Attending academic conferences with Dr. King is an excellent professional development investment.
Funding opportunities:
At present, there are three separate funding opportunities for research assistants (RAs) who are presenting research at academic conferences (whether in the form or posters or papers, and especially for student first authors).
1. The MSU Psychology Department currently offers undergraduate and graduate students who are presenting research at a conference reimbursement for the cost of registration (whatever it amounts to), up to $75 in reimbursement for poster printing costs, and up to $200 in reimbursement for other travel-related expenses.
2. The MSU College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) Dean's Office, which oversees the college (CHSS) of which the Psychology Department is a part, offers undergraduate and graduate students who are presenting research at a conference up to $250 in reimbursement for travel-related expenses. The available funds can be exhausted each year (by other students who apply for reimbursements sooner). That is, this reimbursement mechanisms is first-come first-served.
3. The PhD Program in Clinical Psychology currently offers its doctoral students $150 in reimbursement for travel-related expenses (regardless of whether the student is presenting at the conference). It also offers a biannual special travel awarded (particularly for costly international conference participation). The application process for the latter is explained on the program's Canvas page.
These three sources of funding can be combined.
To receive such funding, you must complete this Google Form (and complete and attached any supporting documents indicated therein) for the Psychology Department's Program Coordinator (look them up here).
4. The Graduate School (TGS) at MSU, a separate college from CHSS, provides Student Research & Conference Travel Fund Awards of up to $300 to graduate students (up to half of the cost of conference travel-related expenses). The available funds can also be exhausted each year (by other students who applied for reimbursements sooner). The application process involves a few additional materials beyond those required for #s 1 through 3 above. Read more about this funding opportunity here.
Timeline and procedures:
In general, you want to complete the above processes at least 30 to 60 days prior to your conference-related travel.
Keep all original receipts received during your travel.
Within 14 days of returning from the conference, make photocopies of your travel, lodging, registration, food, and other relevant receipts. You only need to make copies of receipts up to the max for which you are eligible for reimbursement (i.e., you do not need to submit receipts for which you will not be seeking reimbursement). For printed receipts, also include a copy of your bank statement reflecting the charge (and blacking out other charges). Submit these proofs of expense to the Psychology Department Program Coordinator. This staff member will assist you in completing a quick invoice form and any other needed documentation.
Once you have completed all of these steps, the Psychology Department Program Coordinator will route your paperwork to the necessary administrators within the Psychology Department and College of Humanities and Social Sciences Dean's Office, respectively. Decisions regarding your reimbursements, and how you will receive said reimbursements, will be communicated directly to you.
Note: To make the task less burdensome for the Psychology Department Program Coordinate, compile drafts of all your documentation for review by Dr. King before submitting to the Psychology Department Program Coordinator.
Forms and contact persons:
The travel authorization, travel reimbursement, and quick invoice forms are located at: https://www.montclair.edu/finance-and-treasury/forms/
The Psychology Department Program Coordinator can be identified at: https://www.montclair.edu/psychology/faculty-and-staff/