Scripps Research Logo

Scripps California Society of Fellows Travel Award

*The next application deadline is March 1, 2013.*

Scope:

The goal of this initiative is to provide postdoctoral associates an opportunity to present scholarly activities at a scientific national or international conference.   

Administrative info:

Applications will be submitted to the Career and Postdoctoral Services Office and will be evaluated on March 1 and October 1.  Each evaluation cycle will award up to four grants of up to $1000 each.  The Career and Postdoctoral Services Office will process the paperwork and distribute the money.  Upon receiving notice of receipt of award, reimbursement will require proof of conference acceptance and/or attendance and purchase receipts. 

Eligibility:

  1. Only full-time postdoctoral associates at TSRI may apply.
  2. Active participation in the meeting or conference (i.e., oral or poster presentation) is required.  In the case of co-authored papers, both authors are eligible.
  3. The research project must be from work done at TSRI, not a previous institution.   
  4. Conference must take place in the future (up to one year after the respective application deadlines of March 1 or October 1).
  5. A postdoctoral associate can submit only one proposal per evaluation cycle.
  6. Previous TSRI SoF Postdoc Travel Award recipients are not eligible.

*Applicants who have never attended a meeting presenting their current work and those with outstanding financial need are encouraged to apply.*

Specific Proposal Guidelines:

Submit a Travel Award Form (PDF) and include:

  1. Curriculum Vitae
  2. Letter of Support:  Statement by faculty mentor addressing the postdoc’s contribution to the research project.
  3. Project Description:  Include A) purpose/significance of the project and summary of results (one page maximum) and B) value of the travel opportunity to your educational and/or professional goals and to your research group (one page maximum).
  4. Budget: Proposed budget including airfare, ground transportation,  lodging, food, and conference registration (one page maximum).

Evaluation

A selection committee of 5 postdocs (volunteers from an open call to the TSRI postdoc community) will review the applications.  The committee will be instructed to review applications and issue a single score for each application from 1-10 (10=highest).  Each application will be evaluated for scientific merit, the applicant's credentials, and the significance of the conference to the applicant's career. The highest scoring applications will be funded in each of the two cycles.

FAQs

Q: During what timeframe are conferences eligible for the award?
A: Eligible conferences are those that take place up to one year after the respective SOF Travel Award application deadline (either March 1 or October 1). Applications for travel that already took place (i.e., before the SOF Travel Award deadline) will not be considered.      

Q: What will the award cover?
A: Fees and expenses associated with attending a specified scientific conference. This can include airline tickets, hotel expenses, ground transportation fare, and registration fees.

Q: Can I apply for the award if my abstract has not been accepted? Can I apply for the award even if I’m not 100% sure I will attend?
A: Yes. If you win the award, you will not receive any reimbursement from SOF until you produce receipts or proof of registration. If you win the award, then find out you will not be attending the conference, please notify us as soon as possible.

Q: How will the selection committee be chosen?
A: An email to the CA postdocs email list will solicit volunteers several weeks before each application close date.  Reviewers are accepted first-come, first-served.   

Q: Can I be on the selection committee for the same cycle I submit a Travel Award application?
A: No.  However, applicants or winners from previous cycles are welcome to become committee members.  

Q: What about possible bias from committee members who are in the same labs as applicants? 
A: Oversight from the Career and Postdoctoral Services Office and the SOF will encourage review committee members to abstain from judging applications from co-authors, collaborators, close friends, lab mates, partners, etc.

Q: When will the winners be announced?
A: Within one month of the application close date.