Rising undergraduates in mammalogy travel awards

Rising undergraduates in mammalogy travel support

We are inviting applications for the rising undergraduates in mammalogy travel support! This program will provide funds and support for undergraduate students to attend the 104th annual meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists in at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, June 27 - July 1, 2025!

About the travel support: The American Society of Mammalogists is a professional organization dedicated to the study of mammals worldwide. We are offering travel support to fully support curious and motivated undergraduate students to join us at our next annual meeting! Because of the numerous barriers that scientists from many backgrounds face, in this program we are prioritizing students with identities that have been marginalized in mammalogy or biology more broadly. By reducing the financial barriers of attending a conference, we hope to bring scientists from diverse backgrounds into mammalogy. 

The travel support will cover round-trip transportation, a meal stipend, lodging, and registration costs for award recipients. We expect to grant 5 awardees. Awardees will be required to participate in pre-conference activities to prepare them for attendance (expected ~ 5-hour time commitment). Awardees will have support and guidance throughout the conference from graduate students or early-career professionals. Awardees will be expected to complete a 1-2 page reflection essay after the conference to improve the program in the following years. 

Travel support eligibility: 

1) This award is open to undergraduate students attending college, university, or community college in North America. Note: we hope to be able to expand this to students outside of North America in the future, but funds prevent us from doing so at the moment. 

2) Applicants must be someone whose identities have been marginalized in mammalogy or biology more broadly. These identities may include, but are not limited to, being a first generation college student, low socioeconomic status, Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian and Pacific Islander, a Person of Color, disabled, neurodivergent, LGBTQIA+, nonbinary, nontraditional student, or a combination of these characteristics. 

3) Applicants can graduate in May 2025 and still be eligible for the award. 

4) Applicants must be pursuing an undergraduate degree related to the study of mammalogy. This could include, but is not limited to, biology, ecology, rangeland, wildlife biology, zoology, and natural resources. 

5) Applicants must have a strong interest in working with mammals in their professional career. 

6) Applicants do not need to present original research at the meeting. Applicants do not need to be members of ASM. 

7) Preference will be given to applicants who have not attended a professional meeting before. 

8) Preference will be given to students who do not have funds to attend the meeting without this award. 

Application instructions: Please respond to all of the prompts below. If you have any questions about the award process or if the form is not working, please contact Rhiannon Jakopak (IDEA Committee Chair) at asm.idea.committee@gmail.com.

Application deadline: Application deadline is February 15, 2025. Applicants will be notified of whether or not they received the award by March 15, 2025. Applicants are also encouraged to apply to the Honoraria and Travel Awards. 

Eligibility:

  • This award is open to undergraduate students attending college, university, or community college in North America. Note: we hope to be able to expand this to students outside of North America in the future, but funds prevent us from doing so at the moment. 
  • Applicants must be someone whose identities have been marginalized in mammalogy or biology more broadly. These identities may include, but are not limited to, being a first generation college student, low socioeconomic status, Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian and Pacific Islander, a Person of Color, disabled, neurodivergent, LGBTQIA+, nonbinary, nontraditional student, or a combination of these characteristics. 
  • Applicants can graduate in May 2024 and still be eligible for the award. 
  • Applicants must be pursuing an undergraduate degree related to the study of mammalogy. This could include, but is not limited to, biology, ecology, rangeland, wildlife biology, zoology, and natural resources. 
  • Applicants must have a strong interest in working with mammals in their professional career. 
  • Applicants do not need to present original research at the meeting. Applicants do not need to be members of ASM. 
  • Preference will be given to applicants who have not attended a professional meeting before. 
  • Preference will be given to students who do not have funds to attend the meeting without this award. 

Application deadline is February 15, 2025. Applicants will be notified of whether or not they received the award by March 15, 2025. Applicants are also encouraged to apply to the Honoraria and Travel Awards. 

The file should contain the following information:
  • An essay between 500 and 1500 words (in total) that specifically addresses each of the following prompts. 
    Please list each of the questions and their associated questions. 
    • How does your identity influence your career interests and aspirations?
    • What are your career aspirations? Specifically address how your career aspirations contribute to furthering the scientific knowledge of mammals, their habitats, or their conservation and management. 
    • Please describe your involvement in classes, clubs, organizations, internships, undergraduate research, etc., that demonstrates your commitment to mammalogy. 
    • How do you envision that attending the ASM conference will benefit you in achieving your career aspirations? 
    • Please indicate whether you have attended a professional scientific meeting or conference before. 
  • Resume or curriculum vitae, any length. This should document any relevant classes, internships, work, research, or volunteer experiences and any professional conference you have attended.
  • A proposed budget for the travel costs that would be required for you to travel from where you live to West Lafayette, Indiana. Include whether any funds are available to you through your college, university, lab group, etc., if you do not receive this award. Note: You do not need to provide estimated costs for lodging, conference registration, etc., just travel. 
One file only.
20 MB limit.
Allowed types: pdf.