The objective of the ASPET Travel Award Program is to encourage the career development of young scientists through their participation in the ASPET Annual Meeting. Attendance provides the opportunity for young scientists to learn about recent advances in pharmacology, network with peers and international experts in the field of pharmacology, and to contribute their own work to the scientific dialogue.

The award consists of paid registration and up to four hotel nights at the Hilton Portland Downtown or The Duniway by Hilton, if the reservation is booked through ASPET at the group rate. International travel awards for those residing in developing countries also include US$500 for airfare. You must be an ASPET 2025 member and the presenting author on an abstract submitted by November 7.

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Poster awards are offered for outstanding poster presentations by undergraduates, graduate and post-baccalaureate students, and postdoctoral scientists attending ASPET 2025. The goal of the Student-Postdoc Poster Competition is to showcase and recognize the highest quality scientific work submitted by ASPET’s young scientist members.

Awards include cash prizes whose value varies by category. You must be an ASPET 2025 member and the presenting author on an abstract submitted by November 7.

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Divisions will select finalists for their oral presentation awards from eligible abstracts submitted by young scientists to their applicable abstract topic categories by November 7. No separate application is necessary. To be considered, you must be an ASPET 2025 member and the presenting author.

Session chairs will be reviewing abstracts submitted by November 7 and looking for relevant research that complements their session topics. Applicable presenting authors will be invited to join the session as a speaker.

Who can participate?

Any graduate/postdoctoral researcher working on a translational scientific project. A translational project can be based on data generated from in vitro, ex vivo tissue or in vivo experiments or incorporating AI/computational/in silico/data sciences. This research identifies a therapeutic target or platform likely to, or with the potential to, translate to human physiology and prevent, reverse or treat disease pathology.

Why participate?

As a participant to become one of the four finalists, you will:

1. Receive a discounted registration rate to the ASPET 2025 Annual Meeting ($100 for postdocs, $25 for grad students).
2. Receive up to two nights complimentary hotel accommodation in the official ASPET hotel block.
3. Receive one-on-one coaching from industry-level experts to build your final pitch.
4. Present your innovation to a live audience at ASPET meeting and receive constructive feedback from an elite panel of judges.
5. Connect with the industry network and increase your visibility!
6. Engage in a one-on-one post-conference advisory meeting with a senior scientific leader to get career development advice and feedback on the technology pitched at the competition.
7. Be recognized as the best pitch award winner and brand your research in a special article published in The Pharmacologist magazine.

How can you participate?

You can apply using this application link. Applications are due December 9, 2024.

Are you a trainee looking for mentoring and networking experiences during ASPET 2025? The ASPET Young Scientists Committee invites you to participate in the peer mentoring program “Partnering for Success” at ASPET 2025.

This program matches more senior trainees (e.g., advanced graduate students or postdocs) with younger ones, in particular undergraduates and first-time meeting attendees. This program helps to provide a welcoming and supportive experience at the annual meeting where newer members can learn tips and tricks for navigating everything the meeting has to offer.

If you choose to participate in this program as either a mentor or a mentee, you’ll be matched with another ASPET trainee member. We suggest that pairs meet for at least 30 minutes during the meeting at a time that is mutually convenient. Mentors should endeavor to visit the mentee’s poster session and/or oral presentation during the meeting. We anticipate that mentors will provide some guidance for navigating the meeting as well as insights into preparing for career transitions.

While there is no expectation to continue these pairings after the annual meeting ends, many participants stay in touch and use this experience to expand their connections within ASPET. However, no future commitment is required from volunteers (unless mutually agreed upon).

Whether you’re a new ASPET member looking for guidance, or a more established trainee who wants to help show off all a scientific meeting can offer, we encourage you to participate!

Sign up for this program when you register.

The ASPET Mentoring Network: Coaching for Career Development is a year-round program designed to supplement the training that graduate students and postdoctoral trainees receive through their university programs. The ASPET Mentoring Network focuses on developing skills needed to succeed scientifically, professionally and psychologically, including discussions about experiences and pressures faced by groups that are underrepresented in the sciences. As a professional development experience, the program uses a coaching model to help participants develop success skills for a variety of careers, including but not limited to academia, industry, government and policy.

Graduate students and postdoctoral scientists accepted into the 2025-2026 program will attend several events in association with ASPET 2025 in Portland, Ore. Learn More

The mission of the ASPET Washington Fellows Program is to enable developing and early-career scientists interested in science policy to learn about and become more engaged in public policy issues.

Fellows develop an understanding of how public policy decisions made in Washington, D.C. help shape and impact science policy, such as funding for the National Institutes of Health and other science agencies. Fellows also learn how to advocate effectively on Capitol Hill and in their home districts. This program helps fellows develop the skills and insights to become future leaders in science.

The year-round fellows program that begins in the fall of 2024 and ends in the spring of 2025 is now closed for new applications.

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Take advantage of several opportunities for professional development and career exploration:

• Career-focused networking lunches for trainees sponsored by divisions;
• Interactive concurrent sessions developed by the ASPET Mentoring and Career Development Committee;  
• Career center tables to visit with universities who want to connect with potential students, labs looking for scientists or employers scouting for new team members;
• Nightly networking in the poster hall; and
• Much more!