SEEDS Graduate Alumni Travel Awards:
The SEEDS program offers Alumni Participation Awards to former SEEDS students who continued their education to a graduate degree and wish to attend the ESA Annual Meeting and serve as near peers in the support network for SEEDS undergraduate students.
The 111th ESA Annual Meeting – Ecology in an Era of Uncertainty will be held in Salt Lake City, Utah from July 26-31.
Selected Graduate Students will receive:
- $1,000 travel award to attend the ESA Annual Meeting
- Mentoring experience with a group of undergraduate students
- Networking opportunities at SEEDS only events
- Give back to your SEEDS family!
Participation Requirements:
- Participation in a past SEEDS event as an undergraduate (Field Trips, ESA Annual Meetings, Leadership Meetings or Fellowship)
- Attended a large science meeting, such as ESA
- Completed or are currently enrolled in a graduate program in an institution within the United States
- Plan to present research at the meeting (Submit an abstract to present before the ESA Annual Meeting deadline – February 19, 2026 at 5PM ET) – you can also submit your presentation for the late-breaking poster session at a later deadline.
Participants are selected based on; potential for serving as a mentor or teacher, and demonstrated pursuit of a career in ecology and commitment to increasing opportunities for underrepresented students. Each selected SEEDS Alumni will be mentoring a group of undergraduate participants.
Preference will be given to students who:
- have experience mentoring
- demonstrate the pursuit of ecology (i.e. attending graduate school)
- plan to present research at the meeting
- exhibit promise in contributing to the ecology program at their home institution or in their community
- show promise as an educator or mentor
Students that submit abstracts to present have a better chance of being selected for the award.
Application Information:
- Contact Information
- Academic Information
- Meeting presentations (oral or poster) information – you submit that directly with ESA, we just need the presentation code.
- Resume or CV (PDF preferred – add your name to the document title)
- An Essay (500 word max.)
Click on the image above to visit the SEEDS Application Portal
Applications will be accepted until March 2, 2026

The 111th ESA Annual Meeting – Ecology in an Era of Uncertainty will be held in Salt Lake City, Utah from July 26-31.
