Information
The Student and Early Career Professional (SECP) Subsection of the American Fisheries Society (AFS) is currently soliciting applications for the 2025 Early Career Professional Travel Assistance Award (ECPTAA) to attend the annual AFS meeting. This award is designed to help support early career professional attendance at AFS meetings and increase their ability to participate at the Society level. The ECPTAA will help an early career professional offset the cost of travel to the AFS Annual Meeting held in San Antonio, Texas (August 10–14, 2025).
Background and Purpose:
One recipient will be selected to receive up to $1000 USD. As this award is funded by the Education Section, the recipient will receive their award check at the business meeting of the Education Section and will also be recognized at the SECP Subsection business meeting. Selection will be based on involvement in student and professional organizations, reason(s) for attending the AFS meeting, and financial need. Attending the AFS annual meeting provides an excellent opportunity for early career professionals to interact with other members of AFS and build their professional network in fisheries science and research.
Expectations:
The ECPTAA recipient is expected to attend and participate in all networking events including, socials, awards luncheon, and the mentor-mentee match up. The recipient is also expected to attend the Education Section business meeting and the SECP Subsection business meeting. Travel funding will be withheld if these requirements are not met.
Eligibility:
Eligible applicants must be Early Career status AFS members in good standing (i.e. dues have been paid to the Society).
Application Checklist:
- Resume/CV: Applicants must include a comprehensive CV or resume (choice of format may depend on candidate’s career type and/or personal preference). The resume/CV should emphasize service and leadership experiences and research/work experience. The CV/resume should not exceed 2 pages, single spaced, with 1” margins, 12 pt Times New Roman font. Contents in exceedance of this limit will not be scored.
- Personal Statement: Applicants must include a written personal statement, prepared by themselves, that explains why they would like to attend the meeting, their previous/current involvement in AFS, their research and professional experience, and their ability to meet the expectations of the ECPTAA outlined above. The personal statement should also demonstrate financial need. Applicants have flexibility in how they would like to do this, but should include estimated travel costs, outline available travel funds and their sources, and the status of these funds (i.e. pending/committed). The personal statement should not exceed 2 pages, single spaced, with 1” margins, 12 pt Times New Roman font. Contents in exceedance of this limit will not be scored.
- Employer support of attendance to the meeting from the applicant’s supervisor or other designated representative of their employer is strongly recommended. Below is an optional template applicants may use, or a brief email printout or screenshot stating employer support will suffice.
- Application forms must be received no later than May 1, 2025, at midnight ET.
- Please complete the application and email to [email protected] by the due date. Late applications will not be accepted.
- Questions about the ECPTAA may be directed to [email protected].
- Recipients will be notified by May 19, 2025.