Career Development Symposia

Get leadership experience and serve your fellow early career scientists by organizing a GSA Career Development Symposium!

Because access to career events varies by location and campus, a large number of students and postdocs lack opportunities to enhance their career training outside the lab. To increase the accessibility of these programs, GSA offers funding for student and postdoc members to organize local symposia that provide career and professional development opportunities for early career scientists. Examples could include career skills symposia, networking events, and scientific symposia with substantial opportunities for student and postdoc presenters.

Review Criteria

The GSA Mentoring & Professional Development (MaPD) Committee will consider the following criteria when selecting symposia to support:

• The professional development benefit to early career geneticists
• The need for and uniqueness of the event (including whether it’s a new event)
• Evidence of attention to diversity, reach, and inclusivity, for example in developing the program, in event logistics, and in advertising to potential attendees.
• Other support available, including institutional support

Learn more: Tips for a successful Career Development Symposia proposal

To assist in planning, we recommend this article and the Symposium Toolkit prepared by the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA membership required— don’t forget you can get joint GSA/NPA membership at a reduced rate!)

Award Conditions

• For successful applications, GSA will provide up to $2,000 to support direct meeting costs, such as facility rental, audiovisual, printing, speaker travel, promotion, supplies, and refreshments. GSA funds may not be used for indirect or overhead costs, salaries, speaker honoraria, or alcoholic beverages.
• Speakers and session chairs should represent the diversity of our discipline, both scientifically and demographically. As such, organizers should consider gender, racial/ethnic background, nationality, institution, and other factors when developing the program.
• Events must display the GSA logo on the event website and/or at the event.
• If requested by the Society, the organizers will provide an opportunity for a GSA representative to offer welcoming remarks and the chance to display informational material.
• Organizers will solicit feedback on the symposium from participants via an online survey provided by GSA.
• One month after the symposium, organizers will provide:
  • A final report that includes: program for the symposium, lessons learned, and roster of speakers and presenters
  • A complete list of attendees, including name, institutional affiliation, email address, career stage, and field(s) of interest
  • A written summary of the symposium appropriate for publication on the GSA blog
  • An itemized financial accounting of how funds provided by GSA were spent, including documentation and receipts

Application Process

Email your application as a single PDF to mapd@genetics-gsa.org. Applications should include:

• Description of the proposed symposium (two-page maximum):
  • Brief summary of the symposium topics and goals
  • Proposed dates and location
  • Anticipated number and demographic distribution of attendees (e.g. geographic reach and the career stage of participants)
  • Plans to promote the symposium to reach the intended audience
  • Proposed symposium format
• Proposed budget, including any other sources of support (if the meeting will charge a registration fee, please include the expected cost to participants)
• Description of the available facilities to host the symposium
• A letter of support confirming that the described facilities will be made available
• While a letter of support from a faculty mentor is not required, including such a letter will strengthen the proposal.
• CV or resume for all members of the organizing committee (NIH- or NSF-style formatting is preferred; two-page maximum for each committee member)

Please confirm all members of your organizing committee are GSA members BEFORE submitting the application. You can check your current membership status here.

Timeline

Funding decisions will be announced within six weeks of the application deadline. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. Sponsored symposia should take place within one year of application.

Questions about the program or application? Email mapd@genetics-gsa.org.