PAG Travel Grants
The Plant and Animal Genome Conference offers travel grants that include a stipend for travel and complimentary registration. Please review eligibility requirements before applying.
This year, in addition to the Scherago International Student Travel Grants and the Travel Grants for Plant Genomic Scientists, two new awards will be offered—the Max Rothschild Travel Grant and the Hans Cheng Travel Grant—honoring two leaders in the animal genome community.
Additional programs and a poster competition sponsored by associations within the plant and animal genomic community who regularly support the conference are also listed below with eligibility and submission details.
Award Notifications
Scherago International and PAG travel grant recipients will be notified by November 17, 2025. Awards are paid after the conference as a travel stipend. For all other grants, please refer to individual award details.
Recognition at the Conference
Recipients of the Scherago International Student Travel Grants, Michael D. Gale, Jerome P. Miksche, Earl J. Scherago, Graham Moore, Max Rothschild, and Hans Cheng Travel Grant Awards will be recognized during the Monday Plenary Session.
All other travel grants will be announced at the Wednesday Closing Banquet.
Previous Winners
See the PAG 32 Travel Grant Winners page for last year’s recipients.
Scherago International Student Travel Grants Awards
There are 6 available awards in the amount of $750 each for travel expenses and complimentary registration from Scherago International, for an international graduate student residing in a foreign country to travel to and attend PAG. Foreign students studying in labs in the USA are not eligible.
Application Deadline: October 15, 2025
- Applicant must be an international student residing in a foreign country
- Foreign students in USA labs are not eligible.
- Applicant must be a graduate student (post-doctoral researchers are not eligible)
- Applicant must submit an abstract for a poster or invited talk
- Previous recipients of this award are not eligible
- Register for the conference. On the payment step choose “Wire Transfer”. No immediate payment is required and you will be able to submit an abstract (which requires that you have registered first).
- Submit an abstract.
- Provide a letter from an advisor on official letterhead verifying the applicant is a graduate student and will attend the PAG meeting to present a poster.
- Submit an application (including uploaded letter) via the link below.
(Contact Max Rothschild /This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any questions)
The Deadline has passed. We are no longer accepting applications for PAG 33.
PAG Travel Grant Awards for Plant Genomic Scientists
Michael D. Gale Travel Grant Award
In honor of one of the founders of the PAG meeting and a leader in the plant genome community, Scherago International is sponsoring the Michael D. Gale Travel Grant Award.
This award is for one travel grant in the amount of $2,000 and complimentary registration for an international plant genome researcher who has not previously attended a PAG meeting.
Application Deadline: October 15, 2025
- Applicant must NOT be a student*
- Applicant must be attending the PAG meeting for the first time
- Applicant must be plant genome researcher
- Applicant must currently reside outside the USA
- Applicant must submit a poster abstract
- Applicant must submit letter of recommendation from a department head
- Previous recipients of this award are not eligible
*Students are not eligible for this award and should apply for the Scherago International Student Travel Grant Award.
- Register for the conference. On the payment step choose “Wire Transfer”. No immediate payment is required and you will be able to submit an abstract (which requires that you have registered first).
- Submit a poster abstract or workshop abstract
- Provide a letter of recommendation from the applicant’s department/office head
- Submit an application (including uploaded letter) via the link below.
(Contact Max Rothschild /This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any questions)
* The Multi-Grant Application is considered a submission to all four plant awards: the Earl J. Scherago, Jerome P. Miksche, Michael D. Gale Travel Grant, and Graham Moore Travel Grants. Applicants do not need to fill out this application more than once.
The Deadline has passed. We are no longer accepting applications for PAG 33.
Jerome P. Miksche Travel Grant Award
Scherago International again is sponsoring the Jerome P. Miksche Travel Grant Award.
This award is for one travel grant in the amount of $2,000 and complimentary registration for a international plant genome researcher who has not previously attended a PAG meeting.
