2027 Natural Products Student Diversity Awards
Deadline October 13, 2026
About the Student Diversity Travel Award
The SIMB Student Diversity Travel Award has been established to promote diversity and increase the participation of underrepresented minority groups in the Society of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology (SIMB) among graduate students presenting at the International Conference on Natural Product Discovery and Development in the Genomic Era. Recipients of this award must be:
- A U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- A female and/or an underrepresented minority (American Indian or Alaska Native, Black or African American, Asian, Hispanic, or Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander)
- A current graduate student or a graduate student at the time the abstract was submitted
- The presenting author of an abstract accepted for presentation (poster or oral session) at the International Conference on Natural Product Discovery and Development in the Genomic Era.
Each winner receives a certificate, $500 to help cover travel to the meeting, and a one-year student membership in SIMB. The President of SIMB will present the awards at the meeting banquet, and the winners will be recognized at the Diversity Session. Attendance at the International Conference on Natural Product Discovery and Development in the Genomic Era is required for receiving this award. Should an awardee be unable to attend, the award will be presented to an alternate previously identified by the committee who also meets the criteria. Award winners are not eligible to apply for this award again.
Application Process
Two awards will be offered to support attending the International Conference on Natural Product Discovery and Development in the Genomic Era. To apply for this award, a student must:
- Check the award box during the abstract submission process to indicate that she/he is eligible and wants to be considered for the award
- Complete the Student Status Verification Form and have it signed by the graduate advisor or the graduate program coordinator to verify citizenship, female and/or underrepresented minority status, and graduate student status
- Submit a letter of diversity commitment indicating why he/she should be considered for the award
A copy of the submitted abstract identifying the student as a lead presenter and the two documents identified above must be sent in PDF format. The application form includes additional detail and instructions.
Selection process
The Diversity Committee shall review the qualifying abstracts and supporting information for adherence to the submission requirements. Award recipients will be selected based on the scientific quality of the abstracts and their commitment to diversity; alternates will also be identified. Award recipients will be notified in advance of the Annual Meeting but after notification of abstract acceptance.
If no applications are received or if the applicants are judged to be unqualified by the Diversity Committee, then no award will be given.
Past Diversity Travel Awardees
2025 – Abiodun Samuel Oyedele
2025 – Jennifer Shyong
2023 – Derrick Ousley
2023 – Maribel Okiye
2020 – Joshua Corpuz
2018 – Ajeeth Adhikari
2018 – Audrey Ynigez-Gutierrez