2026 Request for Proposals
The Cannabis Research Center (CRC) is issuing a call for graduate student travel awards to support students presenting cannabis research at cannabis conferences. Priority will be given to graduate students with accepted oral presentations at prestigious national or international conferences. Students who have been accepted to give a poster, students who have been accepted to present at a regional conference, and students whose submissions are planned or under review will be considered (pending availability of funds). Funding will be dispersed after abstracts are accepted and travel is completed. Priority will be given to students who have not yet received travel assistance from the CRC or CCPRO.
Timeline
| February 1 | Request for proposals issued |
| April 1 | Proposals due to CRC |
| May 1 | Anticipated announcement of awards |
| July 1 – April 30 | Funds dispersed (travel can occur before July 1) |
Eligibility
Current WSU graduate students in good standing who are mentored by a WSU faculty member. Students must be planning to continue their studies at WSU in the fall of 2026.
Amount
$1,500 maximum. Funds will be dispersed as a reimbursement for actual expenses incurred upon return from the conference (which must be no later than April 30, 2027). However, students experiencing financial hardships can request advances. Note: travel can occur between May 1, 2026 and April 30, 2027; however, funds cannot be dispersed (reimbursements or advances issued) prior to July 1, 2026.
General Instructions
The application must include the following:
- Student name, email, college, department, and campus
- Faculty mentor’s name, email, college, department, and campus
- Conference name, dates, and location
- Type of presentation (oral or poster)
- Abstract and indication of whether it has been accepted or is under review
- Anticipated budget – eligible expenses include registration, transportation (such as flights, mileage, or motor pool vehicles), hotel accommodations, and additional funding sources if total travel costs exceed the $1500 maximum.
- Student curriculum vitae (CV)
- Impact statement – a clear description of the potential impact of the opportunity to present on the students’ professional development and career advancement (500 words maximum)
- Statement of other CCPRO or CRC travel grants awarded
- Brief letter from faculty mentor expressing support for conference travel
Submission
Submit all materials as a single PDF document. Use the online portal located on this website to submit. The portal will open in February 2026.
Evaluation
Funds are not guaranteed and are contingent upon the availability of funds. Applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
- Type of conference, type of presentation, and status of abstract. Accepted oral presentations at more prestigious national or international cannabis conferences will be prioritized.
- Scientific merit of the research (as judged by the abstract)
- Budget and availability of supplemental funds that might be required (if applicable)
- Qualifications and achievements of the student (as judged by the CV)
- Impact on professional development and career advancement (as judged by the impact statement)
- Whether other CRC travel awards have been received (those who haven’t received prior travel grants from the CRC or CCPRO will be prioritized)
- Support of faculty mentor
Acknowledgement
All publications, posters, websites, presentations, etc. resulting from this internal competitive grant program must include the following information: “This work was supported by a faculty pilot grant awarded through Washington State University’s Cannabis Research Center.”
Contact
Email questions to: wsu.crc@wsu.edu