This is a one-time travel award that each IPID student can receive during their program of studies at UNMC. The value of the award is $1,000 for domestic travel and $1,500 for international travel outside North America.
Candidates are expected to provide a personal statement of 250-500 words summarizing the educational value they obtained from the travel award. Students should apply via email by submitting the attached application form to Tuire Cechin.
Awardees for 2025-2026 were:
- Sadi Arif, Cytokines 2025, Seattle, Washington
- Nichole Brandquist, Society for Leukocyte Biology, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Claire Garman, Gordon Research Conference, Pomona, California
- Mohammed Hassan, 2026 Tumor Metabolism: New Frontiers in Diet, Microbiome and Beyond, Ireland
- Brigham Killips, American Society of Rickettsiology, Asheville, North Carolina
- Hayden Klaus, 18th International Congress on Toxoplasmosis, Brazil
Travel Award Application Form
This award is given to an IPID student who has received an honorary recognition such as a competitive travel award or an invited oral presentation from a national or international society or meeting (e.g., Gordon Research Conference or equivalent) in their field of study. The value of the award is up to $2,000 to support domestic or international travel to attend the scientific meeting.
Application form, including a signed attestation from the primary faculty advisor, should be submitted via email to Tuire Cechin and include the following additional requirements:
- Documentation of the presentation type (e.g., conference program) and any awards received during the meeting
- Documentation supporting that the student has successfully passed their comprehensive examination
- The student’s complete curriculum vitae bearing background and personal data, education, publications, honors, awards, and membership in professional societies, registered student organizations and student groups, and other relevant activities
Other notes:
- Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
- Applications are reviewed by a selection committee consisting of members of the IPID Graduate Committee.
- Award notifications will be sent to the applicant, their primary faculty advisor, the chair of the Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, and IPID Graduate Committee members.
- The award can be used to supplement travel expenses over and above those provided by the society. If no supplemental travel expenses are needed to attend the society’s annual meeting when the award is received, up to $1,000 may be carried forward and used to cover travel to a future meeting for the society or another society within the student’s study field while the student is in the IPID program. The selection of a future meeting for which the funds can be used requires approval of the faculty advisor and the chair of the selection committee.
- Awardees cannot apply in the fiscal year immediately following acceptance of the award.
- The award should be acknowledged in the poster or oral presentation.
Note: No awards were given out for 2025-2026.
Distinguished Graduate Student Application Form
