Travel Grant for Emerging Viruses: Disease Models and Strategies for Vaccine Development A Symposium in Honor of CJ Peters, MD

Travel Grant for Emerging Viruses: Disease Models and Strategies for Vaccine Development A Symposium in Honor of CJ Peters, MD

Tuesday October 23, 2012-Wednesday October 24, 2012 Galveston, Texas

Our goal for this symposium is to bring together researchers with diverse expertise in many aspects of emerging and re-emerging viral zoonoses in the context of rational vaccine development.

Travel grants are available to junior-level faculty (i.e., persons within two years of completing their postdoctoral fellowship) and trainees (postdoctoral scholars and graduate students). Two types of grants will be offered, depending on the availability of funds. Up to five grants are available for women, people of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, people that identify themselves as American Indian, Alaskan Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, persons with disabilities, or other individuals who have been traditionally underrepresented in science. Up to five grants are available for people without regard to gender, race, ethnicity, or disabilities.

All selections will be made by the Organizing Committee. Awardees will be chosen on the basis of the scientific merit of their abstracts, a letter of support from a principal investigator or advisor (in the case of graduate students or postdoctoral scholars), a statement of research and career goals, and a justification of what the applicant expects to achieve as a result of attending the meeting. The justification telling us why attending this conference will be beneficial to you is the most important part of your application.

Typical expenses include transportation, lodging, and a waiver for the meeting registration fee. In order to be eligible for a travel grant, the Travel Grant Application must be completed and submitted by September 10, 2012. A decision will be made by September 26, 2012.

The deadline for submitting abstracts is October 1, 2012.

Eligibility (No Exceptions)

Applicant must be affiliated with an academic institution as either (1) a doctoral student and advanced to candidacy, (2) a postdoctoral appointee, or (3) a faculty member who is within two years of completing their postdoctoral training. In the case of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, a letter of commitment from the primary mentor (PI) supporting his/her attendance at the meeting is required with this application. Applicants from industry, government, or other entities will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

The applicant must not have been awarded a travel grant from another funding source for the meeting (i.e., if a fellowship provides for conference expenses, then one is not eligible for this award).

The applicant may be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or foreign national. Foreign scholars must be holders of J1 visas. Holders of H1B, TN, O-1 or other visas are ineligible.

Applicants must submit an abstract to the meeting in anticipation of presenting a poster at the poster session on October 23rd. Abstracts may be selected for short talks instead of posters.

Terms of the Award

Travel arrangements will be provided to and from the meeting within the 48 contiguous United States. The cost of air travel will be based on a 14-day advance purchase. Awardees may use their personally owned vehicle if it is more cost effective, and mileage will be reimbursed at the University of Texas mileage reimbursement rate in effect at the time of travel. Parking and toll expenses will be reimbursed when properly documented on the travel reimbursement. Mileage reimbursement will not exceed the cost of available regular coach airfare and will follow the travel guidelines set forth by the University of Texas System.

The grant will not cover per diems, meals, alcohol expenses, phone calls, or incidental expenses. Some meals will be provided as part of the conference.

All meeting registration fees for awardees will be waived.

The University of Texas Medical Branch may arrange direct billing of airfare, hotel, and shuttle expenses to reduce the out-of-pocket expenses to awardees. In other cases, original receipts will be required for reimbursement after the meeting.

Travel vouchers and original receipts for approved travel must be submitted to conference organizers within 10 days of completion of the trip. Travel award funds will not be held in reserve for late vouchers.

Registration for the Meeting

Applying for a Travel Grant does not mean you are registered for the meeting. Since attendance is limited, you may choose to register for the meeting, in which case you would have to pay the applicable registration fee. If your application is approved for a travel grant, then you will be automatically registered for the meeting. If your application is approved for a travel grant and you already registered for the meeting, then your registration fee will be reimbursed.