Undergraduate Distinguished Travel Award

The Living Our Values (LOV) Committee reviews and selects the nominees. This travel award is an opportunity for undergraduate students who are from backgrounds that are under-resourced, marginalized, or traditionally under-represented in the sciences to attend the RSA Annual Scientific Meeting and present their research during a poster session.  An application must be submitted by all individuals who wish to apply.  Poster abstract (required of applicants) must be submitted by the deadline specified each year.  Undergrads (within 14 months post-undergraduate degree at the time of the meeting) will be awarded based on the quality of their poster abstract and those awarded will be paired with a mentor who will help them navigate the meeting.  Applicants must be first author and only one application per person and per abstract may be submitted.

ELIGIBILITY: 
Current undergraduate students or recent graduates (within 14 months of completing an undergraduate degree at the time of the meeting) who are

• • From an under-represented racial/ethnic group: African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Hispanic or Latino (STEM guidelines)
  • LGBTQ+ individuals
  • Individuals with a disability(ies)
  • From a disadvantaged background

UDTA includes up to $2,000 reimbursement (awardees MUST submit one PDF document of all original receipts) of the following expenses:

• • Taxi or rideshare services, excludes car rental and premium services
  • Airfare (economy class or equivalent)
  • Airport parking (5 days maximum)
  • Meal per diem ($50/day, 5 days maximum)

RSA provides waiver of the following expenses:

• • RSA Meeting registration fee (automatically waived by the RSA Executive Office)
  • RSA abstract publication fee (refunded post-award notification)
  • Lodging (5 nights maximum at an RSA contracted hotel(s); one-half room fees and taxes)

*Those whose institution, employer, or visa status prohibits them from receiving reimbursements after the meeting should contact info@researchsocietyonalcohol.org before applying.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS/PROCESS:

• • Poster abstract submitted by deadline.
  • Abstracts are reviewed, scored, and the awardees are chosen by the RSA Distinguished Travel Award Committee.
  • Award notifications to be sent via email in March.

NOTE: Applicants may also apply for an RSA Student Merit Travel Award (applicants for that award must be the presenting author).  Any individual selected to receive both an Undergraduate Distinguished Travel Award and a Student Merit Travel Award shall receive only the Undergraduate Distinguished Travel Award funds.

Before you begin, be sure to have the following materials ready for inclusion:

IMPORTANT:  All submitted files must be in PDF format for file upload.

1. 1. Abstract ID Number: This MUST be submitted in the current meeting year from your Poster Abstract for the RSA Annual Scientific Meeting.
   2. Cover Letter: Please describe your reasons for applying for this award and your financial need; one page maximum.
   3. Academic Curriculum Vitae (CV)
   4. Letter of Recommendation: (on letterhead; 2-page limit) Letter should be from your mentor, advisor or an individual familiar with your work at your current institution. The letter should confirm your status as an undergraduate student or recent graduate. The letter must include the recommender's email address.