Win up to $10,000 for Arboretum-Based Research: Arboretum Research Scholar Award 2026 Guide

If you study plants, trees, urban ecology, or any science that can benefit from living collections and decades of curated data, this small-but-smart award could change the trajectory of your next project. The Arboretum Research Scholar Award offers up to $10,000 to cover research and travel costs tied to work that uses the Arnold Arboretum’s collections, staff, and facilities. Think of it as seed funding with a place attached — money plus time spent surrounded by living specimens, expert curators, and a scholarly environment that can turn a promising pilot into a solid program.

This award is not only about the cash. A residency at the Arboretum means access to plant collections that span centuries, institutional records, herbarium material, and people who know these collections inside-out. For early career researchers, graduate students with strong mentorship, and mid-career scientists trying out a new direction, this is the kind of targeted support that produces publishable data, strong preliminary results, and new collaborations.

Applications for the 2026 cycle are due February 1, 2026. This guide walks you through what the award funds, who should apply, how to prepare a competitive packet, and a realistic timeline so you don’t panic the weekend before the deadline. Read on like you’re preparing to pitch both your idea and yourself — because reviewers will be judging both.

At a Glance

What This Opportunity Offers

The Arboretum Research Scholar Award is a focused, flexible grant meant to catalyze projects that make direct use of the Arnold Arboretum’s collections and expertise. While $10,000 won’t fund a multi-year lab operation, it can fund the critical pieces that let a project move forward: targeted fieldwork, travel to collect comparative samples, specialized analyses, small equipment purchases, or stipends for an undergraduate research assistant who can collect data or process specimens.

Beyond money, the award is designed to encourage time spent at the Arboretum. That matters. In-residence scholars get easier access to staff expertise, herbarium materials, garden history archives, and opportunities for informal collaboration that don’t show up on a budget sheet. If your project benefits from hands-on work with living trees, repeated phenological observations, or proximity to curatorial staff for specimen identification and historical records, this award buys you both freedom and connection.

Recipients often use the funds for short, high-impact activities: three months of concentrated field observations across seasons, carbon isotope analysis on wood samples, DNA barcoding of understory species, measurements of urban tree health and soil chemistry, or travel to gather comparative material from partner sites. The Arboretum environment can also be the perfect testing ground for outreach or education pieces tied to your research — a public lecture series, a citizen science protocol trial, or a demonstration herbarium workshop.

Who Should Apply

This award is intentionally broad: any scholar whose work will draw on the Arnold Arboretum’s resources is a legitimate candidate. That includes botanists, ecologists, dendrologists, urban foresters, plant biochemists, ethnobotanists, and even data scientists who use long-term plant records to model phenology or biodiversity trends. Below are three concrete applicant profiles to help you self-screen.

• Early-career investigator: A postdoc wanting preliminary data for a larger grant — for example, timed phenology observations at the Arboretum to supplement remote sensing data before applying to an NSF program. The award can fund travel and an undergraduate assistant to collect daily observations.

• Graduate student with faculty support: A PhD candidate studying pollinator interactions who needs temporary access to specific tree species and staff identifications. You’ll likely need a faculty advisor as a co-sponsor and strong letters that confirm institutional support.

• Mid-career scholar branching into plant collections research: A soil scientist shifting to urban tree carbon sequestration who needs access to curated sites and arboretum records. A short residency funded by this award gives you time to adapt methods and collect pilot samples.

Preference is given to applicants who plan to be present at the Arboretum for part of their research. That doesn’t mean you need to relocate for a year; even visits of weeks to a few months that coincide with critical sampling or observation windows strengthen your application. If your research can’t be done on-site but uses Arboretum records or specimens in a meaningful way, explain that clearly in your research statement and detail alternative arrangements for consultation with Arboretum staff.

Insider Tips for a Winning Application

This section is the practical grit — the parts reviewers actually care about but don’t always say out loud. Treat your application like a short persuasive essay: clear aim, feasible plan, transparent budget, and a narrative that shows the Arboretum is essential, not incidental.

1. Be blunt about why the Arboretum matters. Don’t say “we will use the Arboretum collections” and leave it at that. Name the specific collections, staff members, or records you need. If you need access to the herbarium for voucher specimen comparisons, say so and explain why external collections won’t do.

