AAS CSMA Launches Micro-Grants Program
Neelab Yousafzai American Astronomical Society (AAS)
The AAS Committee on the Status of Minorities in Astronomy (CSMA) was awarded a $15,000 AIP Diversity Action Fund Award to establish the CSMA Micro-Grants Program. This program sponsors Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), and other students who are suffering from the effects of financial scarcity. Yearly through 2023, the program will offer 10 one-time grants of at least $500 each to support BIPOC undergraduates to pay graduate school application fees, GRE testing fees, virtual conference registrations, or to purchase textbooks and research supplies. The 2023 Micro-Grants Program applications are open as of 28 August and will close on 13 October (11:59 pm ET).
Eligibility Requirements
You do not have to be a member of the AAS to apply for the CSMA Micro-Grants Program. Non-PhD holders applying to graduate programs in astronomy or physics are welcome to apply. Note that there are restrictions on how the funds are utilized; these will be communicated to recipients along with their awards.
Administrator: Dr. Carlos J. Vargas (CSMAgrant@aas.org)
Deadline
The application deadline is 13 October 2023. Applications and all supporting materials should be submitted electronically using the OpenWater platform.
Application Requirements
- A description of academic situation and aspirations
- A description of financial needs
- A description of college and career readiness (i.e., how will this grant assist?)
- A list of institutions to which the student is planning to apply