Student Travel Fellowship Guidelines and Application

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.

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 desirable. 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

The Academy’s Research Committee evaluates all completed Academy travel fellowship applications. APPLICATIONS THAT REMAIN INCOMPLETE AFTER THE DEADLINE DATE WILL NOT BE EVALUATED. Along with the application form, the student must include a one-page statement, one sealed Confidential Evaluation Form from a faculty member and a copy of the abstract of paper or poster. A faculty member must sign the application for accuracy, and the student submits the application materials to the Academy’s Rockville office.

Materials MUST be physically received by the deadline date; postmarks will NOT be accepted.

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. Strong preference is given to students with accepted abstracts. Other criteria used by the reviewers include the applicant’s one page statement, the faculty evaluation, and the quality of the abstract.

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.

• Winners of the student travel fellowship to the ARVO meeting must attend the Monday evening AAO/AOA Reception to receive their award check.
• Award winners to the American Academy of Optometry’s Annual Meeting must attend the Hirsch Memorial Research Symposium to receive their award check.

Student Travel Fellowship printout forms:

Student Travel Fellowship Application in PDF Format*

Obtain the free PDF Reader here.

2008 Submission Deadlines:

• ARVO Annual Meeting Travel Fellowships: March 3, 2008
• AAO Annual Meeting Travel Fellowships: August 4, 2008

Please direct all questions regarding the AAO & ARVO Student Travel Fellowships to:

American Academy of Optometry
6110 Executive Boulevard, Suite 506
Rockville, MD 20852

Binocular Vision, Perception & Pediatric Optometry Section Clinical Travel Fellowship:

For current residents or graduate students in binocular vision, vision therapy, or pediatric optometry at North American schools and colleges of optometry. This $750 award is for travel to the Annual Academy meeting. Preference is given for applicants presenting at this year's Academy meeting in the areas of binocular vision, vision perception, or pediatric optometry. To be considered for the fellowship, the candidate should submit a letter of intent, curriculum vitae, one letter of recommendation, and a copy of the presentation abstract by August 4 to:

Dr. Garth N. Christenson
Christenson Vision Care
2215 Vine Street, Suite E
Hudson, Wisconsin 54016

Cornea and Contact Lens Resident Travel Fellowship

Each year, the Section on Cornea and Contact Lenses of the American Academy of Optometry gives a monetary award to worthy optometric cornea and contact lens residents to attend the annual meeting and participate in section events. To receive the travel award the resident MUST submit all required application materials (informational letter and application), attend the meeting and be present at the CCL Section reception on Friday evening, October 24, 2008. The deadline for application is August 4, 2008.

Low Vision Section Clinical Travel Fellowship:

For current residents or graduate students in low vision at North American schools and colleges of optometry. This $750 award is for travel to the Annual Academy meeting. Preference is given for applicants presenting at this year's Academy meeting in the area of low vision. To be considered for the fellowship, the candidate should submit a letter of intent, curriculum vitae, one letter of recommendation, and a copy of the presentation abstract by August 4 to: Alisa Moore at the above address.

Disease Section Resident Travel Fellowship

Graduates completing a residency program in ocular disease are highly encouraged to apply for two Resident Travel Fellowships from the Disease Section of the Academy. These two awards are valued at $750 each. The application form as well as guidelines can be found here. We look forward to your attendance at the Thursday evening Disease Section Symposium & Reception and the Friday night Residency Reception. The two award recipients will be recognized at the Friday event.

Please email completed application to: Charles W. Kinnaird, OD, FAAO, cwkeyes at the domain uic.edu.
Disease Section, Second Vice Chair
Due date: September 1, 2008

Primary Care Section Resident Travel Fellowship

Graduates completing a residency program in primary care are highly encouraged to apply for two Resident Travel Fellowships from the Primary Care Section of the Academy. These two awards are valued at $750 each. The application form as well as guidelines can be found here. Please note the deadline is August 15, 2008.