2. Make the budget tell a story. Itemize costs so a reviewer can track activities against expenses. If you request $6,000 for travel, explain dates, destinations, and how travel is tied to measurable outcomes. Include small line items (shipping, specimen processing, permit fees) — reviewers hate hidden costs that raise feasibility questions.

3. Define clear deliverables and a timeline. Don’t promise “results” — promise specific outputs: number of specimens collected, weeks in residence, datasets produced, a conference presentation, or a manuscript draft. Tying funds to deliverables reassures reviewers you’ll use the money productively.

4. Use letters strategically. Choose recommenders who can speak to your ability to complete the project and, ideally, to your relationship with collections or fieldwork. If a letter writer is local to the Arboretum or has collaborated with its staff, ask them to mention that familiarity.

5. Explain backup plans for season-sensitive work. If your project depends on spring flowering or a migration window, state contingency plans for delayed timing or failed sample collection. Reviewers prefer applicants who anticipate problems and have alternatives.

6. Show you know administrative realities. Briefly indicate that you’ve checked institutional requirements (e.g., permits, compliance, herbarium accession rules) and will work with your sponsored programs office. It’s a small sign that you’re organized.

7. Keep the research statement crisp and readable. Adhere to the 1–2 page limit. Use short paragraphs and avoid dense jargon. Have a colleague outside your subfield read it; if they can summarize the aim in a sentence, you’re in good shape.

Taken together, these steps won’t guarantee funding — but they will move you from “maybe” to “serious contender.”

Application Timeline (Working Back from February 1, 2026)

Start at least 8 weeks before the deadline. Good proposals rarely appear the week before.

• Early December 2025: Sketch your research idea; list required permits, samples, staff contacts, and tentative residency dates. Reach out informally to Arboretum staff if you have questions about collections access.

• Mid December: Finalize the research statement outline and budget draft. Identify two recommenders and brief them on the project and timeline. If you’re not faculty, contact referees early — they’ll need time to submit through the portal.

• Early January 2026: Draft full proposal documents (research statement, 1-page budget, timeline, CV). Send drafts to mentors for feedback. Create your online application account if needed.

• Mid to Late January: Incorporate feedback, finalize materials, and confirm referees have received the portal email. Have your institution’s grants office check budget and compliance statements.

• January 30–31: Upload your application and verify each file. Ask a colleague for a final read. Submit at least 48 hours early to avoid portal issues.

• February 1, 2026: Deadline — ensure referee letters are uploaded by this date as well.

Required Materials (What to Prepare and How to Present It)

The official packet is compact but each piece matters.

• Cover letter: One page that frames who you are, why the Arboretum is essential to the project, and what the award will enable. Keep it direct and tailored; don’t recycle a generic cover letter.

• Research statement (1–2 pages): This is the core. Include background, specific aims or research questions, approach/methods, how you’ll use Arboretum resources, and expected outputs. Keep references separate and don’t count them against the page limit.

• Research budget (1 page): A simple itemized budget. Show totals and brief justifications (e.g., “Travel: $2,500 — two round trips for sampling and specimen processing; Instrument fees: $1,200 — tree ring scanning”).

• Project timeline: A one-page timeline showing start/end dates and major milestones. If your project includes a residency, list the proposed in-residence dates.

• Curriculum vitae: Focus on relevance. For early-career applicants, prioritize publications, relevant techniques, and mentorship history.

• Letters of recommendation (two): For non-faculty applicants, referees will be emailed an upload link when you request it through the portal. Contact referees before sending requests and provide them with a short project summary and deadline. Faculty and senior scientists may be exempt from this requirement — check the application instructions carefully.

• Additional documents: If you plan to work with human subjects, animals, or use controlled materials, include evidence of approvals or a note of the planned approval process.

When preparing materials, format simply and legibly: standard fonts, 1-inch margins, and clear headings. Reviewers scan quickly; clarity wins.

What Makes an Application Stand Out

Standout proposals combine originality, clarity, and feasibility. Reviewers ask three core questions: Is this idea important? Can the applicant pull it off? Are the Arboretum resources necessary?

• Importance: Demonstrate a clear research gap and explain how your project fills it. That could be a novel comparison across plant lineages, an improved method for measuring urban tree health, or the creation of a dataset that others can reuse.

• Feasibility: Show you can complete the work given the timeframe and budget. Concrete protocols, preliminary results, or prior experience with similar fieldwork increase confidence.

