Travel Funding Policy

Updated 8/25/2025 

Travel Funding Policy

Travel and participation in events are critical components of graduate level training both before and after the qualifying exam. We encourage MCBGP students to participate in conferences, skill building workshops, and other professional development activities. In addition to traditional travel and in-person experiences, we encourage students to take advantage of virtual events and activities that they otherwise may not have been able to access.

After a student has passed their qualifying exam, it is important that they become comfortable and skilled at presenting their research to diverse audiences. The MCBGP encourages students who have passed their qualifying exam, to present their work at a conference at least once per academic year. 

As of August 25, 2025, the MCB Graduate Program can no longer provide travel funding for graduate students. This is due to the updated policies from the Office of Graduate Studies and BioMed Finance, removing all student travel funding from program budgets. Graduate students who present at or attend conferences and other professional development activities may be eligible to receive travel funding from a number of sources outside of the program. Details on the different sources of funding and their corresponding eligibility requirements can be found below.

Please review the following travel funding guidelines, to determine if and when to apply for program funds.

Sources of Financial Support:​

  • PI grants and other funds

  • The MCBGP

  • The BioMed Office of Graduate and Post-doctoral Scholars

  • The Brown Graduate School’s International Travel Fund

  • The Graduate Student Council

  • MBOA Training Grant, Computational Biology Training Grant, Pulmonary Training Grant 

Travel Funding Procedure

At least six weeks before payment for the activity is due, students should take the following steps. Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies website

Step 1: Discuss the opportunity with the student advisor and ask for a financial contribution.

Step 2: If the student is a trainee on a training grant or if they have a fellowship that provides conference funding, utilize that source.

Step 3​: Apply for Biomed funding (up to $700 per academic year) at least six weeks prior to conference travel. The office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies will provide funds for students attending a conference as long as they are either presenting a poster or giving a talk. Please refer to the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies website for the most up to date information on this funding. 

Step 4​: Apply for Graduate Student Council funding (up to $300 per academic year) at least six weeks prior to conference travel. The Graduate Student Council will provide funds for students attending a conference as long as they are presenting a poster, giving a talk, or if “the student’s education at Brown is improved by field work related travel”. Please refer to the Graduate Student Council website for the most up to date information on this funding. 

Step 5​: If the student is traveling internationally, apply for Graduate School International Travel funding (up to $1,000 per academic year, depending on distance traveled) at least 14 days prior to conference travel. The Graduate School will provide funds for students traveling internationally to present at a conference or to conduct research. Please refer to the Graduate School website for the most up to date information on this funding. 

Reimbursements:

Please review the policies for reimbursements here. It outlines procedures, restrictions and what needs to be submitted based on University Controller guidelines. Be sure to review this before making any conference related purchases.

Component Location

Handbook page