Application Deadline: October 15, 2025
- Applicant must NOT be a student*
- Applicant must be attending the PAG meeting for the first time
- Applicant must be plant genome researcher
- Applicant must currently reside outside the USA
- Applicant must submit a poster abstract
- Applicant must submit letter of recommendation from a department head
- Previous recipients of this award are not eligible
*Students are not eligible for this award and should apply for the Scherago International Student Travel Grant Award.
- Register for the conference. On the payment step choose “Wire Transfer”. No immediate payment is required and you will be able to submit an abstract (which requires that you have registered first).
- Submit a poster abstract or workshop abstract
- Provide a letter of recommendation from the applicant’s department/office head
- Submit an application (including uploaded letter) via the link below.
(Contact Max Rothschild /This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any questions)
* The Multi-Grant Application is considered a submission to all four plant awards: the Earl J. Scherago, Jerome P. Miksche, Michael D. Gale Travel Grant, and Graham Moore Travel Grants. Applicants do not need to fill out this application more than once.
The Deadline has passed. We are no longer accepting applications for PAG 33.
Earl J. Scherago Travel Grant Award
Scherago International, in honor of the passing in 2000 of the founders of the company, is sponsoring the Earl J. Scherago Travel Grant Award.
This award is for one travel grant in the amount of $2,000 and complimentary registration for an international plant genome researcher who has not previously attended a PAG meeting.
Application Deadline: October 15, 2025
- Applicant must NOT be a student*
- Applicant must be attending the PAG meeting for the first time
- Applicant must be plant genome researcher
- Applicant must currently reside outside the USA
- Applicant must submit a poster abstract
- Applicant must submit letter of recommendation from a department head
- Previous recipients of this award are not eligible
* Students are not eligible for this award and should apply for the Scherago International Student Travel Grant Award.
- Register for the conference. On the payment step choose “Wire Transfer”. No immediate payment is required and you will be able to submit an abstract (which requires that you have registered first).
- Submit a poster abstract or workshop abstract
- Provide a letter of recommendation from the applicant’s department/office head
- Submit an application (including uploaded letter) via the link below.
(Contact Max Rothschild /This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any questions)
* The Multi-Grant Application is considered a submission to all four plant awards: the Earl J. Scherago, Jerome P. Miksche, Michael D. Gale Travel Grant, and Graham Moore Travel Grants. Applicants do not need to fill out this application more than once.
The Deadline has passed. We are no longer accepting applications for PAG 33.
Graham Moore Travel Grant Award
In honor of a leader in the plant genome community and longtime supporter of the PAG Conference, Scherago International is sponsoring the Graham Moore Travel Grant Award.
This award is for one travel grant in the amount of $2,000 and complimentary registration for an international plant genome researcher who has not previously attended a PAG meeting
Application Deadline: October 15, 2025
- Applicant must NOT be a student*
- Applicant must be attending the PAG meeting for the first time
- Applicant must be plant genome researcher
- Applicant must currently reside outside the USA
- Applicant must submit a poster abstract
- Applicant must submit letter of recommendation from a department head
- Previous recipients of this award are not eligible
* Students are not eligible for this award and should apply for the Scherago International Student Travel Grant Award.
- Register for the conference. On the payment step choose “Wire Transfer”. No immediate payment is required and you will be able to submit an abstract (which requires that you have registered first).
- Submit a poster abstract or workshop abstract
- Provide a letter of recommendation from the applicant’s department/office head
- Submit an application (including uploaded letter) via the link below.
(Contact Max Rothschild /This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any questions)
* The Multi-Grant Application is considered a submission to all four plant awards: the Earl J. Scherago, Jerome P. Miksche, Michael D. Gale Travel Grant, and Graham Moore Travel Grants. Applicants do not need to fill out this application more than once.
The Deadline has passed. We are no longer accepting applications for PAG 33.
PAG Travel Grant Awards for Animal Genomic Scientists
Max Rothschild Travel Grant Award
In honor of a leader in the animal genome community and longtime supporter of the PAG Conference, Scherago International is sponsoring the Max Rothschild Travel Grant Award.
This award is for one travel grant in the amount of $2,000 and complimentary registration for an international animal genome researcher who has not previously attended a PAG meeting.
