The late Samuel P. Welles, museum scientist at UCMP, left a generous bequest to promote research on the Museum’s collections, particularly those of Mesozoic vertebrates from the Colorado Plateau and others on which he worked. Preference is given to registered students and to those with no other sources of support (especially foreign colleagues). The Fund prioritizes work on UCMP’s collection of Mesozoic vertebrates from the Colorado Plateau, but applications for other projects using UCMP collections are also encouraged.
Application information
Due to the impact of Covid-19 on our budget we have placed the travel support grants on hiatus.
Please use our application form in Word (preferred) or RTF format. Do NOT use PDF format. Email your completed application to Kevin Padian (kpadian@berkeley.edu) with the subject line as specified in the application form.
Allowable expenses include travel and lodging; food and supplies are generally not provided except to visitors from countries with a highly unfavorable exchange rate. Most awards are less than $1000. See below for terms and conditions. If travel is associated with a conference in the western United States or is part of a multi-city tour of collections, the Welles Fund typically only funds the portion of added travel expenses incurred for the UCMP visit. Please list other sources of support for your work, as applicable. We like cost-sharing when possible.
The Museum’s collections database can be accessed through this page. For questions about vertebrate specimens, please contact Pat Holroyd. For fossil plants, contact Diane Erwin; for all other specimens, see our contact page.
Important note for foreign applicants
If you are traveling from outside the United States, allow ample time to obtain the proper visa. Visitors without the proper visa may be turned back at port of entry and may be ineligible to receive reimbursement by the university. The information linked below is provided by the University. The UCMP will not be responsible for any discrepancy or lack of clarity between this information and any information and updates provided by the US government.
Terms and conditions for recipients
- Funds are normally granted only for transportation and lodging. For visitors from outside the US, we will normally arrange campus housing. We cannot issue advances; all payment is by reimbursement.
- Please schedule your visit with the appropriate museum scientist as far in advance as possible.
- If your visit coincides with an open date in one of our seminar series, we would be delighted to hear about your research. Please contact Kevin Padian for more information.
- Lodging: A list of accommodations near campus is available at the UC Berkeley’s Visitor’s Services.
- Transportation: You do not need to rent a car. There are several transportation options from local airports. For San Francisco Airport (SFO), visit transportation services to learn about shuttle and BART services; BART is the normal option. The Oakland Airport (OAK) is closer than SFO and has similar options — see ground transportation. If you are planning to drive to Berkeley, mileage reimbursement for personal cars cannot exceed the cost of a reasonable plane ticket.
- The UCMP reserves the right to revoke the awards of recipients who fail to complete their travel to the UCMP within one year of date of award, or who fail to turn in their expense vouchers within three weeks of returning to their home country or institution.
- For reimbursement forms, please contact the UCMP office manager, Chris Mejia. Receipts and other documentation should be submitted within 3 weeks of completing your trip.
- Please acknowledge the Doris O. and Samuel P. Welles Research Fund of the UCMP in any publications that result from your work, and send Pat Holroyd a copy for our Museum records.
Other Funding
If you are considering a visit to several West Coast museums, in addition to the Welles Fund there are funds for student support at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the Burke Museum of the University of Washington. Check their websites for terms and deadlines.
Students who are doing field work on California geology or paleontology may wish to consider applying for support from the Northern California Geological Society. Their applications are usually due in December.
Further support for students visiting collections can be provided by the Albert E. Wood fund of the SVP. Check their website for terms and deadlines.