Trainee Professional Development Award

A Trainee Professional Development Award winner presenting her research at Neuroscience 2016.

The Trainee Professional Development Award (TPDA) recognizes undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral fellows demonstrating scientific merit and excellence in research with the chance to present an abstract at a poster session, meet peers and network with senior scientists, and participate in learning opportunities at the annual meeting.

The aim of these awards is to promote the advancement of career training to neuroscientists from a wide range of institutions. SfN seeks to promote gender equality and increase diversity, in all of its forms, throughout its programs. Awards are distributed based on the merit of the trainee’s application.

Recipients of the Trainee Professional Development Award will receive complimentary registration to attend the annual meeting. An award in the amount of $1,000 will be given to recipients based at institutions within North America. Recipients based at international institutions will receive an award in the amount of $2,000.

Application

You may nominate yourself for a Trainee Professional Development Award by submitting the following application components via the online application portal.

• Copy of the applicant's abstract submission confirmation form for the upcoming SfN annual meeting including both the control/tracking number and the complete abstract.
• Applicant’s CV, including education, honors/awards, and publications (abstracts and manuscripts).
• Short essay (no more than 500 words) on how attendance at the annual meeting will impact your career goals (for undergraduates, or why you chose the path of neuroscience). Additionally, the essay should speak to a personal experience that has had a broader impact on your career in science. Examples of topics could include:
  • A woman scientist who has inspired the applicant
  • The importance of local advocacy and outreach efforts in neuroscience
  • The importance of conducting rigorous science
• One-page letter of recommendation from the applicant's mentor, advisor, chapter representative or program/department chair.

Applications that are missing one or more of the application components will not be considered. Applications with materials not requested will not be reviewed.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact awards@sfn.org. Applicants should not contact selection committee members for inquiries.

Eligibility

• Applicant is the first author of an abstract to be presented at the annual meeting with an abstract that is of the highest scientific merit.
• Applicant must be a member of SfN.
• Currently enrolled as an undergraduate, graduate, or completing postdoctoral fellowship, or have completed one of these programs in the same year the award is given.
• Nominee is not a recipient of this or another SfN travel award in the same or previous year.
• Awardees are required to attend at least two professional development workshops at the annual meeting, and to complete a post event survey (to be provided digitally).

Current and Recent Financial Supporters

SfN sincerely appreciates support from the following contributors of $1,000 or more:

• Burroughs Wellcome Fund
• Friends of SfN Fund
• Genentech
• Inscopix
• Nancy Rutledge Zahniser Fund
• Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research
• Pfizer
• Sanofi
• Society for Neuroscience
• William Mobley, MD, PhD