The Fish Vet's Blog

Hello Everyone-

As 2012 winds to an end, we have a few important due dates to share with you.

• Applications are now being accepted for the 2013 IAAAM Medway Scholarship Program. The application deadline is March 1, 2013. Details about the Medway Scholarship Program are provided below.

• The 44^th IAAAM Conference is scheduled for April 21-26, 2013 in Sausalito, CA. Both abstracts and travel award applications are due early this year, January 15, 2013. Click here to submit your abstracts. To help address past issues regarding website access and online payments, we are using an outside online service to oversee conference registration.The official IAAAM conference website should be up and running on January 2, 2013.

We wish you all a warm and joyful holiday season. See you in April!

Sincerely,
IAAAM Board

2013 IAAAM MEDWAY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
The International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine (IAAAM) recognizes a continuing need for the funding of research projects focused on aquatic animal medicine. IAAAM also recognizes the value and importance for students to gain solid scientific research training. To help fill these needs and to further promote involvement of students in aquatic animal medicine, the IAAAM has established the Medway Scholarship Program designed to support research experiences for students interested in pursuing careers in aquatic animal medicine.

The program is primarily intended for undergraduate, veterinary, and graduate students without stipends or other sources of funding. The purpose of the scholarship is to partially support the student for research experiences beyond that which they might experience with normal undergraduate classwork or a graduate/veterinary curriculum.

Objectives

• Provide students with exposure to sound research practices in the field of aquatic animal medicine beyond what is normally included as part of the undergraduate or graduate/veterinary curriculum. 
• Encourage students to pursue post-graduate careers incorporating research in aquatic animal medicine.
• Encourage student participation in the IAAAM.

Program Description:
The IAAAM Medway Scholarship Program provides scholarships of up to $3,000 each to students who have been accepted to participate in a research project organized and funded by government, academic, or private entities. The sponsoring entity must provide the student with at least a 10 to 12-week working exposure to research focused on aquatic animal medicine and must involve direct interaction with a current IAAAM member in good standing. Funding for the research activity must be provided by the sponsoring entity. Scholarship awards are intended to support the student’s personal expenses while participating in the funded research. Scholarship recipients will be required to present their research findings at a future IAAAM conference, and will still be eligible for other IAAAM student awards.
Factors that are considered in selecting the scholarship recipient are briefly described below.  They are not listed in any particular order of importance but are included to assist the applicant in preparing the application form and letter.

• Commitment of the applicant to a career in aquatic animal medicine as reflected in the applicant’s letter of intent and curriculum vitae (CV).
• Applicant’s grade point average/class rank.
• Quality, scientific merit, and duration of intended research.   Applicants are encouraged to select research projects with established funding sources, clearly defined aims, and project timelines that will enable the student to complete the research during the allotted time period. Applicants are encouraged to pursue research activities at institutions with proven or established aquatic animal research programs. Project summaries detailing the planned research, aims, importance, methods, and funding sources will be judged for each applicant. Projects for which the budgeted work has already been completed are not eligible for consideration.
• Two (2) letters of recommendation, one of which must come from a member in good standing of IAAAM.
• Financial needs of the student in addition to other available funding such as that provided by the institution providing the research opportunity.
• Previous recipients of the award are encouraged to apply, however priority will be given to those who have not previously received the scholarship.
• Application Submission Deadline:  March 1, 2013. Please submit completed applications to:

Dr. Lisa Murphy, IAAAM Education Board Member
PADLS New Bolton Center Toxicology Laboratory
382 W. Street Road
Kennett Square, PA  19348
610-925-6217
murphylp@vet.upenn.edu

• Submissions can be sent either by mail or electronically, however must be received by March 1, 2013.
• Winners will be notified by April 1, 2013 and recognized during the 2013 IAAAM Conference in Sausalito, California.

Application requirements:
–          Application form
–          Letter of intent detailing applicant’s career goals and goals for the research activity.
–          Two (2) letters of recommendation, one of which must come from a member in good standing of IAAAM
–          Student’s curriculum vitae (should include any other research experience with citations)
–          Official school transcripts for currently enrolled institution only
–          Letter of agreement from the principle investigator at the sponsoring institution, identifying the location and duration of the research project and its expected funding source(s)
–          Student budget of estimated expenses (e.g. transportation, rent, meals) separate from direct research related expenses.
–          Project Summary completed by student applicant: (3-page limit; single spaced; ¾-inch margins; 11-point Times, Times New Roman or Arial font).
Failure to adhere to these guidelines will result in disqualification.
 
Project Summary should include:
–          brief project abstract/overview
–          the project aims/hypotheses
–          justification and literature review
–          materials and methods
–          significance to the field of aquatic animal medicine/health
–          research budget – including direct and indirect funding sources
–          research time table
–          student’s role in the project
–          mentor’s qualifications
 
If live animals (including client/privately-owned animals) are used in any way in the project, the mentoring researcher must provide assurance that the planned research project has or will obtain full Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approval.