• Arboretum fit: Explicitly connect your methods to specific collections, staff expertise, or archival resources. If your work benefits from living specimens that the Arboretum uniquely holds, state that plainly.

• Broader outcomes: While not required to be grand, indicate dissemination plans — a conference presentation, a data repository deposit, a public seminar at the Arboretum, or a plan for student training. These modest extensions make the award’s impact visible.

• Professionalism: A tidy budget, polished CV, and timely letters all matter. Minor errors can shift a proposal from “promising” to “risky.” Show you can manage both science and the administrative side.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Several recurring mistakes weaken applications — all are fixable with attention.

1. Vague connection to the Arboretum. Saying you’ll “use the collections” without specifics makes reviewers wonder if the Arboretum is central or incidental. Name collections, staff, or facilities.

2. Overambitious scope. Asking for pilot funding to do a full-scale multi-year project raises red flags. Scale back to a focused project that produces clear deliverables within the funding period.

3. Underbudgeting or hiding costs. Omitted sample processing fees, shipping, or permit costs create doubts. Itemize realistically.

4. Late or missing letters. Ask recommenders early, and follow up politely. The portal sends a link, but some recommenders miss the email. A polite reminder two weeks out is normal.

5. Dense, jargon-filled writing. Keep the research statement readable. Reviewers often represent a range of specialties; if they can’t parse your aim quickly, your application suffers.

6. Ignoring institutional approvals. If your work needs permits or special access, include a plan to secure them. Don’t assume reviewers will trust that you’ll handle it later.

Address these mistakes directly in your preparation and you’ll improve your odds substantially.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who exactly can apply? A: The award is open to “all scholars” broadly defined — graduate students (often with advisor sponsorship), postdocs, faculty, independent researchers, and museum scientists. Preference is given to those planning to spend time in residence at the Arboretum. Check the official guidance for any role-specific letter requirements.

Q: Can the funds pay my salary or my regular departmental stipend? A: Award funds are not intended to replace ongoing salaries or stipends. They can, however, cover the stipend for an undergraduate intern hired through your home institution for work on the project, and can support short-term contracted services related to the research.

Q: Is preliminary data required? A: No formal preliminary data requirement is listed, but showing prior work or a pilot helps reviewers gauge feasibility. Even informal observations or a short list of previously completed tasks and methods make your proposal stronger.

Q: How long should the project be? A: There’s no fixed duration stated, but keep it realistic for the funding level. Many successful projects are short-term (weeks to a few months) with clear, narrow goals that feed into larger future projects.

Q: What happens if I can’t be in residence? A: You can still apply if your project uses Arboretum resources remotely (e.g., herbarium specimens or digitized records), but applications proposing in-person residence are favored. If remote, explain how you’ll consult with staff and access materials.

Q: When will winners be notified? A: Notification timelines vary; expect several weeks to a few months after the deadline. Use the period to plan logistics, secure permits, and prepare for a possible residency.

Q: Can international scholars apply? A: The award is open to scholars broadly, but check visa/logistical realities if you plan a residency. Outline how you will manage visa, travel, and institutional approvals if applicable.

Next Steps / How to Apply

Ready to apply? Don’t wait until the last week. Start pulling documents together now: draft your research statement, build a realistic one-page budget, contact two referees, and sketch a project timeline with proposed residency dates.

When you’re ready, submit through the Arboretum’s online portal. Referees will receive an automatic email with a link to upload their letters after you request them from within your application. Confirm with them that they received the portal notification and that they’ll upload by February 1, 2026.

Apply now or get full details at the official application page: [Ready to apply? Visit the Arboretum Research Scholar Award application portal](https://arboretumscholars.communityforce.com/Login.aspx?577436547345666C42476A4B30566F4B2F734F47734137784167335A4D6E6E43794D362B4444475A3046386848576C355875716969436C6450496E777375586F445465643169582F31486F37594D527A4F69644543354A76736C4F72586A357251612F786D6E783979634854384F496C7657506D6250442B37464374644C4D435879496434487747724866343057474A51494A6B4C567A773035554E43556278364E7037786C346267636470774D4B396B6A504339725237426B6166656E554E7279793178445634615951524E2B6E6A6875717867566976485233705938634546777831732F54796E50706B447236367452727636673D3D

If you have questions specific to eligibility or collections access, contact the Arboretum staff listed on the application page well before the deadline. Good preparation and a tight, readable proposal greatly increase your chance of turning this modest grant into a lasting research payoff.