Grow Your Research at the Arnold Arboretum: Arboretum Research Scholar Award 2026 (Grant up to $10,000)

If you need a small pot of funding to get a research idea out of your head and into the field, greenhouse, or lab bench, the Arboretum Research Scholar Award is worth your attention. This award offers up to $10,000 to support research expenses and travel tied to projects that make use of the Arnold Arboretum’s resources. It’s the kind of grant that helps you move from “pilot” to “publishable results” — not a life-changing endowment, but the practical fuel that turns an experiment or focused field season into a career-making chapter.

Think of this award as entrepreneurial seed money for scholars: enough to pay for travel to the Arboretum, hire an undergraduate assistant for a summer, or cover consumables and small equipment. If your project benefits from access to living plant collections, archives, or close collaboration with staff at a major botanical research site, this award can be a strategic match. The deadline is firm—February 1, 2026—so start planning now.

At a Glance

Why this award matters (three reasons)

First, clarity and focus: small grants like this force you to define a realistic, tightly scoped project — a single field season, a lab method optimization, a targeted archive study. That specificity makes it easier to complete the work and to show results.

Second, access: the award explicitly rewards projects that use the Arnold Arboretum’s resources. That means hands-on access to living collections, herbarium specimens, staff expertise, and possibly local collaborations. For many applicants, that access accelerates the work far more than the cash alone.

Third, career momentum: receiving a named arboretum award adds credibility to your CV and signals to future funders that you can design, execute, and report on focused research. If you’re building toward larger grants, this is a practical stepping stone.

What This Opportunity Offers (detailed)

This award provides direct funds—up to $10,000—for research costs and travel tied to a project that uses the Arnold Arboretum. You can use the money for consumables, field equipment, travel to Boston to work on-site, or to support a short-term undergraduate intern hired through your home institution. The guidance specifically notes funds are not intended to replace departmental salaries or regular stipends, so don’t plan to fund yourself as a line-item salary unless it’s for an intern employed through your university.

Beyond the dollars, the non-monetary benefits are meaningful. Awardees gain formal association with the Arboretum, which can open doors: access to collections or archival materials, introductions to staff scientists, and networking within a scholarly environment that prizes botanical and ecological research. If your goal is to develop relationships or to demonstrate feasibility for a larger grant, the in-residence preference is an important strategic advantage.

Imagine you’re a botanist wanting to test trait variation across a curated set of species. Ten thousand dollars can cover travel for repeated sampling trips, consumables for lab assays, and a part-time undergraduate to help with data collection and digitization. Or suppose you’re a historian of science seeking archival materials about plant exploration — travel and accommodation costs plus a small stipend for transcription help can make that research possible. The award is flexible within the stated guidelines, so match your budget tightly to the work you can complete within your timeline.

Who Should Apply (real-world examples)

This award is explicitly open to scholars from all stages — graduate students, postdocs, faculty, independent researchers. But the program favors applicants who will spend time at the Arboretum during their research. If you can realistically plan a period in Boston, you increase your competitiveness.

Example 1: An early-career postdoc studying flowering phenology who needs samples from specific living collections at the Arboretum. They’ll use the funds for travel, sample processing supplies, and a student assistant to collect data across the season.

Example 2: A doctoral candidate examining historical plant exchanges who needs access to the Arboretum’s archives for three weeks. The award covers travel and a small fee to hire a student to digitize documents.

Example 3: A conservation ecologist from outside North America who wants short-term residency to measure genetic diversity in ornamental tree populations. The grant pays for travel and local living costs; in-residence status facilitates introductions to local collaborators.

If you can clearly explain how being physically present at the Arboretum will materially advance the project — for example, by enabling repeated measurements, hands-on curation, or guided use of collections — you’ll be rewarded. If travel is impossible for you, you can still apply, but make a strong case for how you will use the Arboretum’s resources remotely.

Eligibility and Selection Preferences

Applications are accepted from all scholars. There’s no rigid restriction by nationality or institutional affiliation listed in the source material, though applicants should check the official guidelines for any residency or institutional requirements. The selection committee indicates a preference for awardees who plan to be in residence for a portion of their research. That preference is not an exclusionary rule, but a stated selection factor — treat it as a strategic point in your proposal.

The award explicitly allows funds to pay the stipend or salary of an undergraduate intern appointed through your home institution. It also states that funds are not intended to supplement or replace departmental salaries or stipend lines. If you rely on institutional payroll, coordinate early with your grants or human resources office to ensure compliance.

