Geological Society of America Graduate Student Research Grants
Scholarship Sponsored by Geological Society of America
Overview
The GSA Research Grants program offers partial funding for master's and doctoral thesis work in the geological sciences to graduate students enrolled at universities in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Central America. In 2025 the program distributed roughly $900,000 to 354 students (about 52.2% of the 678 who applied), with an average award of approximately $2,688.
Program goals
- Advance graduate research in the geosciences and strengthen the future geoscience workforce.
- Give students hands‑on career development in proposal writing, project planning, and conducting research.
- Expand participation and success in geoscience research among students from underrepresented communities.
Specialized awards
The Committee on Research Grants designates recipients for several specialized recognitions from the pool of applicants to the general research grants program. Students cannot submit a separate application for these awards, but they may indicate on their general application that they wish to be considered. Most specialized awards are honorary and do not come with extra funding; however, a limited number of specialized awardees may receive grants larger than US$2,500.
Inclusion statement
GSA encourages applications from individuals traditionally underserved in the geosciences, including (but not limited to) people who are racially and/or ethnically diverse, LGBTIQ+, persons with disabilities, and those who experience intersectionality across these identities.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be current members of GSA (see GSA membership information).
- Candidates must be enrolled in a graduate (master’s or doctoral) earth‑science program with a geologic component at an accredited university or college in the United States, Canada, Mexico, or Central America.
- Applicants do not need to be U.S. citizens or U.S. resident aliens.
- Research may address any topic within the geological sciences (examples: paleontology, karst studies, geochemistry, stratigraphy, geoscience education, petroleum geology). See the full list of Subject Matter Categories for more detail.
- An individual student may receive no more than two GSA graduate student grants over the course of their academic career, regardless of the degree program.
Timeline and deadlines (2026 cycle)
- Applications open: 1 December 2025
- Application deadline: 18 February 2026, 11:59 p.m. MST
- Notification of results: emailed to applicants in late May to early June 2026
- Grant disbursement: July 2026
If you need help with membership, application procedures, or subject categories, consult the GSA website or contact the Research Grants office.