Academy 2011 Boston Student Travel Fellowship

The student travel fellowship application submission site is open.

In an effort to promote its research aims and to infuse an appropriate mix of young members into the Academy, the Academy provides student travel fellowships. These fellowships are designed to encourage optometry students, optometric residents, and students in eye and vision related graduate programs to attend key national meetings and exchange scientific ideas on research. Eligible students are those who are currently enrolled full-time or have graduated/completed residency within a year of the meeting they wish to attend. Applications are due Thursday, July 14, 2011. Recommendations are due Monday, July 18, 2011.

Each year the Academy offers a number of travel fellowships of $750 each for students to attend the annual meeting of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). Fellowships are awarded primarily for accomplishment and potential in optometric research and education. Academic abilities, including clinical abilities if relevant, are considered. Being the presenter of a paper or poster is required. For the Academy meeting, award winners will be given one of the following awards based on availability.

• Frank W. Weymouth Student Travel Fellowship
• Academy Student Travel Fellowship
• Irvin M. and Beatrice Borish Student Travel Fellowship
• New Jersey Chapter Student Travel Fellowship (must provide proof of residency)
• Florida Chapter Student Travel Fellowship

Although students can apply to attend a meeting for which they have previously been awarded a travel fellowship, priority may be given to first-time awardees. However, previous winners for travel to one meeting (either AAO or ARVO) are encouraged to apply for the other. Please note that only applicants with an accepted abstract to the meeting that they are applying to will be considered for a student travel fellowship. Other criteria used by the reviewers include the applicant’s one page statement, the faculty evaluation, and the quality of the abstract. Please note that each student may only be the recipient for one travel fellowship per meeting.

Applicants will be notified of the committee’s decision prior to the meeting the applicant wishes to attend. The award checks will be presented to the awardees during the meeting they have been awarded a Fellowship to attend.

Award winners to the American Academy of Optometry’s Annual Meeting must attend the Hirsch Memorial Research Symposium to receive their award check.

Cornea, Contact Lenses & Refractive Technologies Resident Travel Fellowship

The Academy's Section on Cornea, Contact Lenses & Refractive Technologies is pleased to have the opportunity to provide travel fellowships to worthy cornea and contact lens residents to attend Academy 2011 Boston. All cornea and contact lens residents are encouraged to apply. Award recipients of the travel fellowships must attend the meeting and be present at the CCLRT Section reception on Friday evening, October 14, 2011. To apply, please complete and submit the required application and your resume/curriculum vitae to Karen K. Yeung, OD, FAAO, Diplomate, Cornea, Contact Lenses and Refractive Technologies, Travel Grant Chair at Impyeyes99@yahoo.com by Friday, July 29, 2011.

ARVO 2011 Student Travel Fellowship

The Academy will provide a number of student travel fellowships of $750 to attend the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) meeting in an effort to promote research aims of student members of the Academy. These fellowships are designed to encourage optometry students, optometric residents, and students in eye and vision related graduate programs to attend key national meetings and exchange scientific ideas on research. Eligible students are those who are currently enrolled full-time or have graduated/completed residency within a year of the meeting they wish to attend. Fellowships are awarded primarily for accomplishment and potential in optometric research and education. Academic abilities, including clinical abilities if relevant, are considered. Being the presenter of a paper or poster is required. Each individual is allowed to receive one travel fellowship per meeting. ARVO 2011 will be held May 1-5, 2011 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. For more information on the meeting, please visit the ARVO website.

The Academy will only accept student travel fellowships for ARVO 2011 on the submission site. Under ARVO Student Travel Fellowship, either "sign in" if you're an Academy member or create a profile for yourself if you're not an Academy member. Please check that you submitted the following portions of the application:

• Education
• One-page statement
• Questions
• Accepted abstract

When you complete your application, select the "submit" button. Applications deadline is Tuesday, March 1, 2011. Once you submit your application, an email will be sent to your recommender so can verify your application information and submit their nomination using the link. Please make sure you have their correct email and check with your recommender to make sure they got the email. Nominations are due Thursday, March 3, 2011. Winners of the student travel fellowship to the ARVO meeting must attend the Monday evening AAO/AOA Reception to receive their award check.