Insider Tips for a Winning Application (detailed, actionable)

1. Start with a clear, narrow research question. Tight projects win small grants. Describe one or two specific aims that can be completed or substantially advanced with the budget and the residency period you propose. Don’t propose an open-ended multi-year program.

2. Make the case for being on site. Explain what you will do physically at the Arboretum — sample living specimens, consult handwritten accession records, or use a curator’s expertise — and why those tasks cannot be accomplished remotely. Concrete milestones tied to time on-site make your proposal credible.

3. Budget bottom-up and explain every number. A one-page budget shouldn’t be vague. Break down travel (airfare, local transport), accommodation (per diem or actual costs), consumables, honoraria for an undergraduate assistant, and any fees. If you plan to hire a student through your university, note the hourly rate and estimated hours.

4. Recruit referees early and prep them. Two recommendation letters are required (unless you are a faculty or senior scientist PI). Contact potential referees weeks in advance, give them your draft research statement, and tell them exactly what to emphasize: your ability to complete a short-term project, your record of stewardship with collections, or your fit with the Arboretum. The online system will email them a link—make sure they recognize that email to reduce late letters.

5. Write the research statement like a narrative with evidence. In 1–2 pages, say what you will do, why it matters, how the Arboretum helps, and what outputs you’ll produce (publications, reports, data sets). Include a brief feasibility paragraph describing any prior work or pilot data and a contingency plan for common obstacles.

6. Use the timeline to show discipline. A one-page timeline with start/end dates and milestones reassures reviewers that the project is manageable. Tie milestones to deliverables (e.g., “Weeks 1–3: specimen collection and photography; Weeks 4–6: lab assays; Month 4: preliminary analysis and report”).

7. Emphasize broader impact without grandstanding. State simply how the results will be shared — a conference talk, a public Arboretum seminar, open-access data deposition — and how they benefit botanical science, conservation, or education.

8. Proof and polish. Small grants are competitive. Typos and sloppy budgets are unforgiving. Have at least two colleagues read your materials: one expert for scientific rigor and one non-specialist to confirm clarity.

Taken together, these steps reduce reviewer uncertainty and increase your perceived feasibility. The goal is to make it easy for the committee to say yes.

Realistic Application Timeline (work backward from Feb 1, 2026)

Start 8–10 weeks before the deadline. Here’s a practical schedule:

• 8–10 weeks out: Draft your research statement and one-page budget. Identify referees and contact them to request their support.
• 6–7 weeks out: Revise your statement with feedback from a colleague outside your subfield. Finalize timeline and CV updates.
• 4–5 weeks out: Send referees a polished draft and any documents they’ll need. Begin the online application and upload preliminary files so you can troubleshoot.
• 2–3 weeks out: Final proofread, budget check with your institution’s grants office if needed. Confirm referees have submitted letters or are on track.
• 48–72 hours before deadline: Final submission. Aim to submit at least two days early to avoid technical glitches. Confirm receipt emails and keep a copy of all submissions.

Deadlines are rarely flexible. Plan for the unexpected: referees who need reminders, file upload errors, or last-minute budget clarifications.

Required Materials (what to prepare and how to present)

Your online application must include:

• Cover letter. Briefly introduce yourself, the project title, and the amount requested. One page is fine.
• Research statement (1–2 pages). Describe the research question, methods, how Arboretum resources will be used, and how the award will further your career. References may be included and do not count toward the page limit.
• Research budget (1 page). Itemize costs for travel, supplies, stipends for an undergraduate intern (if applicable), and other project expenses. Explain any institutional cost-sharing.
• Project timeline. Include anticipated start and end dates and key milestones.
• Curriculum vitae. Highlight relevant publications, prior experience with collections, and any previous residency or fieldwork.
• Two letters of recommendation. As a non-faculty applicant, you must request these through the online system; inform your referees to expect an email from the Arboretum with upload instructions.

Preparation advice: format the research statement with clear subheadings (Background, Aims, Methods, Use of Arboretum Resources, Timeline & Deliverables). Use concise tables or figures only if they fit within the page limit and genuinely clarify a complex method or timeline. For the budget, include a short narrative justification beneath the numbers.

What Makes an Application Stand Out (review criteria explained)

Reviewers look for three linked things: clear scientific or scholarly merit, feasibility, and effective use of Arboretum resources. Merit means a well-posed question that advances knowledge or methods. Feasibility requires a realistic scope, timeline, and budget. Effective use of Arboretum resources shows you aren’t asking for money to do work you could do without visiting.

