The Charles Boyden Fund for Small Grants

Charles Boyden was an excellent estuarine chemist whose life was tragically cut short. He was a founder member of the Association and made great efforts to promote it internationally. The ECSA small grants are awarded in honour of his name.

Categories of small grants

The Charles Boyden fund awards Small Grants ranging from £150 to £500 and the number of awards will depend on the Association having sufficient funds. Applicants must be ECSA members and either postgraduate students or early career researchers (<5 years since graduation). Applications are especially encouraged from members from less developed countries. An application must fall into one of the following categories:

1.  Support for research including field work expenses, travel or purchase of equipment or consumables
2.  Activities to enhance your research including visits to specialist laboratories or to view specific research collections
3.  Participation in an academic conference preferably with a presentation of your research findings
4.  Participation in a training course or workshop 

Decisions on funding will be made by the ECSA Council. They will consider a range of factors including the funds available at that time to ECSA, the nature of the application and the ability of the ECSA funds to make a difference.

Terms and conditions

• Applicants can be from anywhere in the world but must hold a current membership of ECSA.
• Applicants must complete an application form and outline the benefit to their research for which funding is being sought. Please include relevant additional information such as accepted abstracts for conference presentations with the application form. 
• The application form is only available to ECSA Members and will be visible at the bottom of this page when logged in.
• Applicants must quote the most economical fares for travel. 
• Applicants should note that confirmation of the conference/workshop registration fee must be included in receipts when claiming your reimbursement.
• Grants will be paid in arears, following submission of all receipts and a short report suitable for publication by ECSA (possibly in the Bulletin, newsletter or on the website). 
• For postgraduates, supervisors should provide a supporting recommendation for the grant application. NB please include confirmation that (i) other funding is not available for this purpose; and (ii) where appropriate that the student is presenting the work herself/himself. The supervisor’s recommendation will be taken into account by the awarding committee.
• Early career researchers are considered to be researchers within 5 years of completion of graduation from their PhD. For early career researchers a supporting statement from their Head of School/division should be provided.
• The definition of a ‘less developed country’ is taken from the DAC list of countries eligible for Overseas Development Aid. 
• Normal application deadlines are 1st February, May and November. The application form should be submitted to the Secretary of ECSA.
• All applications are judged on their merits and the Council’s decision will be final.