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USGS Graduate Research Program

The Texas Water Resources Institute’s (TWRI) U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Graduate Student Research Program request for pre-proposals is now open. Complete and submit the required pre-proposal online form by 11:59 p.m. CST, February 8, 2026, to be considered for funding. Pre-proposals will be reviewed and ranked, and only the most competitive submissions will move forward to the full proposal stage.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Graduate Research Program is open to graduate students at all universities in Texas. TWRI anticipates funding 1-4 awards up to $15,000 each. All awards are dependent on funding availability; TWRI can choose not to award any applications if the funding is not available.

Key requirements are listed below. 

  • Grants are for a one-year duration from September 1 to August 31.
  • Students may request a maximum of $15,000.
  • Grants require a 1:1 match of non-federal:federal funds (if requesting $15,000, then $15,000 of match is required).
  • Indirect costs (IDC) may not be charged on the federally requested funds, but unrecovered IDC may be used toward the match requirement as well as IDC on the matching funds.
  • Pre-proposal submission is required by 11:59 pm CST February 8, 2026.
  • Only those who submitted a pre-proposal and receive a subsequent notification from TWRI will be invited to submit a full proposal.
    • Full proposal submissions for those invited to apply will include a five-page maximum application and other required information, including a budget spreadsheet and budget justification.
    • Good budget justification example – use this as a guide; be specific.
    • Bad budget justification example
    • Attachment 2 list for application keyword focus areas
    • Students who are invited for the full proposal opportunity will be contacted for additional information and materials.

The USGS funds a graduate research program with resources directed to the Institute through the National Institutes for Water Research. Since 2001, we have awarded more than $772,000 in USGS grants to support 141 students in water resources-related fields.

This program is supported by funding received from the USGS through the Water Resources Research Act (WRRA) of 1984. The WRRA established water resources institutes in each of the 50 states as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam and provides funds for research on solving water issues. TWRI is one of the 54 institutes in the National Institute for Water Resources, which serves as the contact between individual institutes and the federal funding sponsor, USGS.

For updates on this and other TWRI research and opportunities, please subscribe to TWRI News.

Contact Danielle Kalisek with any questions about this program.