Award Description

The North American Society for Bat Research (NASBR) offers a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Award with the goal of supporting students of color, to promote diverse participation in NASBR and bat research, and, more generally, to bolster continued involvement of minority groups in STEM education and professions. 

The October 2023 NASBR meeting is being held Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, which affords attendees the wonderful opportunity to interact with a broad diversity of colleagues.

The award supports attendance of a first NASBR meeting, a NASBR-facilitated mentorship exchange, and professional activities that may include, but are not limited to:

• Research expenses

• Travel for research or attendance of a workshop

• Engaging in educational outreach

• Participation in mentorship exchanges

• Attendance of a second NASBR meeting

Eligibility and Requirements

The DEI Award is available to undergraduate and graduate students, or those having graduated within 24 months of the application deadline, from any institution, and who identify as persons of color.  Applicants studying and residing in North America and students who have not yet begun graduate studies will be given preference.  Awardees must attend a NASBR meeting in 2023 or 2024 and participate in a NASBR-facilitated mentorship exchange (via email, phone, Zoom, etc.) with a NASBR member both before and after the NASBR meeting they attend, for a total of at least 9 months.

The award is limited to $3000 (US) and may include:

• Support for attendance of the 2023 (Winnipeg, CA) or 2024 (Guadalajara, MX) NASBR meeting

• • Waived registration and banquet fees

  • Travel expenses (e.g., airfare or mileage, passport and visa fees)

  • Lodging expenses for a shared hotel room

• Funds for additional professional activities as suggested above

The application deadline is July 11, 2023.  Awardees will be contacted by August 5. The application requires a short description of interests, an itemized budget, and a letter of recommendation.  The application form is available here, and the recommender may upload a letter here.

Questions can be directed to the Chair of NASBR Awards Committee, J. Angel Soto Centeno, angelo.soto@rutgers.edu, and/or the Chair of the DEI Committee, Heather York, heather.a.york@gmail.com.