Early Career Award Program Details
Submissions for the 2025 Congress open 1 August 2024. The application deadline is Thursday, 5 December 2024.
The program is intended to sponsor individuals who, through their research, teaching, or clinical activities, have demonstrated professional and scientific interest in the field of schizophrenia research. Candidates must indicate their interest in schizophrenia research and, if possible, provide evidence of continuing and future involvement and activity in the field.
Applicants must be early career researchers. The Society defines an early career researcher as somone who is less than 40 years of age by April 2025 or graduate students, residents, fellows, or new/young faculty members who have completed their last training within 5 years. Individuals who consider themselves members of underrepresented groups in biomedical research, e.g. due to their country of origin, disability, membership in a marginalized group, or due to personal challenges or adversity in their life, are strongly encouraged to apply.
* Past Early Career Awardees (formerly Travel Awards) are NOT eligible to apply.
Awardees are required to submit a poster/oral presentation abstract. It is the belief of the Society that the opportunity to attend its scientific Congress will stimulate the interest of young scientists in schizophrenia research by affording them the opportunity to attend an outstanding scientific program in clinical and basic research. The program will also allow awardees the opportunity to become aware of the most recent, and often unpublished, advances in schizophrenia research, meet international distinguished researchers and clinicians, and interact with world authorities working on the frontier of this field.
When you submit a poster/oral presentation, you will click “Yes, include award submission”, or “No, do not include award submission”. Clicking "Yes" will add the required Early Career Award questions to your submission. These questions must be completed to be considered for an Early Career Award or Academic Excellence Award.
After reviewing each application, the Education Committee will select those who will receive either an Early Career Award or the Academic Excellence Award. Applicants will submit their application and the committee determines who receives each award type.
Please view the application and the materials required: Early Career Award Application
The Early Career Award includes: (This award is not deferrable due to nonattendance to the congress. If the awardee does not attend the congress, the award is relinquished and is not transferrable to another person.)
- Waived registration
- A SIRS Member mentor for the meeting
- Invitations to Early Career Award functions throughout the Congress
- A portion of hotel and/or travel to the Congress site from residing country
The Academic Excellence Award includes: (This award is not deferrable due to nonattendance to the congress. If the awardee does not attend the congress, the award is relinquished and is not transferrable to another person.)
- 2 years waived registration; year of award and the following congress year.
Abstract Reviews for Early Career Researchers from Underrepresented Countries
In service of SIRS' goal to increase representation in the society for early career researchers and underrepresented countries, SIRS offers the opportunity to have your oral or poster abstract reviewed at least 3-weeks prior to the poster/oral abstract submission deadline for the Congress. CLICK HERE to learn more!
Looking for an example of a Supporting Letter?
If you are looking for an example of what a supporting letter may look like, please view the documents below:
