Conference Funding

The BSP Conference Fund was established to provide professional development and conference attendance opportunities for students. The spirit of this fund is to enable students to seek out conference attendance opportunities to improve their knowledge and skills to support them in both their current role and for future advancement.

There are limited BSP Conference Fund grants of up to $1,500 available to students during this application cycle. Current BSP students who are interested in attending professional conferences and do not have other sources of support or incomplete support should apply for these funds. Funds are limited so requests may be denied after funds are depleted.

Interested students should meet with Emily King and then complete the application form (see below for detailed information).

BSP student Ameneh Gharabi stands outside with large blue letter sculptures that spell "ABRCMS"

BSP member Ameneh Gharabi presented her research at the 2024 ABRCMS Conference.

How to Apply

Read through this webpage for important information on criteria and details on the funds.
Determine a conference opportunity you would like to have funded (up to $1,500 per individual per year).
Discuss the conference opportunity with Emily, BSP Research and Internships Coordinator. Schedule an appointment with Emily here.
Submit an application through the BSP Conference Funds Request Form at least 3 weeks ahead of your planned travel.
Applicants may be invited to an interview before the final decisions are made.

Your application will be reviewed by BSP Staff and you will be notified if your proposed funds are approved, awarded partially, not approved, etc.

If approved, you will receive details on next steps.

Application Tips

Be prepared to provide information on how the opportunity you selected aligns with your academic or professional development goal(s).
Be prepared to discuss your involvement with BSP and participation in BSP activities.
Plan ahead! Funding is limited each year so look ahead to see if there are conferences that you are interested in attending.

Funding

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What is the fund limit for an individual request?

The limit is $1,500 per individual per year.

What if the conference I want to attend will cost more than $1,500?

If a request exceeds the $1,500 limit, BSP will still only award up to $1,500. It is up to the student to identify a plan to cover the additional cost. In the application process, you may be asked to provide information on how the remaining balance will be covered.

What kinds of expenses are eligible for this grant?

Eligible expenses include 1) transportation costs to and from the conference (e.g. airfare, train tickets, bus tickets, taxi rides to/from airport and accommodations to/from the conference), 2) conference registration, 3) accommodation costs for the night before the conference until one day after the end of the conference (at most), 4) up to $79 per day for meals for conference travel that is over 24 hours, and 5) limited conference supplies (e.g. poster printing). Note: If you choose to travel to the conference location before the start of the conference or decide to stay at the conference after the event, expenses on those additional days will not be reimbursed. If you are not sure whether expenses are eligible or not, make sure you meet with BSP staff before spending the money.

If costs have changed from the time of my application, can my approved amount be increased?

Applicants are encouraged to submit their request with enough time to purchase items to take advantage of any early bird pricing. Expenses above your approved amount will not be covered even if your estimated costs have changed. We advise applicants with requests nearing the $1,500 limit to develop a backup plan as pricing for items like hotels, flights, and registrations may increase by the time of request approval.

Once approved, how will the expenses be paid?

If you were approved for conference funds, you will receive an email indicating your next steps.

If approved, what else do I need to do?

If you are approved for conference funds, you are required to submit 1-2 photos of you at the conference for BSP to use in our communications and you are encouraged to follow up with Emily after the conference.

Criteria

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Who is eligible for these funds?

BSP members in good standing, and who are currently enrolled students at the time of the conference, are eligible for this fund. Selection criteria will evaluate BSP participation, among other things.

Can I apply for funds even if I am not presenting at the conference?

Yes.

What can I request funds for?

Academic research conferences or professional conferences (e.g. UC Davis Pre-Health Conference, Stanford SUMMA Conference, etc).

Can I apply again if I applied last year and was approved?

Yes, but students who have not received funding before may be prioritized.

Can I submit a request for something I already paid for?

Students are highly encouraged to plan ahead and submit the request to BSP before the purchase is made. There is no guarantee that funds will be approved for a retroactive purchase, so you are taking a risk by purchasing before applying for funding.