Indio Mountains Research Station Graduate Research Grant
Offered by Research & Innovation at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP)
Summary
Research & Innovation is proud to support the exciting work taking place at Indio Mountains Research Station (IMRS). To help advance graduate research at this unique site, we are pleased to offer two (2) graduate research grants of $2,500 for the 2025-2026 academic year.
The IMRS, operated by The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), is a 41,200-acre field station in the northern Chihuahuan Desert, offering rare access to one of the last ungrazed, university-controlled desert ecosystems in the region. IMRS serves as a living laboratory that supports interdisciplinary research and field-based education in biodiversity, geology, ecology, and environmental science.
Core Strengths of IMRS
- Biological Uniqueness: IMRS has benefited from decades of protection from grazing, resulting in remarkable biodiversity and ecological integrity. This unique environment supports advanced research in population genetics, conservation biology, and long-term ecological monitoring.
- Comprehensive Field Research Infrastructure: IMRS is equipped with solar-powered facilities, laboratory and kitchen spaces, camping accommodations, Wi-Fi, and communication tools—enabling sustained fieldwork in a remote yet well-supported setting.
- Student-Centered, Experiential Learning: IMRS provides immersive, hands-on learning opportunities that prepare UTEP students for real-world applications in ecology, geology, and environmental science through direct engagement in field-based research.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be graduate students enrolled in a Ph.D. program at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and must be Wilderness First Aid certified or equivalent.
- Students from all departments and disciplines are eligible and encouraged to apply.
- Proposed research must use Indio Mountains Research Station as a core research site.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on the following:
- Merit of the proposed research, including significance, originality, and study design quality.
- Feasibility of project completion within the proposed timeline.
- Priority will be given to students who lack existing funding and those from underrepresented disciplines.
Selection Committee and Timeline
An external review firm and an internal selection committee will review applications.
- Application Deadline: August 1, 2025
- Selection & notification: September 2025
- Project Period: October 2025 - September 2026 * All funds must be expensed by August 1, 2026
- Advisory Committee Presentation: March 2026
- Final report deadline: September 30, 2026
Allowable Expenses
Funding may support field-based activities during Fall 2025 and Spring 2026
- Travel to/from IMRS (e.g., mileage, food)
- Field, lab, computing, or other supplies
Note: Non-allowable expenses include professional development training or unrelated purchases. Final discretion lies with Research & Innovation.
Application process:
Submit a complete application through UTEP’s InfoReady platform: https://utep.infoready4.com/
A complete application contains the following:
- Cover Letter (max 1 page) detailing research motivations and rationale for the $2,500 award.
- Project description (max 3 pages) including:
- Research significance
- Study objectives and/or research questions
- Brief literature review
- Study design and methodology
- Project timeline
- Itemized budget for a $2,500 award
- Curriculum Vitae
- Letter of Recommendation from supervising faculty advisor supporting the research and evaluating its merit.
- Collecting permits, if applicable.
Award Requirements
- Grant recipients must provide periodic reporting to UTEP’s Research & Innovation.
- Required deliverables:
- Brief presentation to the IMRS Advisory Committee
- Final written report detailing progress, expenditures, and preliminary results. Reports must be submitted to researchdev@utep.edu
