Best Paleontology Grants in Iowa

Iowa paleontology and malacology researchers can access funding through Conchologists of America for self-contained field or laboratory projects on recent or fossil mollusks. Eligible projects must focus on malacological topics across disciplines from autecology to zoogeography, with awards up to US $2,500 and no support for institutional overhead or permanent equipment.

Iowa paleontology researchers, scientists, and students can access funding for publication, technical, collecting, and other research costs through the Association of Applied Paleontological Sciences’ A. Allen Graffham Paleontology Research Grant. This annual US $1,000 award supports work that publishes on specimens collected by, or in collaboration with, AAPS members and acknowledges the association and contributing collectors.

Paleontology researchers in Iowa can apply for Western Interior Paleontological Society’s Karl Hirsch Memorial Research Grants, awarding up to US $1,000 for novel paleontological or closely related research. Funding can support museum travel, research supplies, fieldwork to collect significant specimens, and external analyses such as CT scanning or geochemical work.

Graduate students in paleontology and other geological sciences at universities in Iowa and across North and Central America can receive approximately US $2,500 to support master’s or doctoral thesis research. Geological Society of America grants require GSA membership and an advisor appraisal, and may particularly benefit students from underrepresented communities in the geosciences.

The David B. Jones Foundation Grant supports educational, research, and charitable initiatives in paleontology within the United States. Established in 1998, it offers various funding types, including one-time, multiyear, and challenge grants, focusing on projects that promote the science of paleontology. Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) organizations aligned with the foundation's mission, prioritizing programs that engage young fossil hunters and public education through museums. The foundation does not fund individual requests or religious organizations.