The Barringer Family Fund for Meteorite Impact Research has been established as a memorial to recognize the contributions of Brandon, Moreau, Paul, Richard, and Phillip Barringer to the field of meteoritics and the Barringer family’s strong interest and support over many years in research and student education.
The Barringer Family Fund supports field research at known or suspected terrestrial impact sites worldwide. The goal of the fund is to nurture and help sustain a vibrant impact crater research community by supporting students and early career scientists in terrestrial crater field work projects. Grant funds may be used to assist with travel and subsistence costs for field work, as well as laboratory and computer analyses and the conference presentation of results, all related to such field research. Proposals not based on terrestrial impact craters or processes will not be considered.
Student and PostDoc Project Research Grant
$2,500 - $5,000 grant for master and PhD students, and post-doctoral students - up to 3 years after PhD - enrolled in formal university programs or associated with established public research institutions. Proposals will be evaluated based on the scientific quality of the research proposal, research potential and record of the applicant, completeness of documentation, and relevance to the goals of the Fund.
Early Career Research Grant
$10,000 grant for early career scientists - up to 10 years after PhD, not including time off for family leave - affiliated with an established university program or a public research institution. Proposals will describe a future research project focused on terrestrial impact structure(s) or processes for which such a grant is essential. Proposals will be evaluated based on the scientific quality of the research proposal and its potential contribution to the field, research record of the applicant, completeness of documentation, and relevance to the goals of the Fund.
Barringer Family Fund Application
Applications should follow these instructions, with format, length, and content as described here:
- Cover page, with the following:
- a. Student and PostDoc Project Research Grant - OR- Early Career Research Grant
- b. Title of the proposal
- c. Name of applicant
- d. Institution, with address
- e. E-mail and phone number of applicant
- f. Social media username(s) and/or personal website address(s)
- A brief abstract (max. 200 words) describing the proposal, including goals, methods, and desired outcome
- 1 – 2 sentence summary for public release (max. 35 words)
- Main text of the proposal, max. 5 pages, using the following headings:
- a. Introduction
- b. Goals of the study
- c. Geological background (of the terrestrial impact structure/s to be studied)
- d. Methods
- e. Proposed reporting of the results (e.g., thesis, conference presentation, scientific publications)
- f. Timeframe (provide an outline as to when the project will be carried out)
- g. Visibility of Barringer Family Fund support (describe how this support will be acknowledged during the project)
- h. A few relevant figures (such as a geological map) can be included but must fit within the 5 pages
- Budget:
- a. Table of proposed expenses
- b. Budget justification: provide a brief summary of the proposed expenses, with a focus on the requested funding from the BFF (considering what these funds can be used for, such as field work expenses, lab work related to such field samples,but not, for example, just pure conference travel).
- c. Additional support (if available): outline any additional support (confirmed or requested) that will support the proposed research and how this will be used to leverage this BFF support.
- Brief CV and publication list (if available) of the applicant
- Names of 2 people familiar with the applicant and the research (e.g., supervisors) who will be submitting letters of recommendation (these letters should be initiated by the applicant and sent independently to the address given below)
The proposal, in the form of one single combined PDF file, not exceeding a total of 10 pages, (as well as the support letters, sent separately from the proposal document) should be sent to the following address:
Prof. Dr. Christian Koeberl, Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Barringer Crater Company, at: christian.koeberl@univie.ac.at
Deadline for submission of proposals and supporting letters is April 1, 2025.
Download a PDF of the information for the 2025 Barringer Family Fund for Meteorite Impact Research