Diversity Fund Graduate Travel Award

The Society for Personality and Social Psychology has established a fund devoted to increasing diversity within personality and social psychology. As part of this initiative, eligible graduate students are invited to apply for travel awards to attend the SPSP annual conference. In a typical year, roughly 12 awardees receive funds to attend the annual conference.

To qualify for funding, applicants must:

1. Be enrolled in a Ph.D. graduate program with an emphasis in social/personality psychology (Note: Students who have completed less than one year or have completed five or more years are not eligible)

2. Be a member of SPSP (if not already a member, students may join when submitting their application)

3. Be a member of an underrepresented group in social/personality psychology (these groups are defined as ethnic and racial minorities; first-generation college students; lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered students; and students with a physical disability). SPSP is an international organization and will consider applications from students outside the United States; applicants should explain how their participation at the conference advances SPSP's goal of enhancing diversity.

4. Not have received a (General or Diversity) Graduate Student Travel Award from SPSP in the past.

Award recipients will be chosen on the basis of intellectual merit -- students do not need to present research at the conference in order to apply for a travel award.

Travel awards will cover any conference-related expenses up to a maximum of $500, including transportation, lodging, food, and conference registration. The SPSP Diversity Committee will also host a welcome reception for award recipients in the opening session of the conference. Award winners are required to attend this reception.

Application Procedure

For the 2007 conference, SPSP anticipates making 12 travel awards. To apply, please submit the following materials in triplicate. The materials listed below should be fully collated and assembled into three separate packets that include one copy of each item. Email submissions are not accepted.

• A completed application form;
• An academic vita or résumé;
• A one-page statement (in 12-point font, single spaced) describing your research interests, career goals, and rationale for applying (e.g., how you would benefit from the award)

Send all application materials to:

Dr. Keith Maddox
Department of Psychology
490 Boston Avenue
Tufts University
Medford, MA 02155

All application materials must be received no later than October 20, 2006. Inquiries may be directed to Keith Maddox at Tufts University.

SPSP will notify all applicants of the award decisions by December 4, 2006. Award winners must accept or decline their award within 48 hours of notification. Award winners are required to submit (via email) a short biographical sketch and a high-resolution photograph of themselves no later than one week after the notification of award. The award letter will contain complete details on how to document conference expenses, and it will include further information on the welcome reception for award recipients.