James R. Welch Scholarship
James R. Welch Scholarship supports graduate students studying macro invertebrate fossils, funding field collection and fossil preparation to advance research through direct work with fossil material.
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Funder: Association of Applied Paleontological Sciences
Due Dates: November 1, 2026 (General scholarship guidelines) | December 1, 2026 (Welch-specific deadline)
Funding Amounts: $1,000 annually, plus a one-year renewable Associate Membership
Summary: Supports graduate students researching macro invertebrate fossils, primarily through field collection and fossil preparation.
Key Information: Applicants must be active in field research and collecting; AAPS membership is not required.
Description
The James R. Welch Scholarship is administered by the Association of Applied Paleontological Sciences (AAPS) for graduate-level students researching macro invertebrate fossils at universities worldwide. Its central priority is practical fieldwork: applicants must be active in field research and collecting, and scholarship funds should primarily support the collection and preparation of macro fossils.
Established in 1990, the scholarship honors James Welch of Montana Geological Materials in Billings, Montana, who died while collecting fossils at Glass Mountain in the Permian of Texas. The award’s emphasis on direct engagement with fossil material reflects that memorial purpose. It is one of two annual AAPS graduate paleontology scholarships; the Welch award focuses specifically on macro invertebrates.