Application Deadline: October 15, 2025
- Applicant must NOT be a student*
- Applicant must be attending the PAG meeting for the first time
- Applicant must be animal genome researcher
- Applicant must currently reside outside the USA
- Applicant must submit a poster abstract
- Applicant must submit letter of recommendation from a department head
- Previous recipients of this award are not eligible
*Students are not eligible for this award and should apply for the Scherago International Student Travel Grant Award and/or the NRSP8 Trainee Travel Award.
- Register for the conference. On the payment step choose “Wire Transfer”. No immediate payment is required and you will be able to submit an abstract (which requires that you have registered first).
- Submit a poster abstract or workshop abstract
- Provide a letter of recommendation from the applicant’s department/office head
- Submit an application (including uploaded letter) via the link below.
(Contact Jessica Petersen /This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any questions)
* The Multi-Grant Application is considered a submission to both animal awards: the Max Rothschild Travel Grant and the Hans Cheng Travel Grant. Applicants do not need to fill out this application more than once.
The Deadline has passed. We are no longer accepting applications for PAG 33.
Hans Cheng Travel Grant Award
In honor of a leader in the animal genome community and longtime supporter of the PAG Conference, Scherago International is sponsoring the Hans Cheng Travel Grant Award.
This award is for one travel grant in the amount of $2,000 and complimentary registration for an international animal genome researcher who has not previously attended a PAG meeting.
Application Deadline: October 15, 2025
- Applicant must NOT be a student*
- Applicant must be attending the PAG meeting for the first time
- Applicant must be animal genome researcher
- Applicant must currently reside outside the USA
- Applicant must submit a poster abstract
- Applicant must submit letter of recommendation from a department head
- Previous recipients of this award are not eligible
*Students are not eligible for this award and should apply for the Scherago International Student Travel Grant Award and/or the NRSP8 Trainee Travel Award.
- Register for the conference. On the payment step choose “Wire Transfer”. No immediate payment is required and you will be able to submit an abstract (which requires that you have registered first).
- Submit a poster abstract or workshop abstract
- Provide a letter of recommendation from the applicant’s department/office head
- Submit an application (including uploaded letter) via the link below.
(Contact Jessica Petersen /This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any questions)
* The Multi-Grant Application is considered a submission to both animal awards: the Max Rothschild Travel Grant and the Hans Cheng Travel Grant. Applicants do not need to fill out this application more than once.
The Deadline has passed. We are no longer accepting applications for PAG 33.
Additonal Grant Awards
Aquaculture Species Group Student and Postdoctoral Fellowship Bursaries
There is one award in the amount of $1,000 a for post-doc or graduate students travel to and attend PAG in support of their research presentation in the PAG 33 Aquaculture Workshop.
The award is sponsored by the Center For Aquaculture Technologies and also include complimentary registration to PAG 33.
Application Deadline: October 31, 2025
- Applicant must be a graduate or post-doctorate student
- Applicant must submit letter of verification from their supervisor
- Applicant must submit a poster abstract
- Applicant must complete the application form with the required information
- Previous recipients of this award are not eligible
- Register for the conference. On the payment step choose “Wire Transfer”. No immediate payment is required and you will be able to submit an abstract (which requires that you have registered first).
- Submit an abstract.
- Provide a letter a transcript or letter from your supervisor that confirming the applicant's status as a post-doc or graduate student.
- Download the application via the button below, fill out all fields, attach a letter from your supervisor, and email to: Linnea Andersen /
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with “PAG Aquaculture Travel Award Application” in the subject line.
The Deadline has passed. They are no longer accepting applications for PAG 33.
NRSP8 Trainee Travel Award
Each award consists of financial support of up to $2000 for travel expenses and complimentary registration to PAG. Up to 12 travel awards will be awarded for the 2026 meeting.
Application Deadline: October 17, 2025
- Trainees completing a graduate degree (MS, PhD, DVM/PhD, or similar) or Postdoctoral Fellowship in animal or veterinary sciences (e.g., genetics/genomics, animal breeding, bioinformatics, physiology, anatomy, nutrition, reproduction, or other relevant disciplines) are eligible.
