CMS Awards

The Colorado Mycological Society (CMS) seeks to offer two types of awards in order to support the advancement of mycology research, education, and experience in the Southern Rocky Mountain region. 

In 2026, the Society will offer the following awards: 

  • One Academic Research Award of $2500.
  • Multiple Travel Awards ranging from $500 to $1000 from a total budget of $2500.

All interested parties are encouraged to apply via instructions below. 

Academic Research Award

  • Graduate or Undergraduate student, currently enrolled in an accredited university doing academic research in mycology or other relevant field.
  • Priority will be given to research proposals on Colorado mycology, followed by research in the Western United States or adjacent state on a topic relevant to fungi in the Southern Rocky Mountains.
  • It is requested that awardees present the progress or product of their research to the CMS during one of the regular meetings or through an article to be posted in the newsletter or Blog. This request is not a requirement of the award.
  • One award of $2500 will be given in 2026.

Travel Awards

  • Any CMS member can apply – Society Membership is not required but members will receive priority in selecting awardees.
  • Award is given to members for travel or registration for a justified mycological activity. Proposals can be for CMS members wanting to participate in mycological activities outside of the state.
    • Examples: NAMA forays, Telluride mushroom festival, Mycological Society of America Meetings, Courses or Workshops in mycology activities.
  • It is requested that awardees share the outcome and experience of their travel to the CMS through an article to be posted in the newsletter or blog. This request is not a requirement of the award.
  • The actual amount of the award given will depend upon need and availability of funds. 

How to Apply?

Academic Research Award – Applications should be a single document, preferably in PDF format. The maximum number of written pages should be five, with additional pages allowed for citations only. The breakdown of the applications sections are as follows:

  • A cover letter with a maximum length of 2 pages. The cover letter should document the applicant’s background information, CMS membership status, and interests and aspirations in mycology.
  • A research proposal with a maximum length of 2 pages (citations not included).
    The proposal should cover:
    •  the background for the research with adequate background citations; 
    • the research questions to be examined and/or hypotheses to be tested; 
    • the methods used to examine or test the research questions.
  • A one page timeline and budget for the project.
  • A separate letter of support from the applicant’s principal advisor. The letter should corroborate much of the students’ cover letter information, and provide some indication of confidence in the student’s ability to accomplish the work described. The letter should be written on the institution letterhead.
  • Email application to scholarships@cmsweb.org with the following subject line “CMS Academic Research Award -” followed by the last name of the person applying. Upon submission of your application, please expect an automated response.
  • Deadline to apply is February 28th. Awardees will be notified by April 15th with a decision. 

Travel Award – Applications should be a single document, preferably in PDF format. The maximum number of written pages should be two. Use the following criteria to guide your application.

  • Provide a two page cover letter containing the following information:
    • Personal background to provide context into your interest in mycology.  Please provide context into why attending this event, workshop, course will help elevate your relationship to mycology. Help us understand how this event helps you to make mycology better in Colorado. This can be as simple as having a better understanding of mushrooms or the culture behind mushrooms.  However, the better the description, the more compelling your application will be. 
    • Describe the event. Name, dates, locations, links to the website, etc.
    • What is the requested amount (up to $1000)? What will the cost be used for? Travel? Tickets? Registration?
  • Email application to scholarships@cmsweb.org with the following subject line “CMS Travel Award -” followed by the last name of the person applying.  Upon submission of your application, please expect an automated response.
  • Requests for funding are open ended through May, but expect decisions for awards to take 6-8 weeks from the submission of the award application.