Strong applications tell a compact story: here’s the gap in knowledge, here’s exactly what I will do at the Arboretum that addresses it, here’s how I’ll measure success, and here are realistic deliverables by the project end. If you can show prior experience with similar techniques or a small pilot dataset, do so briefly. That evidence tells reviewers you’re likely to complete the work.

A crisp dissemination plan helps. Commit to a seminar at the Arboretum, a conference presentation, or a data deposit. That shows you’ll convert the award into public benefit.

Common Mistakes to Avoid (and quick fixes)

1. Vague budgets. Fix: itemize costs and explain why each dollar is necessary. Don’t lump “travel” into a single line without detail.

2. No clear rationale for residency. Fix: state what tasks require on-site presence and give a week-by-week plan for your time there.

3. Late or generic letters. Fix: brief referees about precisely what you want them to emphasize and give them your draft research statement and deadline.

4. Overly broad projects. Fix: narrow your aims to something you can complete in the stated timeline with the requested funds.

5. Ignoring institutional rules. Fix: consult your home institution’s sponsored programs office early if you’ll hire a student or have indirect cost questions.

6. Typos and formatting errors. Fix: get a fresh pair of eyes and proof at least twice. Small errors reduce reviewer confidence.

Avoid these traps and you’ll improve both the readability and credibility of your application.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can international scholars apply?
A: The announcement says applications are sought from all scholars. If you’re international, verify travel logistics and visa requirements early; emphasize how your residency will be organized and funded.

Q: Can funds pay my salary?
A: The award is not intended to replace departmental salaries or standard stipends. It may support the stipend or salary for an undergraduate intern appointed through your home institution. If you want to support personnel, specify an undergrad assistant with precise hours and pay rate.

Q: How long can the project last?
A: The call doesn’t specify a maximum project duration. Propose a realistic timeline in your application and describe anticipated start and end dates. Small grants are generally best for short-term or phase-one projects.

Q: What if I cannot visit the Arboretum in person?
A: You can still apply, but address clearly how you will use Arboretum resources remotely and why in-person access is not essential. Preference is given to in-residence applicants, so explain constraints and offer alternatives such as remote data access or collaboration with onsite staff.

Q: Will I get detailed reviewer feedback if I’m not funded?
A: The application materials don’t specify feedback policy. Even if formal feedback isn’t guaranteed, consider asking program contacts for brief comments if you’re not selected.

Q: Can I submit more than one project?
A: The announcement does not address multiple submissions. If you have more than one distinct project, contact the program officers to confirm policy.

How to Apply / Get Started

Ready to apply? Follow these steps now: update your CV, draft a tight 1–2 page research statement, create a one-page budget and a project timeline, and contact two referees to request letters. Start the online application early so you can confirm upload formats and the referee request process.

Ready to apply? Visit the official opportunity page: https://arboretumscholars.communityforce.com/Login.aspx?577436547345666C42476A4B30566F4B2F734F47734137784167335A4D6E6E43794D362B4444475A3046386848576C355875716969436C6450496E777375586F445465643169582F31486F37594D527A4F69644543354A76736C4F72586A357251612F786D6E783979634854384F496C7657506D6250442B37464374644C4D435879496434487747724866343057474A51494A6B4C567A773035554E43556278364E7037786C346267636470774D4B396B6A504339725237426B6166656E554E7279793178445634615951524E2B6E6A6875717867566976485233705938634546777831732F54796E50706B447236367452727636673D3D

If you prefer, contact the Arboretum program office listed on the application page for clarifications about eligibility or the submission process. Give referees plenty of lead time and confirm their letters have uploaded before the deadline.

Next Steps (concrete actions you can take this week)

• Draft a concise project title and one-paragraph summary to use when contacting referees.
• Outline your research statement: Background, Aims, Methods, Use of Arboretum Resources, Timeline. Keep it to 1–2 pages.
• Create a simple one-page budget with a line for travel, one for consumables, and one for student support (if applicable).
• Email two potential referees today to ask for a letter and give them a deadline two weeks before Feb 1 to allow buffer time.
• Begin the online application to verify upload mechanics and to see all required fields.

This award is practical, modest, and targeted. If your project can be advanced by a short residency and a clear injection of funds, put in the work to make your narrative crisp and your budget credible. It’s not easy money, but for the right project it’s exactly the kind of support that moves you forward.

Good luck — and if you want, paste your draft research statement here and I’ll help tighten it for the reviewers.