National Symposium for Predoctoral Research
October 17-19, 2024
The National Symposium for Predoctoral Research (NSPR) is a competitive academic program hosted at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital by the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. The NSPR is an all-expense-paid event that allows early-career scientists to travel to Memphis, TN, showcase their research through a poster presentation, and benefit from career development panels, seminars, and keynotes by our world-renowned researchers.
The goals of the symposium are to feature and inspire early-career scientists, provide opportunities for career development and networking, and to showcase the resources and opportunities at St. Jude.
Participation in the NSPR is limited to US citizens and permanent residents.
Applications are open until 11:59 p.m. August 25, 2024.
Overview
The St. Jude National Symposium for Predoctoral Research (NSPR) is an annual event bringing top student researchers from across the U.S. together to present their research.
The application will open July 8, 2024 and close at 11:59 p.m. on August 25, 2024.
The selected predoctoral trainees will present their research, meet our faculty, benefit from career development workshops, and learn about the cutting-edge research and facilities at St. Jude.
This symposium is ideal for predoctoral trainees considering graduate school and the career development is geared toward students in the last 12-18 months of their undergraduate degree.
Itinerary
| Thursday, October 17 | Arrive in Memphis Dinner with St. Jude Faculty |
| Friday, October 18 | Symposium Faculty Keynote Admissions Committee Panel Graduate Students Informational Panel Poster Presentation Etc. |
| Saturday, October 19 | Tour of Memphis Travel home |
Application instructions
Eligibility
To be considered for the NSPR, please complete the application form, and submit all requested supporting documentation. The deadline for receipt of all application materials, including a letter of reference, is 11:59 pm (CST) on August 25, 2024. Only complete applications submitted by the application deadline along with all requested supporting documentation will be considered by the selection committee.
Participation in the NSPR is limited to US citizens and permanent residents who plan to attend graduate school within the next 1 - 2 years. Applicants are typically enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, postbac programs at institutions located within the United States, or those taking a gap year in preparation of graduate school. Additionally, participants are required not to have committed to a PhD program before the symposium dates. You will be asked to verify that you meet these eligibility requirements on the application form.
Application requirements
Your CV and an abstract of the research you would like to present at the NSPR must be submitted along with your completed application. Your CV must not exceed four (4) pages in length. Abstracts are limited to 350 words and must contain the title and list of authors at the top of the word document. However, title and authorship lines do not count towards the 350-word limit for the abstract. Abstracts should not include any figures. Please verify that your CV and abstract conform to these format and length restrictions before submitting your application.
Predoctoral trainees selected to participate in the NSPR will be required to present a poster on their submitted abstract. Please note that the abstract and abstract title submitted with your application will be used to advertise your poster presentation at the NSPR if you are selected to attend.
A reference and letter of support from your research advisor is also required for your application to be considered for the NSPR. This reference and letter must be submitted through the link provided before 11:59 pm (CST) on August 18, 2024. You will be asked to verify that you have sent the link to the reference form to your research advisor and to provide your advisor’s full name and email address on the application form.
Finally, you will be asked to upload a recent unofficial transcript as part of your application.
| Application Requirements | Details |
|---|---|
| CV | 4-page maximum |
| Abstract | 350-word limit (Title and author list not included in word count) |
| Unofficial transcript | |
| Research advisor reference | Complete this form |
Please be prepared to submit the above information and materials before you begin filling out the application form.
Questions?
