Travel Awards

Travel Award applications are closed and all applicants have been notified of their award decision.

Thank you to all students and early-career scientists who applied for a Travel Award!

The application period for Travel Awards to support students and early-career scientists ran from September 7–December 4, 2022, and is now closed. We received many impressive applications — thanks to all of our applicants for your hard work!

As of January 3, 2023, all applicants have been notified of their award decision via email. Emails went to the address the applicant used to log in to the abstracts platform when submitting their application. If you have not received your decision email, please first check your spam or junk mail folder. If that does not resolve the issue, then please email us immediately.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

We are grateful to many generous sponsors whose contributions make the ICMB Travel Award program possible:

  • Judy Pederson
  • Carolyn Tepolt
  • ICMB XI attendees who added a donation to their registration fees
  • Previous ICMB attendees and all others who have donated to the Judith A. Pederson and James T. Carlton Early-Career Scientist Travel Award Fund

You Can Still Help!

Click below to donate directly to the Judith A. Pederson and James T. Carlton Early-Career Scientist Travel Award Fund. Contributions of any amount help ICMB XI and future ICMB meetings grant more awards.

The Scientific Steering Committee, Local Organizing Committee, and future awardees very much appreciate your contribution!


The Society for the Study of Marine Bioinvasions is proud of ICMB’s history as a launchpad for careers, so we particularly encourage students and early-career scientists to attend and present their work. In support of this goal, ICMB XI will offer at least one scholarship in each of the following categories:

  • Judith A. Pederson and James T. Carlton Early-Career Scientist Travel Award ($1,000)

    Eligibility: Scientists who have received their highest degree (BSc, MSc, or Ph.D.) within the past three years.

  • Domestic Student Travel Award ($1,500)

    Eligibility: Current students and students who were enrolled at any point during 2022, and who reside within the United States.

  • International Student Travel Award ($2,500)

    Eligibility: Current students and students who were enrolled at any point during 2022, and who reside outside the United States.

Application Instructions

  1. Prepare an abstract of the research you plan to present. Follow the requirements listed on the main abstract submission page. We also suggest studying the example abstracts available on that page.

  2. Prepare two brief statements:

    • Research Interests & Career Goals (max. 500 words): Describe your research interests and how attending ICMB XI will contribute to the advancement of your professional development and career goals.

    • Justification of Need (max. 350 words): Explain how financial assistance to travel and attend ICMB XI will help you and/or your research group.

  3. Obtain a letter of support from a research mentor. The letter should include your mentor's perspective on how the work you will present relates to your career progression, and the role you played in the research.

  4. Begin the abstract submission and award application process by clicking the button above. Indicate on the form that you would like to apply for a Travel Award.

  5. If you are an international traveler and anticipate needing a letter verifying acceptance of your abstract in order to obtain a visa, please contact us via email right away.

What comes next?

Members of the ICMB XI Scientific Steering Committee will review all applications and select award recipients. Applications will be evaluated according to a standardized rubric . Carefully studying the rubric is a great way to make sure your application is as strong as possible.

All applicants will be notified of award decisions via email by: January 3, 2023

Awardees will be asked to complete conference registration by January 31, 2023. Instructions for conference registration will be included in the email notifying you of your award decision.

If your abstract is accepted but you do not receive an award, you will be given an opportunity to withdraw your abstract — but we hope you will choose to attend and present! To help make this possible, all Travel Award applicants will be invited to register for the conference at the lowest price tier, regardless of award decision.