Application Deadline:
February 1, 2026
About Organisation
The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University is a 281-acre preserve located in Boston, stewarding one of the world’s most comprehensive and best-documented collections of temperate woody plants, with particular focus on eastern North America and eastern Asia floras. The living collections, herbarium, library, and archives support research in the Arboretum’s Weld Hill laboratories and by scholars worldwide. This jewel in the Emerald Necklace park system, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, is free and open daily, engaging the public through educational opportunities and programs for all ages while maintaining its vital role in botanical research and conservation.
About the Grant
The Ashton Award for Student Research supports investigations by graduate and advanced undergraduate students working on Asian tropical forest biology. Awards of up to four thousand US dollars are granted to support student research expenses. Made possible through the generosity of Professor Peter Ashton and his wife Mary Ashton via the Peter and Mary Ashton Training Fund, the award enables students to conduct meaningful research aligned with the Arnold Arboretum’s mission. Selection is based on students’ educational background and research readiness, the quality of proposed research, and its relevance to the Arboretum’s work in botanical science and conservation.
Who can Apply?
The award is available to advanced undergraduate and graduate students working on Asian tropical forest biology research. Eligibility is not limited to universities in the United States or to US citizens, making it accessible to international students globally. Applicants must demonstrate educational background and readiness to conduct proposed research. Selection criteria include the quality of proposed research and its relevance to the Arnold Arboretum’s mission. Successful candidates show clear research objectives aligned with Asian tropical forest biology, well-developed methodologies, and feasible project timelines. Applications undergo competitive review process evaluating student qualifications, research merit, and alignment with the Arboretum’s botanical research priorities.
How to Apply?
Applications must be submitted online between November 5 and February 1. Required materials include: cover letter; one-to-two-page research statement describing the project and funding needs; one-page itemized research budget; project timeline with start and end dates; curriculum vitae; and two letters of recommendation. Applicants must request recommendations through the online system, with referees receiving automated submission instructions via email from Admin@communityforce.com by the February 1 deadline.
Application Deadline
The application submission period runs from November 5 through February 1, 2026. All application materials, including letters of recommendation, must be submitted through the online portal by February 1, 2026.
Last Date To Apply
For more information, please visit the grant website here.
