Hello Marine Mammalogists!

I am forwarding on the message below from our sister organization the American Society of Mammalogists. I hope many of you will apply!

Sincerely, 

Matthew S. Leslie, PhD 

Assistant Professor

Biology Department | Ursinus College

mleslie@ursinus.edu

www.matthewsleslie.com

The Black and Indigenous Scholars Award in Mammalogy is now accepting applications for awards of up to $1500 to support the further development of mammalogy by Black/African American, African, and Indigenous individuals. Please share this information with your networks!

The application form and terms of the award are available here: http://www.mammalsociety.org/form/black-indigenous-scholars-award 

The application window is now open, and it closes at 11:59 pm PST on October 15; award recipients will be notified by November 15. Any questions about the application process or the award itself can be directed to Rhiannon Jakopak at asm.idea.committee@gmail.com.

Terms of award:
The Black and Indigenous Scholars Award is targeted at research and activities related to mammals. There are no thematic limits to this award; research on ecology, behavior, biogeography, genomics, physiology, taxonomy, or any other arena is acceptable. The only taxonomic limit is that this is not intended to support research on humans (although research on how humans impact non-human mammals could be acceptable). Applicant will be a current, potential, or aspiring mammalogist from or residing in North or South America who is Black/African American, African, and/or Indigenous, as outlined in the United Nations guidelines for identifying Indigenous peoples.

Individuals at any level of experience may apply, including high school, undergraduate, and graduate students, as well as postdoctoral researchers, early professionals (within 5 years of terminal degree), and established professionals. High school-level applicants are invited to apply, but must be asking for funding for a formal course, program, or training related to mammalogy. To maximize the gains of this award, applications from students and early-career professionals will be given priority over established professionals. The award may be used to support the cost of equipment or supplies; field assistants; travel to/from research sites, museums, or other venues for research or coursework; meeting registration cost and travel to meetings; publishing costs; course or training fees; or per diem, as justified by the applicant. The award may not be used for “pay to play” or other exploitative “volunteer” opportunities. Applicants do not need to be affiliated with academic institutions. Applicants do not need to be current members of the American Society of Mammalogists.

Selection criteria:
The review committee will emphasize the quality of efforts and impact of the applicant over more traditional quantitative measures. The following general themes will be emphasized:

• The applicant will be a scholar from or residing in the Western Hemisphere who is Black/African American, African, and/or Indigenous. 
• Career status of high school level and above; there is no age limit.
• Ability to speak to how the award will help the applicant professionally. It is implicit that this will relate to the field of mammalogy in some way.
• Ability to speak to how the applicant’s identity has contributed to their career goals, interests, and hopes. 
• Proposals that have broad impacts and where the funds can go further than the applicant’s specific project.

Thank you for your time, and please reach out if you have any questions!