Purpose of the Fund
The Plant Pathology Experiential fund supports APS members to enhance their professional development, learn about career opportunities and/or gain technical expertise in support of current research endeavors. The fund supports two Plant Pathology Experiential awards to promote career and research development experience and opportunities with organizations classified within industry and/or government. This initiative was created in 2014 with seed funding from the
Don and Judy Mathre Education Endowment and through the support of private sector companies.
Donate to the APS Plant Pathology Experiential Fund
Individual Applications
Amount: $1,000 is available annually to APS members who are graduate students or post-doctorates for funding in support of a short-term learning experience with a non-academic institution. Funds are used to subsidize travel to the host organization.
Individual Applicant Eligibility
Who should apply: APS members who are MS, PhD students, or postdoctoral scholars in plant pathology.
What to expect: a short-term experience with a government or private institution outside of academia.
Purpose: to support professional development to learn about career opportunities and/or gain technical expertise in support of current research endeavors.
Funds available: $1,000 fund (1) available annually to subsidize travel to the host organization.
Individual Application Requirements
Application Letter (one page) describing the objectives, approximate dates, and expected outcomes of the experience.
Curriculum Vitae (maximum 2 pages)
Host Acknowledgement a brief statement from the company or organization acknowledging their willingness to serve as host.
Advisor Approval a brief statement from the student and/or post-doctorate's advisor approving the short-term visit to the host institution/company.
Submission Deadline
Applications are accepted March 1-April 30 2026.
Save all required materials into one PDF document prior to submitting your application.
Submit Application
Academic Research Department Funding Available in 2026
Amount: $4,000 (1)
Funds are available to academia departments to support an on-site visit to 2+ non-academic organizations to create and increase awareness of business operations and potential career opportunities.
Department Eligibility
Who should apply: Academic research departments
What to expect: a short-term experience for students and post-docs with a government or private institution outside of academia.
Purpose: to enhance the awareness of business operations and potential career opportunities in institutions outside of academia.
Funds available: Funding available in 2026. Funds are to be used to subsidize travel to the host institution(s).
Other details: This fund may contribute toward participation in the OPSR Private and Public Sectors Plant Pathology Tour when/if the tour takes place in the same year.
Department Application Requirements
Application Letter (2 page maximum) describing the institution or company to be visited, approximate visit dates, estimated number of students/faculty/post-doctoral scientists/technical staff that might participate in the visit, and how the experience will add value to the department
Letter of approval stating the approval of the visit from the department head or chair of the university department.
Acknowledgement statement from the host organization of its willingness to accommodate a visit from that university department.
Submission Deadline
Applications are accepted March 1-April 30 2026.
Save all required materials into one PDF document prior to submitting your application.
Submit Application
Review and Selection Criteria
Applicants are reviewed and selected by a review committee from OPSR. Applications are evaluated based on merit of individual applicants as well as the quality and expected outcome of the proposed experience.
Plant Pathology Experiential Awardees
Individual
2025: Ernesto Da Silva, Virginia Tech
2024: Megan Buland, University of Kentucky
2023: Mychele Batista da Silva, Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station
2019: Annakay Diana Newell
2018: Shankar Shakya
2017: Mihir Mandal
2015: Jade Florence
Department
2024: Louisiana State University, Dept. of Plant Pathology & Crop Physiology (PPCP) Graduate Student Association (GSA)
2022: University of Kentucky, Association of Plant Pathology Scholars
2017: University of Georgia, Plant Pathology Department
2015: Louisiana State University, Dept. of Plant Pathology & Crop Physiology (PPCP) Graduate Student Association (GSA)
