In the spirit of dedication to the growth of young scientists and engineers embodied by Gerald Soffen throughout his life, the Dr. Gerald A. Soffen Memorial Fund for the Advancement of Space Science Education offers Student Travel Grants.

The Travel Grants are awarded to students pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees in aerospace-related sciences or engineering fields (astrobiology, astronomy, earth and space science, engineering, etc.) to attend a meeting at which they will present their research.

The Soffen Fund will award up to $1000 in Travel Grants, with no individual award greater than $500, contingent upon acceptance of the recipients' conference abstracts. Recipients may use the Grant to attend either virtual or in-person conferences. The number of awards will depend on applicants' needs. Recipients must be able to participate in or attend their conference using the Travel Grant and, if necessary, support from other sources. Supplemental funds above the awarded amount cannot be requested from the Soffen Fund.

Students of all nationalities are welcome to apply; however, applicants must be enrolled full time in an accredited undergraduate or graduate institution of higher learning in the United States.

Notification of the award will be made approximately one month after the application deadline, after conclusion of the review process. Given the requirement that recipients must acknowledge the Soffen Fund in their presentations, only conferences on or after May 1, 2021 are eligible for consideration.