A scientific conference is a meeting that researchers and academics attend in order to network, present what they’re currently working on, and learn about what is happening in their field. They can be small local meetings specific to a region, on the national level where people from all over the country attend, or even on a global scale with thousands of attendees. Some conferences focus on a specific topic or discipline, while others are interdisciplinary and aim to bring together a multitude of diverse perspectives from business, industry, and academia. 

Attending a scientific conference can be an incredibly intellectually stimulating experience. You will be surrounded by other students, researchers, faculty and enthusiasts who are just as passionate about a subject as you are. It’s a chance to spend a day, multiple days, or sometimes an entire week deep diving into a field of knowledge. At most conferences, there is a program filled with short presentations about a variety of topics, that usually fall into the following categories:   

Keynote or Plenary sessions. A keynote speaker is usually the first session of the conference, and is meant to set the tone of the rest of the experience. All conferences attendees are encouraged to attend. 

Panels. Panels usually consist of multiple researchers or academics discussing a specific topic. There will normally be a moderator that guides the discussion/debate, as well as facilitates questions from the audience. 

Workshops. Workshops are often geared towards sharing advice or creating community, and are a good opportunity for individuals who are earlier in their career to learn skills that will help them grow as scientists. 

Oral Presentations. Many people attending a conference will also give an oral presentation at the conference, usually 10-15 minutes in length. The presentations are usually grouped into similar themes or topics, and there will be multiple rooms hosting presentations at the same time. Attendees get to pick and choose the presentations they are most interested in, and are encouraged to ask questions during a Q&A session after each presentation.

Poster Hall Sessions. There is usually at least one poster hall session during a conference, where attendees who submitted an abstract when they registered for the conference will be welcomed to bring a printed poster with them to display their research. Normally, the poster hall will be open for several hours, and presenters have the opportunity to stand next to their posters and discuss their research in a more casual way than an oral presentation session.

Trade Stands. Many larger conferences will invite businesses that are tangentially related to the conference topic to set up booths in a particular room or hall. Attendees can learn about the technology, equipment, or services the businesses provide.

*Disclosure: As with all grants, although we plan to fulfill planned funding, circumstances may arise (out of our control or within our control) that could limit, reduce, or cancel available funds. 

• Each eligible Trainee has $1,000 for conference funds 

• Must be used to attend a scientific conference (funds can't be used for campus visits, interviews, etc..) The conference can be local, require travel, or be virtual. Funds can't be used for campus visits, interviews, etc.. 

• Conference must be in the US or Canada. 

  • Scholars may petition for foreign travel, under special circumstances evaluated by NIH. Scholars must present to use their funds for conferences outside the United States and Canada. EXITO will need your petition 12 weeks before travel. 

• These funds may be used on multiple conferences (depending on your budgets). To maximize funds, keep in mind that there are some great local conferences, and that virtual attendance usually costs less

• Trainees don’t have to present at the conference to use the funds