FOR UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITY TRAINEES AND JUNIOR FACULTY Underrepresented minority trainees and junior faculty are invited to apply for travel fellowships (supported by Burroughs Wellcome Fund) to attend the 59th Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Reproduction, July 19-22, 2026, at the JW Marriott Indianapolis Convention Center. The theme of this year’s meeting is “Back to the Future, Foundational Knowledge for Future Innovations” will bring together leading experts, researchers and industry professionals dedicated to advancing reproductive science. For more information, please visit: https://ssr.org/events/2026-annual-meeting/.
Burroughs Wellcome Travel Fellowships include a waiver of registration fee, and reimbursement for housing, food, and travel expenses up to USD $1,000. We anticipate awarding ten (10) Fellowships: 7 for trainees (graduate students and postdocs) and three (3) for junior (non-tenured) faculty members with a background in reproductive biology. Each award provides full support to attend the meeting; thus, recipients of this fellowship may not accept additional travel awards. A trainee is defined as a student (undergraduate or graduate) or a postdoctoral associate. The application deadline is June 1, 2026. If you apply, please wait to register for the annual meeting until after you receive notice of your award status.
ELIGIBILITY AND REQUIREMENTS
Each applicant must be a member of an underrepresented minority, a resident of the United States or Canada, and enrolled as a student in or teaching at an accredited, degree-granting institution in the United States or Canada. Membership in the Society is not a requirement nor is submission of an abstract for presentation. Trainees and junior faculty who attend or teach at minority-serving institutions or non-research institutions are encouraged to apply.
All recipients will be required to attend the entire meeting, work in the Community & Engagement Committee’s exhibit booth, and participate in the Community & Engagement Lunch Symposium (Tuesday, July 21st, 12:15-1:15pm), where Dr. Ann Kiessling, Bedford Research Foundation, Bedford, MA will be the speaker.
Each trainee applicant must submit a completed application, a recommendation letter from her/his mentor, and an unofficial transcript (with completed courses and grades) demonstrating a training emphasis in the biological sciences and reproductive biology. Each junior faculty applicant must provide a completed application and a biographical sketch (two-page maximum).
Every applicant must confirm his/her commitment to participating in the meeting events described above by signing the statement at the end of this application form.
SELECTION CRITERIA
In accordance with the following criteria, the members of the SSR Community & Engagement Committee will evaluate all complete applications received by June 1, 2026: Each applicant will be ranked on the basis of her/his responses to the questions posed in the application, coursework, CV and mentor’s letter of support (for trainees), biographical sketch (for junior faculty), and demonstrated commitment to the field of reproductive biology. Eligible applicants attending or teaching at minority-serving institutions (e.g., Hispanic-serving institutions, historically black colleges or universities, or tribal colleges) or non-research-intensive institutions will be given preference in an effort to increase awareness and extend the outreach of the Society for the Study of Reproduction. Preference will be given to applicants who have not previously received a Burroughs Wellcome Travel Fellowship.