Junior faculty members have until Sept. 1 to apply for grants that will help cover the cost of international travel to multinational conferences.

The University of Arizona’s International Affairs division is accepting applications for its Junior Faculty Conference Grant program, or the JFCG, which is funded by the Office of the President.

Tenure-eligible junior faculty members can apply for airfare support to attend conferences and presentations held outside of the United States from Oct. 1 to Jan. 31. The deadline to apply is Sept. 1 at 4 p.m.

"Without the support of these grants, many outstanding faculty members would not have the financial resources to participate in professional meetings essential to their scholarship," said Janis Mathiasen, the finance and administration coordinator for International Affairs.

During the first cycle of the program – last year – grants of up to $1,500 went to more than 30 faculty members. The number of grants awarded this year will depend on the number of applicants and available funds.

The JFCG review committee is composed of faculty members and the executive director of the division of International Affairs and follows standard peer review practice while considering only those applications that are effectively documented.

Proposals that have a clear potential to provide significant benefit to the career of the candidate and have the potential to yield long-term ties between the UA and scholars or educational institutions outside the United States are given preference.

Kirk Simmons, executive director for International Affairs, said the grants go only to junior faculty who are showing “extraordinary promise” and that it is meant to help them in their early years.

“Tenure-eligible faculty are building their academic portfolios and establishing their research base,” said Simmons, who is also the grant program’s committee chair.

“It’s rather essential that they participate in professional meetings where they can present their work and make those connections with other peers working within their disciplines,” he said. "The establishement of these connections is absolutely essential to their professional success."

To apply, junior faculty must submit five copies of a typed application. The original must be included and the documents must be in order. To view and download the application, visit www.international.arizona.edu/oed. Information about funding guidelines, the application procedure, deadlines for future funding cycles, travel dates and other information is available at the same Web site.

Applications must be sent to the attention of the JFCG at the Office of the Executive Director, International Affairs, 935 N. Tyndall Ave. For additional information, contact Janis Mathiasen at 626-8530 or jmathias@email.arizona.edu.