Trainee Professional Development Award

The Trainee Professional Development Award (TPDA) recognizes undergraduate and graduate students and post baccalaureate and postdoctoral scholars who demonstrate scientific merit and excellence in research. The award application is open to eligible candidates in the above categories who have submitted an approved abstract to SfN’s annual meeting.

TPDA recipients receive a travel stipend to offset the costs of attending Neuroscience 2025 ($1,000 for trainees in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico or $2,500 for trainees based in other countries), as well as a complimentary registration. All in-person recipients are required to present their abstract during a special TPDA poster session Saturday, November 15 and attend two professional development workshops during the meeting.

SfN recognizes some TPDA candidates may not be able to attend Neuroscience 2025 in-person; in this situation, SfN will provide complimentary registration to the virtual component of Neuroscience 2025 but will not provide any travel stipend. TPDA applicants must indicate in-person or virtual attendance in their application and confirm at the time of award notification.

After the meeting, TPDA recipients will join an online cohort and receive access to professional development opportunities on Neuronline in the year following the award. Awardees are encouraged to utilize this resource.

The TPDA program is supported by SfN, donors to the Friends of SfN Fund, and several foundations, corporate supporters, memorial funds, and endowments. Each year, SfN publicly recognizes these supporters and thanks them for their support to the TPDA program.

Chen Science Writer Fellowship Opportunity
SfN and the Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute are excited to offer the Chen Science Writer Fellowship to selected recipients of the TPDA award. The Chen Science Writer Fellowship helps to extend the value of discussions taking place at science meetings and conferences by summarizing the conversation, highlighting key themes, and promoting innovative research presentations.

TPDA/Chen Science Writers Fellowship recipients benefit from additional mentoring resources aimed at cultivating their presentation, networking, and publishing skills.

Following Neuroscience 2025, recipients will be required to write a meeting report that will be published by the Chen Institute, and complete any other requirements of the Chen Science Writers Fellowship.

How to apply for the Chen Science Writers Fellowship
In the application process, TPDA applicants must indicate if they wish to be considered for a Chen Science Writer Fellowship. No additional application materials are necessary.

View previous Chen Science Writer Fellowship meeting reports

For questions regarding TPDA, please see the Awards and Prizes FAQs page for more information. The award opening and closing follows U.S. Eastern Time. All applicants are encouraged to plan accordingly. 

Application

• Applicant’s CV, including education, honors and awards, and publications (abstracts and manuscripts).
• One-page letter of recommendation from the applicant's mentor, advisor, chapter representative or program/department chair.
• Recommendation letters over one page will void the entire application.
• A copy of the applicant’s abstract submission form for the upcoming SfN annual meeting, including both the control or tracking number and the complete abstract. 
• A short essay (no more than 500 words) on how attendance at SfN's annual meeting will impact your career goals (or, for undergraduates, why you chose the path of neuroscience). Additionally, the essay should speak to a personal experience that has had a broader impact on your interest or career in science.

Applications missing any components or with materials not requested will not be considered. Should you have any questions or concerns, contact tpda@sfn.org.

While potential recipients are judged on the merits of their application, SfN highly encourages students and scholars of diverse backgrounds to apply.

Eligibility

• Applicant must be the presenting author of an abstract.
• Only one application per abstract is permitted. Multiple submissions with the same abstract will be ineligible.
• Applicant must be a current member of SfN.
• Applicant must be currently enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student, a post baccalaureate or postdoctoral scholar, or must be starting an educational program shortly after the award is given.
• Nominee must not be a recipient of another SfN travel award in the same or previous calendar year (including TPDA, FENS, JNS, or IBRO).

Any application which does not adhere to all parameters will be voided.

Support for the TPDA is made possible thanks to generous contributions from our award supporters and donations to the Friends of SfN Fund from donors like you. Help us secure our next cycle of TPDA awardees by donating today!

Through June 30 only, SfN Council has pledged a three-for-one match of all donations for TPDA, while funds are available. This will quadruple your impact — every dollar you donate is matched with $3, turning $1 into $4.