M&M Awards and Travel Support
In order to be considered for the DSA, PSA, Eric Samuel Scholarship, Robert P. Apkarian Scholarship, or the MSA Student Poster Award, the appropriate box must be checked on the paper submission site. The email address of the person providing the supporting letter must be provided as well. (That person will be contacted via email and asked to submit their support letter via email.)
MSA Presidential Student Awards (PSA)
Robert P. Apkarian Memorial Scholarship
Eric Samuel Scholarship
Professional Technical Staff Awards (MSA)
The Raleigh and Clara Miller Scholarship Award
MSA Micrograph Competition
MSA Student Poster Award
Best Technologist Poster Awards
MSA Traveling Poster Exhibit
MAS Distinguished Scholar Awards (DSA)
International Metallographic Contest
MSA Presidential Student Awards (PSA)
The award consists of complimentary registration for the upcoming M&M, a copy of the Proceedings, and an invitation to the Sunday Opening Reception and the Presidential Reception. MSA will reimburse awardees up to $1,000 for travel (roundtrip, lowest airfare) and student housing.
Applicants must be bona fide students at a recognized college or university at the time of the meeting. Awards are based on the quality of the paper submitted for presentation at the meeting. The applicant must be the first author of the submitted paper. The paper must be submitted for platform presentation. Successful applicants must present their papers personally at the meeting in order to receive the award. The awardees are expected to attend and participate in the entire meeting.
Former winners are ineligible for another award, including the Raleigh and Clara Miller Scholarship Award.
Applications must consist of:
- A supporting letter from a member of MSA, preferably a research advisor, attesting to the applicant's status; and
- A scientific paper for presentation, submitted according to the detailed instructions described in the Submissions Requirements section.
Robert P. Apkarian Memorial Scholarship
The Robert P. Apkarian Memorial Scholarship will provide support for a post-doctoral student to attend the annual Microscopy and Microanalysis Meeting. There will be 2 awards per year. One (1) award will be designated in the field of biological sciences and one (1) award in either the area of materials science, education or instrumentation. Maximum award amount is dependant on number of awards and available funds.
The award will include complimentary registration for the upcoming M&M, a copy of the Proceedings, and an invitation to the Sunday Opening Reception and the Presidential Reception, and a plaque designating the Robert P. Apkarian Memorial Scholarship Limited travel and lodging support will also be available.
An applicant must be a full-time, post-doctorial student and is open to both domestic and international candidates meeting the following guidelines:
- Applicant must be the first author on a scientific paper for presentation and should follow the submission procedures outline for the Presidential Student Award;
- A supporting letter from a member of the Microscopy Society of America (MSA), preferably the director or supervisor, attesting to the applicant's status; and
- Applicant must be a member of MSA.
Eric Samuel Scholarship
The Eric Samuel Award is sponsored by Oxford Instruments and is open to students as well as post-docs planning to attend the M&M conference. Applicants are expected to submit abstracts that demonstrate some innovative approach to nanoanalysis, with an emphasis on obtaining analytical information. For example, this could be development of a new analytical technique or a sample preparation method that enables new applications or novel materials to be tackled.
The award will include complimentary registration for the upcoming M&M, a copy of the Proceedings, and an invitation to the Sunday Opening Reception and the Presidential Reception, and up to $1500 for travel (lowest roundtrip airfare) and lodging. Applicants must be bona fide students (graduate or post-doctoral) at a recognized college or university at the time of the meeting. Awards are based on the quality of the paper submitted for presentation at the meeting. The applicant must be the first author of the submitted paper. The paper must be submitted for platform presentation. Successful applicants must present their papers personally at the meeting in order to receive the award. The awardees are expected to attend and participate in the entire meeting.
Please note: an applicant is not eligible to apply for the Eric Samuel Scholarship.
Professional Technical Staff Awards (MSA)
The Professional Technical Staff Awards (PTSA) were created to stimulate attendance at the Annual Meeting of MSA for professional technical staff who ordinarily might not participate in a national meeting and to encourage supervisors to support their staff in professional activities.
The awards consist of complimentary full-meeting registration, a copy of the Proceedings, and the Sunday Opening Reception. MSA will reimburse awardees up to $600 for travel, lodging and other expenses.
There will be up to four awards given, based on the quality of a first-authored paper submitted for presentation at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2009. Applicants must be regular paid-up members of MSA at the time of application. Abstracts will be judged by the MSA Technologists' Forum. Successful applicants must present their papers personally at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2009 in order to receive the award. They are expected to attend and participate in the entire meeting. Former winners will not be eligible for another award.
The Raleigh and Clara Miller Scholarship Award
This award is given to a deserving young person who performed the work while a student (undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral). The amount is for up to $1000 to attend the annual meeting and give a platform presentation as a first author; preference is for biological topics, but materials and technical projects will be considered. The fund is provided by the family in honor of the parents of Dr. Sara Miller, past president of MSA. Both Raleigh and Clara Miller were keenly aware of the importance of education and strongly supported student activities.
