GSA grants from the Geological Society of America are intended for graduate students studying earth sciences at a Masters or Doctorate Level. These grants are not meant to be used for tuition but are to be applied towards any research conducted during the graduate years.

To apply for a GSA grant, the student must fill out and submit a proposal detailing the exact research they are going to be pursuing along with any equipment necessary to complete the research. Based n the scientific merit of the research, the college grant application board may or may not award the grant money. The money granted can only be used towards expenses specifically meant for the research. This may include travel, room and board, supplies and any specialized equipment needed. The GSA grant money cannot be applied towards any tuition fees.

The GSA grant can be awarded to any one student only twice. Once at the masters level and once at the doctorate level. The amount of money granted varies depending on the need and cost of the research to be completed. The most any one student can receive per award is $4,000. The more complete and detailed your research application is, the better your chance of receiving the full grant.

Of course not all GSA grant requests are awarded. In 2009 the GSA Grant Committee awarded 194 graduate research grants out of 638 proposals received. That's about a 30% award rate. The amount of money disbursed was $520,425.00 which comes to an average of $2.683.00 per award. In order to receive this grant you must be a graduate student attending school in the Central or Northern Americas - Canada, United States, Mexico and Central American countries. The GSA grant is not meant to cover all of the money needed for research, it's primary role is to offer partial support of Master's and Doctoral thesis research in the earth sciences.

The Farouk El-Baz Student research grant is now available for 2010 students. The primary role of this grant is to encourage students studying earth and dessert based studies either in their senior year of their undergraduate studies or at the Master's or Doctoral level. You may not apply for this grant if you are receiving a GSA grant in the same year, however, if you have received a GSA grant in a previous year you may apply for this grant. Learn more about this grant and apply for it today here: Farouk El-Baz Student Research Grant

There is a new grant available for 2010, The Stephen E. Laubach Structural Diagenesis Research Award. This award is for graduate students, postgraduates and faculty level researchers. This grant is meant to promote research which combines structural geology and diagenesis along with curriculum development in structural diagenesis. The Sedimentary Geology and Structural Geology & Tectonics Division have joined forces to help promote the cross disciplinary emphasis of the award. Together they will be reviewing applications and selecting the recipient.