Funding Opportunities for ISB Students: Apply for the 2026 ISB Student Grants

[Elisa Romero Avila]

Are you a student member of the International Society of Biomechanics (ISB) looking for funding to support your research, international experience, or conference travel?

The ISB Student Grant Programs for 2026 are now open, offering several competitive funding opportunities designed specifically to support students at different stages of their academic journey. These grants aim to promote research excellence, international collaboration, and student participation in biomechanics meetings worldwide.

The full PDF with detailed guidelines, eligibility criteria, required documents, and deadlines is included in this post. We strongly encourage you to download it and read it carefully before applying.


Available Student Grants

1. Matching Dissertation Grant (MDG): Supports doctoral students conducting dissertation research.

• Amount: $2,500 USD (requires matching funds from your institution or another source)
• Who can apply: PhD candidates
• Deadline: January 31, 2026
• Notification: March 15, 2026

2. International Travel Grant (ITG): Designed to support short-term research visits abroad and foster international collaboration.

• Amount: Up to $3,500 USD
• Duration: Typically 4–6 weeks at a host institution
• Deadlines:
  • January 31, 2026
  • May 31, 2026
• Notifications (respectively):
  • March 15, 2026
  • July 15, 2026

3. International Affiliate Development Grant (IADG): Supports students from low-income or restricted-currency countries to train in established biomechanics labs or attend approved courses.

• Amount: Up to $3,500 USD
• Deadline: January 31, 2026
• Notification: March 15, 2026

4. Technical Group Meeting Travel Grant (TGTG): Helps students attend ISB-affiliated Technical Group meetings when presenting their research.

• Amount: Up to $500 USD
• Deadline: February 28, 2026
• Notification: May 1, 2026

5. Congress Travel Grant (CTG) – ISB Congress 2027: Available in congress years for students presenting as first authors at the ISB Congress.

• Amount: $600–$1,200 USD (based on travel distance)
• Deadline: Same as the ISB Congress abstract deadline
• Notification: May 1, 2027

6. Postdoctoral Fellow Congress Travel Grant (PD_CTG) – ISB Congress 2027: The only ISB grant specifically available for postdoctoral fellows.

• Amount: $500 USD
• Eligibility: Postdocs presenting as first author at the ISB Congress
• Deadline: Same as the ISB Congress abstract deadline

❇️ Important Things to Know Before Applying

1. One application form is used for all ISB student grants
2. Applicants and supervisors must be current ISB members
3. First-time applicants are encouraged
4. Only one ISB student grant per application round is typically awarded
5. Grant recipients are required to submit a short repot (written or video) after completing the funded activity, which may be featured in the ISB Newsletter and on social media

✅ How to Apply

Prepare your application as a single PDF file and email it to: Dr. Erica Bell, ISB Executive Council Student Grants Officer, bellephd9@gmail.com
Be sure to include “ISB student grant” in the email subject line (or “PD_CTG” if applying for the postdoctoral grant).

➡️ Why You Should Apply?

ISB Student Grants are more than financial support. They are an opportunity to:

• Advance your research
• Build international collaborations
• Gain visibility within the biomechanics community
• Present your work at major scientific meetings

If you are planning research, travel, or conference participation in 2026 or beyond, we strongly encourage you to explore these funding opportunities and apply.

Have questions or want to hear from past recipients? Feel free to reach out!

All the best,
Elisa Romero Avila
ISB Student Representative and Social Media Officer