abstract submission here is ONLY for your application to be reviewed).
Awardees must submit a short (1/2-1 letter sized page) report within 1 month of ICAR (deadline: July 31, to NAASC Coordinator, Dr. Friesner, email below) describing your experiences there, something you learned, sessions you enjoyed, networking or professional collaborations you established or strengthened, etc.
To receive the reimbursement, selected awardees must submit valid receipts for eligible expenses related to ICAR. All receipts must be itemized. Eligible: economy airfare (must use a US-owned airline); lodging during ICAR; ground transportation (e.g., parking, shuttle, train, bus, etc.). Receipts must be itemized.
QUESTIONS? EMAIL DR. FRIESNER: arabidopsisconference@gmail.com
To Receive Your Award Reimbursement
If you are granted a travel award, you must consult with the University that is administering the award prior to booking travel that you plan to claim reimbursement for, to ensure your travel is compliant with all current institute and federal policies. We will provide contact information to selected awardees.
To receive the travel award reimbursement, selected awardees must submit valid receipts for eligible expenses related via email. All receipts must be itemized.
Awards will be processed as checks directly to awardees after the conference has ended.