Purpose of the Fund
The purpose of this fund is to support professional development, learn about career opportunities and/or gain technical expertise in support of current research endeavors.
The APS Office of Private Sector Relations (OPSR), with support from APS Foundation, sponsors two Plant Pathology Experiential funds to promote career and research development experience and opportunities with organizations classified within industry and/or government. This initiative was created in 2014 with seed funding from the
Don and Judy Mathre Education Endowment and through the support of private sector companies.
Donate to the APS Plant Pathology Experiential Fund
Funds Available
$1,000 is available annually to APS members who are graduate students or post-doctorates for funding in support of a short-term learning experience with a non-academic institution. Funds are used to subsidize travel to the host organization.
Deadline to apply: May 15, 2025
$4,000 is available every two years to academia departments to support an on-site visit to 2+ non-academic organizations to create and increase awareness of business operations and potential career opportunities.
Funding next available in FY2026.
Eligibility Requirements
Individual Applicants
Who should apply: Graduate students and post-docs who are
current APS members are invited to apply.
What to expect: a short-term experience with a government or private institution outside of academia.
Purpose: to support professional development to learn about career opportunities and/or gain technical expertise in support of current research endeavors.
Funds available: $1,000 fund (1) available annually to subsidize travel to the host institution.
Departmental Applicants (not available in FY25)
Who should apply: Academic research departments
What to expect: a short-term experience for students and post-docs with a government or private institution outside of academia.
Purpose: to enhance the awareness of business operations and potential career opportunities in institutions outside of academia.
Funds available: Funding available in 2026. Funds are to be used to subsidize travel to the host institution(s).
Other details: This fund may contribute toward participation in the
OPSR Private and Public Sectors Plant Pathology Tour when/if the tour takes place in the same year.
Application Requirements
Individual Application Requirements
Application Letter (one page) describing the objectives, approximate dates, and expected outcomes of the experience.
Curriculum Vitae (maximum 2 pages)
Host Acknowledgement a brief statement from the company or organization acknowledging their willingness to serve as host.
Advisor Approval a brief statement from the student and/or post-doctorate's advisor approving the short-term visit to the host institution/company.
Apply for Funding
Save all required materials into one PDF document prior to submitting the online application.
Submit Application
Deadline to apply: May 15
Department Application Requirements - next accepted in 2026
Application Letter (2 page maximum) describing the institution or company to be visited, approximate visit dates, estimated number of students/faculty/post-doctoral scientists/technical staff that might participate in the visit, and how the experience will add value to the department
Letter of approval stating the approval of the visit from the department head or chair of the university department.
Acknowledgement statement from the host organization of its willingness to accommodate a visit from that university department.
Review and Selection Criteria
Recipients are selected by a review committee that will evaluate applications based on merit of individual applicants as well as the quality and expected outcome of the proposed experience.
Individual and department applicants will be chosen by a selection committee comprised of members of the APS Office of Private Sector Relations and the APS Foundation.
Previous Recipients
2024: Megan Buland, University of Kentucky
2024: Louisiana State University, Dept. of Plant Pathology & Crop Physiology (PPCP) Graduate Student Association (GSA)
2023: Mychele Batista da Silva, Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station (Individual)
2022: University of Kentucky, Association of Plant Pathology Scholars
2019: Annakay Diana Newell
2018: Shankar Shakya
2017: Mihir Mandal
2017: University of Georgia, Plant Pathology Department
2015: Louisiana State University, Dept. of Plant Pathology & Crop Physiology (PPCP) Graduate Student Association (GSA)
2015: Jade Florence
