Travel Awards
As part of FSU’s ongoing efforts to improve the career development of our Postdoctoral Scholars, the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPDA) is pleased to administer a minimum of 10 Career Development Travel Awards. These awards are intended to assist Postdoctoral Scholars with travel to conferences, meetings, or courses to facilitate their career development, learn new techniques, and network as they prepare to transition to careers in any field of their choosing. Support for development opportunities can be applied to physical travel-associated expenses or can be used for registration costs for virtual programming.
Priority will be given to applications demonstrating -
1. The need to disseminate cutting-edge research in a platform setting highly visible to potential future employers or funding agencies.
2. The need for career advancement through a specialty workshop, program, or guided techniques course.
3. Financial need where postdoc or mentor lack travel funds from grants or fellowships to support presentation at a conference.
Allowable Costs:
- Travel costs
- Accommodation expenses
- Meal expenses
- Conference registration fees
- Virtual enrollment fees
Eligibility:
The applicant must be a FSU postdoctoral scholar with at least 12 months of FSU postdoctoral experience (at time of award) under the mentorship of an FSU faculty member, and is still employed as a postdoc for at least 6 months following when the award is used. A postdoctoral fellow is only eligible for one award during their tenure at FSU.
Application Procedures:
Applications are accepted twice yearly on July 1st and Jan 1st and awardees have 6 months to use the funds. To apply, sign up using the Fluid Review System to complete the cover sheet application form. Next, the following documents must be prepared and submitted electronically through Fluid Review as a SINGLE pdf document:
- A copy of the applicant's Biosketch, preferably in NSF or NIH format (5 page maximum)
- An outline of the conference, meeting, course or networking event (1 page suggested maximum)
- A narrative explaining how the event will facilitate the Postdoctoral Scholar’s career development (1 page maximum)
- Proposed Budget
Within the Survey Monkey System, you will be asked to provide the email of your advisor, so that he or she can upload a letter of recommendation on your behalf for this award. Letters of recommendation must be received shortly following the application deadline.
Selection Process and Criteria: Applications will be reviewed by an internal selection committee composed of faculty and PDA representatives. Your application will be ranked according to the priorities given above as well as your progress and professional productivity in your field as evaluated from your CV/biosketch and your advisor's letter of recommendation.
Award: Successful applicants will receive up to $1000 to support their travel. Award notification will be made by one month following the application deadline. The recipients will also be expected to present their posters locally and will be recognized at the Annual Postdoctoral Scholar Appreciation Symposium in September. This year's symposium will be September 26, 2025. Awardees and advisors are expected to attend the ceremony.
Questions: If you have questions with regards to your application or the submission system, please contact Debra Ann Fadool or refer to the OPDA website Travel Award Guidelines.
FSU Postdoctoral Travel Award (January 2025)
Travel Awards
As part of FSU’s ongoing efforts to improve the career development of our Postdoctoral Scholars, the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPDA) is pleased to administer a minimum of 10 Career Development Travel Awards. These awards are intended to assist Postdoctoral Scholars with travel to conferences, meetings, or courses to facilitate their career development, learn new techniques, and network as they prepare to transition to careers in any field of their choosing. Support for development opportunities can be applied to physical travel-associated expenses or can be used for registration costs for virtual programming.
Priority will be given to applications demonstrating -
1. The need to disseminate cutting-edge research in a platform setting highly visible to potential future employers or funding agencies.
2. The need for career advancement through a specialty workshop, program, or guided techniques course.
3. Financial need where postdoc or mentor lack travel funds from grants or fellowships to support presentation at a conference.
Allowable Costs:
- Travel costs
- Accommodation expenses
- Meal expenses
- Conference registration fees
- Virtual enrollment fees
Eligibility:
The applicant must be a FSU postdoctoral scholar with at least 12 months of FSU postdoctoral experience (at time of award) under the mentorship of an FSU faculty member, and is still employed as a postdoc for at least 6 months following when the award is used. A postdoctoral fellow is only eligible for one award during their tenure at FSU.
Application Procedures:
Applications are accepted twice yearly on July 1st and Jan 1st and awardees have 6 months to use the funds. To apply, sign up using the Fluid Review System to complete the cover sheet application form. Next, the following documents must be prepared and submitted electronically through Fluid Review as a SINGLE pdf document:
- A copy of the applicant's Biosketch, preferably in NSF or NIH format (5 page maximum)
- An outline of the conference, meeting, course or networking event (1 page suggested maximum)
- A narrative explaining how the event will facilitate the Postdoctoral Scholar’s career development (1 page maximum)
- Proposed Budget
Within the Survey Monkey System, you will be asked to provide the email of your advisor, so that he or she can upload a letter of recommendation on your behalf for this award. Letters of recommendation must be received shortly following the application deadline.
Selection Process and Criteria: Applications will be reviewed by an internal selection committee composed of faculty and PDA representatives. Your application will be ranked according to the priorities given above as well as your progress and professional productivity in your field as evaluated from your CV/biosketch and your advisor's letter of recommendation.
Award: Successful applicants will receive up to $1000 to support their travel. Award notification will be made by one month following the application deadline. The recipients will also be expected to present their posters locally and will be recognized at the Annual Postdoctoral Scholar Appreciation Symposium in September. This year's symposium will be September 26, 2025. Awardees and advisors are expected to attend the ceremony.
Questions: If you have questions with regards to your application or the submission system, please contact Debra Ann Fadool or refer to the OPDA website Travel Award Guidelines.