The ZHA Advancement Fund is now open for 2022!
The Zebrafish Advancement Fund (ZAF) is a reimbursement program created to provide funds for ZHA members who may want to pursue a specialist designation, take an aquaculture or zebrafish related course, attend a conference, transition to a new aspect of the field, or for ZHA members that require monetary support to engage in new initiatives related to the zebrafish husbandry team. Applications will need to show how the funds will enhance the skills, goals, or career development of the ZHA member while benefiting the zebrafish husbandry community and supporting the goals of the ZHA. All submissions are anonymized by a volunteer and submitted to the selection committee to review and select.
Eligibility: Members of ZHA in good standing, except vendors, current e-board members and winners of the last year fund.
Submissions documents: Documentation of costs, a short letter (500 words or less) explaining the need, and 2 professional reference contacts.
Submissions open: August 1 2022
Submissions due by: Sept 12 2022
Successful candidates notified by email on or before: Sept 23 2022
Number of submissions selected in 2022: up to three
Maximum funding amount per submission: $1000
Please send your submission by September 12 2022. Submissions are accepted at the admin@zhaonline.org email address only.
Selection criteria:
- Benefit(s) for the applicant (max score: 4 points)
- Benefits for the zebrafish husbandry community (max score: 3 points)
- How well the submission supports the goals of the ZHA (education, collaboration, publication) (max score: 3 points)
Applications with a total score of 5 or more will be ranked and awarded by order to the extent of the available fund ($3000).
Winners confirmation and anouncement:
Candidates with the three highest scores above 5 will be asked to sign the Zebrafish Advancement Fund Agreement. Candidates who agree with the ZAF terms will be announced as winners on ZHA social media.
FAQs:
- When do I get my funds?
The ZAF is a reimbursement program. You’ll receive the funds you are entitled to once you submit the appropriate documentation (paid invoices, receipts, etc.) as well as a draft of your blog post/article/presentation/other submission for ZHA to share about your experience.
- What happened to the travel grant?
The ZAF replaces the travel grant. It allows members to get some funding for a wider variety of opportunities, both online and offline.
- How often can I apply?
Every year for members of ZHA in good standing who are not vendors or current e-board members and who did not win the funds in the previous year
Every two years for winners from the previous year (if you win one year, you must wait a year to apply for another AF grant).
- Who can the reference contacts be from?
Professional and educational sources only, no family/friends.
- Will you contact my references?
Only if absolutely necessary to verify information in the submission.
- Do I have to submit a report or presentation after I have completed my experience?
Yes, a minimum of a blog post for the ZHA website is required. Other valid submissions include a vlog, a presentation online or at one of our annual meetings, a poster at a conference or an article published in a magazine or online.
- What if exact costs are not yet available?
The e-board understands that the exact costs may not be available when submitting for the ZAF. Therefore, you should try your best to get an accurate estimate which may require research on your part. For example, if you are attending a conference requiring an overnight stay, you could include the cost for last year’s conference and an estimate for a night’s stay at a local hotel.
- How late can I request my funds by, how long are funds available to me?
We require the request for funds within 1 calendar year of the submission closing date.