MSA Micrograph Competition
A micrograph Competition sponsored by MSA is held at Microscopy and Microanalysis, with the purpose of promoting the innovative blending of art and science. The competition is open to all forms of microscopic imaging. First Prize is $200. A maximum of 2 runners-up can be selected with $50 prize for each.
Winners will be selected on the basis of artistic merit and general audience appeal. It is important, however, that the winning entries be scientifically significant. In particular, they must contain novel information useful in resolving a scientific issue and/or present established information in a way that dramatically enhances its comprehension or interpretation.
The rules for entries are:
- Any individual may submit a maximum of two entries. (No individual may win more than one prize).
- Entries must have overall dimensions of 11 x 14 inches, can be mounted vertically or horizontally, and must be affixed to a stiff lightweight support, such as 1/4" foam board. Micrographs may be mounted so they have borders.
- Each entry must have a separate text sheet with the title and a 200-word maximum description of the image including the technique and its scientific significance. It is recommended that the text be printed in 14-point Times New Roman font on a separate 8.5 x 11 inch sheet. The entrant's name, address, and image title shall be posted on the back of the 11 x 14 inch entry.
- Entries must be brought to the meeting and mounted on the display boards by noon on Monday. Non-winning micrographs should be removed Thursday afternoon.
Micrographs remaining on the display boards after 3pm on Thursday will be discarded. Submitted micrographs remain the property of the entrants subject to the conditions above.
Winners will be announced at the meeting. The winning micrographs will be incorporated into the MSA Traveling Poster Exhibit for 2009-2010. Winning posters should be sent to the Meeting Manager (MeetingManager@microscopy.org) in PDF format (8MB limit, please) for compilation into the Traveling Exhibit.
Poster Awards
NOTE: All students posters must be on display during the M&M Meeting from Monday - Thursday.
MSA Student Poster Awards
Student Awards will be presented for the best posters in the categories of:
- Advances in Instrumentation & Techniques,
- Applications of Microscopy & Microanalysis - Biological,
- Applications of Microscopy & Microanalysis - Physical.
First Prize $400, Second Prize $200. Prizes will be awarded in each category. To be considered for the Student Poster Awards, the first author on the poster must be a student. In order to be eligible for a student poster award, you must check the student poster box on the paper submission website, and the email address of a person who will confirm student status must be provided. An email will then be automatically generated and sent to that person, who will be asked to send the confirmation to the Meeting Manager by email.
Diatome Awards
Sponsored by Diatome U.S., are presented for the posters illustrating the best use of diamond-knife ultramicrotomy in either the biological or physical sciences. First prize is a one-week, all-expense-paid trip to Switzerland for two. Second and third prizes are Swiss watches.
Best Technologist Poster Awards
To be considered for the Technologist Posters, the first author on the poster must be a technologist (professional technical staff), and the submitter must check the technologist poster box on the submission website and give the e-mail address of a person who will confirm the status of the technologist. All posters must be available for judging from Monday through Wednesday morning of the meeting. One winner will be chosen from the biological sciences, physical sciences, and advances in instrumentation. These posters will become part of the MSA Traveling Poster Exhibit.
MSA Traveling Poster Exhibit
The Traveling Poster Exhibit has been reinstated! The exhibit will include the Diatome Award winners, the MSA micrograph contest winners and both the MSA Student Poster winners and Best Technologists Poster Award winners in biological science, physical science and advances in instrumentation.
Winning posters should be sent to the Meeting Manager (MeetingManager@microscopy.org) in PDF format (8MB limit, please) for compilation into the Traveling Exhibit, which will be electronically downloadable to any Local Affiliated Society.
Awards from Sister Societies
MAS Distinguished Scholar Awards (DSA)
MAS Distinguished Scholar Awards (DSA) consist of complimentary registration to the upcoming M&M, a copy of the Proceedings, and invitations to the Sunday Opening Reception and the Presidential Reception. In addition, MAS provides a substantial contribution towards travel and lodging expenses.
Applicants must be bona fide students at a recognized college or university at the time of the meeting. Awards are based on the quality of the paper submitted for presentation at the meeting. The applicant must be the first author of the submitted paper. Successful applicants must present their papers personally at the meeting in order to receive the award.
Applications consist of:
- A supporting letter from a member of MAS, preferably a research advisor, attesting to the applicant's status; and
- A scientific paper for presentation, submitted according to the detailed instructions described in the Submissions Requirements section.
International Metallographic Contest
The contest embraces 11 classes representing various materials and methods of revealing structure such as microphotography, optical and electron microscopy, and unique techniques. Technical content is the most important ingredient. In general, an exhibit should tell a story about a problem and how it was solved. For complete requirements, detailed rules, and submission procedures visit http://www.internationalmetallographicsociety.org/contest.html or contact IMC Chair, Jeff Stewart (jeff@metallography.com).
All entries must be received by July 10, 2009 and should be sent to:
Ryan Deacon
Senior Professional Staff
Johns Hopkins University
Applied Physics Laboratory
11100 Johns Hopkins Road
Laurel, MD 20723
