MSA Interchange Ambassador Award

Overview

MSA Interchange Ambassador Award

The MSA Interchange Ambassador Awards (MSA Interchange Ambassador Award and MSA Interchange Invitee Award) are annual grant aimed at MSA members dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in mycology and within the MSA community. Applicants will propose engagement and outreach activities delivered at national scientific conferences and organizations that support diversity, equity, and inclusion in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines (see list below in the Plan and Budget Documents required section) or at U.S. institutions of higher education designated as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Tribal Colleges, and similar.

Applications will be assessed based on:

* A detailed written summary outlining their proposed work as an MSA Ambassador (see detailed information below)
* Their service contributions to the MSA or the field of mycology, specifically focusing on efforts related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Award Terms

MSA Interchange Ambassadors are expected to attend and present at the MSA annual meeting during the year of their award. At the meeting, the Invitee will be paired with an MSA mentor to help the Invitee navigate the meeting and network with society members. Awardees will be recognized at the MSA Business Meeting or Awards Ceremony. The following are also conditions of the award for Invitees:

* All awardees must provide a short biography (100-200 words) and a photo (if possible) within two weeks of notification from the Awards Coordinator, using the Awardee Document Submission Form. These will be requested at the appropriate time. Photos and biographies will be published in Inoculum.
* The award check must be deposited or cashed within 5 months of receipt.
* Each award recipient is required to complete a W-9 form prior to receiving their award funds. Awardees will be contacted by the management company regarding this process. (This only applies if you have a U.S. Social Security Number).
* Keep copies of your W-9 and all receipts and expenses that are part of this award. These documents are important, as they may be necessary for tax purposes.
* Each awardee will contribute a short article about their research to MSA within a year of receiving the award. Articles should be written for a general audience and may be published in Inoculum or other MSA venues (e.g. MSA website). This will be a great opportunity to promote your research to the MSA community. Articles will be requested by the Awards Coordinator at the appropriate time.
* Please acknowledge MSA in any products that result from this support (e.g., poster presentations, oral presentations, and scientific articles).

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

* Award Requirements
* Applicants must be an active MSA member and may represent any academic level at or subsequent to the undergraduate stage.
* It is expected that the selected applicants will attend the MSA meeting in the year in which they submit their application.
* Awards will cover travel, registration, housing, subsistence, and outreach activities relevant to the Ambassador’s proposed plan; a budget should be included to justify and specify these amounts. 
* Documents Required
* Application Form
* A curriculum vitae (maximum 3 pages) that includes:
* Name, contact address, email address, and phone number
* Education and professional history
* Previous awards and honors
* Publications and other significant professional output
* Previous speaking experience and/or outreach activities (if available)
* Service (if available)
* Statement of interest in participating in MSA.
* _Mycological research description and MSA abstract:_
* Please provide a detailed description of your mycological research and the completed abstract that has been submitted or is planned for submission to the MSA meeting.
* _MSA Mentor Request:_
* You can request an MSA mentor who will be attending the MSA meeting.
* The individual can be an MSA Interchange Ambassador, the person who encouraged you to apply, or anyone in the field.
* Please note that requesting an MSA Mentor is entirely optional and can be submitted if the applicant wishes to do so.
* _Funds requested:_
* Please specify the amount requested.
* Funds can be requested for housing, travel, sustenance, and registration at the MSA conference.
* Letter of recommendation or support:
* Please provide one letter of recommendation (maximum 1 page) from a previous or current professor, supervisor, senior colleague, or advisor.
* In lieu of a letter of recommendation, applicants are also welcome to submit a personal statement.
* The letter should be submitted directly to msafungi@reesgroupinc.com by the person writing the recommendation, not the applicant.
* If you are submitting a personal statement, please submit it with your application by the deadline.
* All documents except for the letter of registration or support should be submitted online by completing the MSA Interchange Ambassador Application.

* In the process of submitting the award application, applicants must agree to abide by the MSA Code of Conduct, as well as the applicable Codes of Conduct or standards of those events or institutions.
* All applicants must disclose any known past, current, or pending actions or complaints against the applicant for violations of codes of conduct, or civil and/or criminal actions, specifically complaints arising from allegations of harassment or discrimination. 
* Only complete applications will be considered.
* The application will be considered complete if all electronic documents, including the letter of recommendation, have been received by the deadline.
* All documents must be in English to be considered

_You must be a member of this organization to apply for this award - become a member. The Mycological Society of America welcomes ALL! You need not be a professor, student, or work in the field of mycology, all you need is an interest in all things related._