Trainee Professional Development Award

The Trainee Professional Development Award (TPDA) recognizes undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who demonstrate scientific merit and excellence in research. TPDA recipients are offered complimentary registration to attend the SfN annual meeting, where they present an abstract during a scientific poster session, attend Professional Development Workshops, meet peers, and network with senior scientists. An award of $1,000 is given to recipients based at institutions within North America. Recipients based at international institutions receive an award of $2,500.

Additionally, recipients receive access to professional development opportunities on Neuronline in the year following their award. Through curated email messaging, recipients engage in specialized learning opportunities focused on a variety of career development topics.

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 forms throughout its programs. Awards are distributed based on the merit of the trainee’s application.

Application

SfN members may nominate themselves for a TPDA by submitting the following application components via the online application portal during the application window.

• Draft of the applicant's abstract submission for the upcoming SfN annual meeting.
• While TPDA applications will be accepted in advance of abstract submission, receipt of the award is contingent on submission of an accepted abstract for Neuroscience 2020.
• 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 (or, for undergraduates, 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.
  • Reference letters over one page will void the application.

Applications that are missing one or more of the application components will not be considered. Applications with materials not requested will not be reviewed. Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows ranking in the top of the applicant pool may also be eligible for SfN’s Leadership Development Program. For consideration, applicants must respond to the Leadership Development Program (LDP) questions on the application form.

Should you have any questions or concerns, review our TPDA FAQs or contact tpda@sfn.org. Applicants should not contact selection committee members for inquiries.

Eligibility

• Applicant must be the presenting author of an abstract at the annual meeting.
  • Only one application per abstract is permitted. Multiple submissions with the same abstract will be ineligible.
  • While TPDA applications will be accepted in advance of abstract submission, receipt of the award will be contingent on submission of an accepted abstract for Neuroscience 2020.
• Applicant must be a current member of SfN.
• Applicant must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program, a postdoctoral fellowship, or have completed one of these programs in the same calendar 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).

Any application which does not adhere to all parameters will be voided.