TFOS Travel Awards, ARVO 2009

The Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society (TFOS) seeks applicants for the annual TFOS Travel Awards. These awards will provide partial travel support for at least four postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, or young investigators (35 years or younger), whose ARVO '09 abstract (in which they appear as first author) demonstrates significant scientific achievement in the field of tear film, ocular surface or Sjogren's syndrome research.

Each award will be $750.00 USD and will be accompanied by a free ticket to the TFOS Dinner on the evening of Monday, May 4, in Fort Lauderdale, as well as complimentary membership in TFOS (and a subscription to The Ocular Surface ).

Applicants should email their accepted ARVO abstract plus one figure in a 1 page document to admin@tearfilm.org  no later than February 28. The figure should demonstrate evidence of the abstract's most important finding, and will be held in strict confidence by the Awards Committee. Awardees will be notified by April 15 and will be announced during the TFOS Dinner. Individuals who are 2009 ARVO travel grant award winners are not eligible to apply.

TFOS Travel Fellowship Application

Purpose: To present work (poster or oral presentation) and also to learn about a new scientific area at a small international meeting of the caliber of a Gordon Conference or Keystone Symposium.

Travel Fellowship Award: Each award will be $1,500 (USD). There will be a limit of 6 total awards per calendar year.

Who can apply: Graduate students in good standing, who have either passed their preliminary examinations or are beyond their 3rd year; Postdoctoral fellows (Ph.D., M.D., O.D). Additionally, the researcher must be a TFOS member and involved in a primary research activity related to the tear film and ocular surface. The meeting may be on any topic that would enrich the student or fellow's research, whether or not it is directly related to the eye. An applicant is only eligible for one travel fellowship per year. If an applicant has applied to another source for funding and has been successful in both cases, the applicant must choose between the fellowships. If successful, the written acceptance of the offer of a fellowship must be accompanied by a declaration by the supervisor or other relevant senior person in the applicant's organization that the applicant is not receiving a travel fellowship from another source.

When to apply: Applications will be accepted quarterly. Please send applications to Rose Sullivan (rose@tearfilm.org) by January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1. Applicants will be notified of the success of their application by the 15th of the month of the deadline.

Application format: The applicant should send 1) a CV; 2) the submitted abstract; 3) a brief (1-2 page) statement discussing the importance of this meeting to their research activities and 4) a letter of support from the supervisor. The applicant does not have to have an accepted abstract at the time of consideration, but proof of acceptance must be provided before travel awards are granted.

For more information about these awards or future opportunities, please contact Rose Sullivan (Rose@TearFilm.org).