The APS Office of Private Sector Relations (OPSR) optimizes industry interactions within APS and strengthens advocacy for science-based public policy. OPSR serves as a board within APS, to increase industry and government voices within the organization reaching members, students and postdocs interested in careers and experiences with these segments.
Want to get involved with OPSR or have questions about us?
Contact OPSR
OPSR Private Sector and Government Institutions Tour
The Private Sector and Government Institutions Tour happens once every three years. This tour is open to graduate students and post-docs who are interested in understanding how organizations in the private sector and government operate, and the types of career opportunities that are available. The next 3-day tour will be in 2025.
OPSR Plant Pathology Experiential Grants (with support from APS Foundation)
In collaboration with the APS Foundation, OPSR offers two experiential grants: individual and departmental.
$1,000 travel grant is available each year to an individual APS member who is a graduate student or post-doctorate. The travel grant supports a short-term experience with a government or private organization to subsidize travel to the host organization.
$4,000 travel grant is available every two years to departments for funding in support of an on-site visit to one or multiple non-academic organizations. Next available in FY2026.
Previous Grant Recipients
2024: Megan Buland, University of Kentucky
2024: Louisiana State University, Department of Plant Pathology & Crop Physiology (PPCP)
2023: Mychele Batista da Silva, Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station (Individual)
2022: University of Kentucky, Association of Plant Pathology Scholars
2019: Annakay Diana Newell
2018: Shankar Shakya
2017: Mihir Mandal
2017: University of Georgia, Plant Pathology Department
2015: Louisiana State University, PPCP GSA Department
2015: Jade Florence
Learn about Louisiana State University's 2015 experience in this video:
2015 Departmental Awardees — Louisiana State University
