The application deadline was November 13, 2009. Decision notifications will be sent by email in mid-December.

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Mission | Program | Guidelines | Application Process

Mission
The Young Scholars Program is intended to encourage and support junior and senior undergraduate students from ethnic minority groups from the United States and/or North America to pursue graduate work and careers in adolescent development. Support for the program is provided by the William T. Grant Foundation and the Society for Research on Adolescence.

Program
Selected scholars will attend the SRA Biennial Meeting (March 11-13, 2010) and participate in special preconference activities that focus on topics such as careers in adolescent research, applying to graduate school and funding, curriculum vitae workshops, and navigating the Biennial Meeting. Scholars will receive mentorship from graduate students and senior scholars who are active in the field of adolescent research.

Guidelines

Scholars
Junior/senior undergraduate students from the United States and/or North America interested in pursuing a career in the field of adolescence, and are a member of an underrepresented ethnic/racial minority group (African American, Latino/Hispanic, Native American/American Indian, Asian and/or Pacific Islander) are eligible.

As a scholar, students will:

• Attend the SRA Biennial Meeting, including dedicated preconference events
• Receive mentorship by graduate students and senior scholars before, during, and after the meeting
• Receive compensation for travel to the meeting, transportation to and from hotel and airport, and hotel accommodations. Travel arrangements will be made by the Young Scholars Program

Scholars will have the following responsibilities:

• Attend at the Biennial Meeting and all special preconference activities
• Maintain contact with mentors before, during, and after attending the meeting
• Keep the SRA office informed of contact information for five years following the meeting

Junior Mentors
Graduate students from the United States and/or North America are encouraged to apply to be junior mentors to the scholars. Students who demonstrate mentoring qualities, a commitment to the aims of the program, and who are pursuing a career in adolescent research, policy, or practice are welcome to apply. Junior mentors will receive a stipend of $325 to aid with the expenses of participating in the preconference activities.

As a junior mentor, graduate students will:

• Attend the SRA Biennial Meeting and all special preconference activities; NOTE: SRA does not pay for expenses associated with attending the Biennial Meeting or special preconference activities
• Receive a $325 stipend to offset the cost of participating in the preconference activities
• Maintain contact with assigned scholar before, during, and after attending the meeting in order to develop a mentoring relationship
• Allow the scholar to shadow you during at least one activity at the conference (i.e., presentations, discussions, symposia, etc.), in order to share the conference experience with the scholar
• Keep the SRA office informed of contact information for five years following the meeting.

Senior Mentors
Senior level professionals in the field of adolescent development are encouraged to volunteer to serve as senior mentors in order to provide the scholars with mentorship about graduate school, career paths, and the field in general.

Senior mentors will be asked to:

• Attend the SRA Biennial Meeting and attend the Thursday preconference activities
• Maintain contact with assigned scholar before, during, and after attending the meeting in order to develop a mentoring relationship
• Allow the scholar to shadow you during at least one activity at the conference (i.e., presentations, discussions, symposia, etc.), in order to share the conference experience with the scholar
• Keep the SRA office informed of contact information for five years following the meeting

Application Process
The application deadline was November 13, 2009. No applications will be accepted after this date.

Scholars must provide:

• A brief biosketch (accepted applicants' biosketches will be included in a program handbook)
• A statement (400-600 words) describing your career goals, current academic and research interests, and any relevant experiences
• Recent transcripts (unofficial are acceptable)
• A curriculum vitae or resume

Junior mentors must provide:

• A brief biosketch (accepted applicants' biosketches will be included in a program handbook)
• A statement (400-600 words) describing your career goals, current academic and research interests, and any relevant experiences
• A curriculum vitae or resume

Senior mentors must provide:

• A brief biosketch (accepted applicants' biosketches will be included in a program handbook)
• A curriculum vitae

Questions? Contact Birgit Swanson at (734) 926-0610 or swansonb@s-r-a.org.