This funding opportunity is supported by the National Science Foundation through the AccelNet GLASSNET project (https://glassnet.net). It provides structured, hands-on training designed to advance transdisciplinary research at the intersection of climate science and economic modeling. The award strengthens collaborative research capacity focused on human heat stress and related climate risks.
Awardees will be enrolled in the GTAP Short Course for the economic component of this mentorship. The online portion of this course runs from June 1 – July 26, 2026, and is followed by an intensive, onsite phase August 3-7, 2026 at Purdue University in the United States.
During the break between the GTAP Short Course online and in-person phases (July 27-31, 2026), awardees will be onsite at Purdue University and learn about the impacts of human heat stress on labor capacity under the mentorship of Professor Matt Huber’s Climate Science Lab. During this exchange, participants will work directly with climate scientists developing methodological approaches to assess human heat stress and climate risk.
Having completed the time working with the Climate Science Lab, awardees will then replicate and extend an existing study of the economic impacts of heat stress in West Africa during the onsite phase of the GTAP Short Course. This experience will deepen participants’ understanding of climate data, exposure metrics, and impact pathways that inform applied economic modeling.
The Purdue research exchange with the Climate Science Lab is intentionally positioned between the online and onsite phases of the GTAP Short Course, allowing participants to integrate climate science insights into their applied modeling work before attending the onsite training phase.
This opportunity is intended for scientists who are currently using, or seeking to incorporate, the GTAP framework and who wish to strengthen the empirical foundations of climate impact assessment through close collaboration between economists and climate scientists.
In addition, awardees will be connected with the broader international network of researchers working at the climate–economy interface.
Application Due Date: March 15, 2026
Eligibility:
Applicants must:
- Be early career researchers (e.g., graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, or researchers within five years of their terminal degree)
- Demonstrate a clear connection between focus of research and human heat stress
- Possess a strong foundation in micro-economics at the calculus-based graduate course level in micro-economic theory
- Have access to reliable, high-speed internet for the online phase of the GTAP Short Course
Have access to a laptop for use during the onsite phase of the GTAP Short Course
Funding Available:
- The maximum award reimbursement amount will be evaluated and communicated to recipients after selection based on their proposed budget.
- Funding will cover enrollment in the GTAP Short Course
- Selected recipients will be required to make their own travel arrangements, pay all expenses up front, and then submit receipts for reimbursement following travel. The following items will be reimbursable up to a pre-determined maximum; however, US taxes may be withheld from the final reimbursement. All reimbursements must be submitted to [email protected] within 30 days following travel.
- Airfare (Economy class – MUST BE A U.S. CARRIER)
- Accommodation (max 14 nights)
- Ground transportation
- Standard visa fees (if applicable)
Applications must include the following:
- Climate Change Research Statement and Proposed Collaboration Plan (2–3 pages) describing (i) prior scholarly contributions in the area of climate change and (ii) the specific collaborative activities and outputs to be pursued through the proposed travel
- Applicant CV
Proposed travel budget
Timeline:
- Application Deadline: March 15, 2026
- Award Notifications: by April 15, 2026
Maximum Travel Window: July 24, 2026 – August 8, 2026
How to Apply:
Submit application materials as one PDF file to: [email protected] with the subject line “ECR Travel Application: NAME” (insert your name for NAME) no later than March 15, 2026
Questions?
For inquiries or additional information, please contact: [email protected]