- First-time PAG attendees are strongly encouraged to apply.
- Trainees can only receive one award per 5-year cycle.
- Trainees must be enrolled at a US institution and their mentor must be a member of NRSP8. Instructions to join NRSP8 can be found at: animalgenome.org/NRSP8/join
- A short (250 word) scientific abstract to be submitted for presentation at PAG33.
- A personal statement (500 words) that describes their professional goals and how this travel experience will help them to achieve those goals. Where does this experience fit in with their larger training program?
- A mentor letter of recommendation which includes a clear statement about how the student’s research and/or motivation for attending PAG33 aligns with the NRSP8 goals of extending genomics capacity to a broad range of Animal Science stakeholders and/or developing capacity to integrate genomic and biological data (https://nimss.org/projects/view/mrp/outline/18969#objectives). This letter of recommendation should also be submitted directly to the selection committee (
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) and should clearly indicate the student’s name and affiliation. - The application can be accessed online (see button below) and the mentor letter must be submitted to the selection committee via the email listed in application form.
Applications will be reviewed by members of the NRSP8 Leadership Team.
The Deadline has passed. They are no longer accepting applications for PAG 33.
The Deadline has passed. They are no longer accepting applications for PAG 33.
James E. Irvine Memorial Travel Award
The International Consortium for Sugarcane Biotechnology is pleased to announce the James E. Irvine Memorial Travel Award. The intent of the award is to provide funds to attend and present a paper at the annual ICSB workshop held in conjunction with the International Plant and Animal Genome Conference held each January in San Diego, California.
It is envisioned that one award per year will be granted to an early career scientist working in the general areas of sugarcane biotechnology, genetics or genomics.
- Up to $4,000.00 will be made available to cover airfare, local transportation, meeting registration, hotel and meals for awardees from the Asia, Australia and Africa.
- Up to $3000 will be made available for the awardees from Europe and South America.
- Up to $2000 will be made available for awardees within the USA.
A committee of ICSB members and research providers will select the award based on the submission of an abstract summarizing the work to be presented.
Application Deadline: October 6, 2025
- Applicant must be an early career scientist working in the general areas of sugarcane biotechnology, genetics, or genomics
- Applicant must submit a poster abstract
- Applicant must send the required information
- Register for the conference. On the payment step choose “Wire Transfer”. No immediate payment is required and you will be able to submit an abstract (which requires that you have registered first).
- Submit an abstract.
- Applicants should submit the abstract, their CV and detailed contact information to Dr. Nathalie Piperidis at:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by October 6th, 2025.
A committee of ICSB members and research providers will select the award based on the submission of an abstract summarizing the work to be presented.
Any questions can also be submitted to Dr. Nathalie Piperidis.
Notification of the award would be made by October 16th, 2025, to allow enough lead-time to obtain a visa for the USA (if the award is made to a scientist outside of the USA).
Crop Science Society of America PAG Poster Competition
The Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) invites students who are active CSSA members to enter the PAG 33 Poster Competition—an excellent opportunity to showcase your research to a global audience of over 3,000 plant and animal genomics experts.
Posters will be judged during the Monday poster session on visual presentation, clarity of objectives, approaches, and findings, and the quality of discussion with judges. Prizes of $300, $200, and $100 will be awarded at the Wednesday banquet.
Application Deadline: November 17, 2025
- Applicant must be a graduate student
- Applicant must be an active CSSA member
- Applicant must submit a poster abstract
- Applicant must complete the entry form with the required information
- Applicant must be present at their poster during the Monday poster session for judging
Judging Criteria:
- Effective visual presentation of research objectives, approaches, and findings
- Clear and engaging explanation of your work to judges
- Join the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) if you are not already a member.
- Register for the conference. On the payment step choose “Wire Transfer”. No immediate payment is required and you will be able to submit an abstract (which requires that you have registered first).
- Submit a poster abstract
- Submit your application to the CSSA PAG Poster Competition via CSSA website via the button below. (Note, there is also an option to click thru to the CSSA website during the PAG abstract submission process)
- Be present at your poster during the Monday poster session for judging.
PAG Australia 2028
