Student Travel Awards are made possible through the numerous APS Foundation Named Student Travel Funds. 40 travel awards will be awarded to eligible APS Student Members to support their attendance to present their research at Plant Health 2025 in Hawaii.
How to Apply
The Student Travel Award Application is part of the Plant Health 2025 abstract submission process. Abstract submissions open February 13, 2025. Review the following eligibility, award requirements, and application components prior to submitting your abstract.
Eligibility and Travel Award Requirements
Applicants must be current APS Student Members. APS membership is required both at time of submission and upon receipt of the travel award to Plant Health 2025.
Students who received a Student Travel Award in 2024 are NOT eligible to apply for funding again in 2025.
Graduate students who are selected to speak in the 2025 I.E. Melhus Symposium are not eligible for additional funding from the Student Travel Funds.
Applicants are required to submit an abstract with the plan to present either a poster or oral at Plant Health 2025.
Those selected to receive a Student Travel Award are required to be registered for Plant Health 2025 by the presenter registration deadline of June 6, 2025. Presenters who fail to register by the deadline will have their abstract withdrawn from the program and will no longer be eligible for a travel award.
Application Components
The student travel award application is part of the
Plant Health 2025 abstract submission process and you may only apply for travel funding once. Be sure to include the abstract you want associated with your travel award application during the abstract submission.
1. Abstract content and style (30 points)
- Title clear, interesting, and with broad appeal? (0-5 points)
- Clear objective? (0-10 points)
- Study placed in context of pathosystem or larger field? (0-5 points)
- Engaging style and clear summation or conclusion? (0-10 points)
2) Professional Development (500-word limit, 20 points)
Briefly describe your plan to make the most of your time at the meeting.
3) Community Engagement (10 points)
Propose an idea for how to engage and communicate with your local community around topics in plant pathology and how you would generate interest around a specific topic with the general public.
- Creativity/originality of idea (0-5 pts)
- Potential for success and evidence in support (0-5 pts)
4) 2 page Curriculum Vitae (20 points)
Upload a two-page PDF file of your CV that includes emphasis on public engagement, service, and excellence in research and outreach.
Clear, attractive format, free of errors (0-5 points)
Evidence of engagement in APS at any level (0-5 points)
Membership duration, regional or national meeting attendance, publication in APS journals, committee involvement, etc.
Evidence of service and volunteerism at department, disciplinary, or institutional level (0-5 points)
Evidence of productivity and excellence in research, teaching, extension, or outreach (0-5 points)
5) Advisor’s Letter of Support (1-page limit, 10 points)
Applicants to provide the name and contact for the faculty member submitting a letter of support on their behalf.
A unique link will be e-mailed to the designated faculty member for them to submit their letter of support by the deadline of March 28, 2025. Student applicants have access to see that a letter of support was submitted to their application, but cannot view the contents of the letter.
- Does the letter provide a compelling reason to recognize the student with travel funding? (0-5 points)
- Does the letter provide specificity to support general claims regarding the student? (0-5 points)
Review & Selection Committee
The APS Graduate Student Committee along with representatives from the Foundation Board will review applications and select award recipients.
