Financial Assistance

Financial Assistance applications have closed.

Family Care Assistance

APS is pleased to offer a limited amount of Family Care Assistance stipends to APS members to reduce the costs of care at home, at the convention, and/or during the time directly involved in participating in the convention. This assistance is available to any APS member who serves as a caregiver in any capacity (e.g., of a child, parent, spouse, partner, dependent, etc.). Recipients of Family Care Assistance receive either a $200 cash stipend or a discount code for $200 off convention registration. Recipients are chosen through a lottery system.

Application Form Opens: Wednesday, 12 November 2025

Application Deadline: Thursday, 22 January 2026, at 5:00 pm EST (22:00 UTC)

Notification Date: APS will share Family Care Assistance decisions by 28 February 2026.

Eligibility

• Applicants are not required to have an active APS membership to apply. An active membership through 1 June 2026 is required to receive assistance.
• Applicants who have received financial assistance to attend an APS event in the prior three years are not eligible.
• Applicants may apply for multiple assistance programs but may only receive one award.
• If you elect to receive the stipend, you must be registered and paid in full to receive the cash stipend.

FAQs

When will decisions go out?
APS will share Family Care Assistance decisions by 28 February 2026.

Should I register for the Annual Convention before receiving notice of my Family Care Assistance?
If you are applying for Family Care Assistance, please do not register for the Annual Convention until you learn whether you received Family Care Assistance. You will receive notification before the 8 April early-bird registration deadline.

How will I know you received my application?
You will receive a confirmation email upon completion of the form. If you did not receive a confirmation email, please contact [email protected].

Travel Assistance

The APS Annual Convention Travel Assistance program reduces travel costs for APS members who submitted their research for presentation at the APS Annual Convention. Travel Assistance recipients will receive funding based on demonstrated financial need and country-level income classification.

APS offers two levels of support:

• Tier 1: $200 off registration OR $200 travel stipend
• Tier 2: Complimentary Convention registration and a $500 travel stipend. Tier 2 is for applicants with limited institutional support and who reside in low- or lower-middle-income countries, as defined by the World Bank.

Application Form Opens: Wednesday, 12 November 2025

Application Deadline: Thursday, 22 January 2026, at 5:00 pm EST (22:00 UTC)

Notification Date: APS will share Travel Assistance decisions by 13 March 2026.

Eligibility

• Undergraduate and graduate students, post-docs, and early and mid-career scientists are encouraged to apply. High-school students are not eligible for travel assistance.
• Applicants are not required to have an active APS membership to apply. An active membership through June 1, 2026 is required to receive assistance.
• Applicants who have received travel assistance in the prior three years are not eligible.
• Applicants may apply for multiple assistance programs but may only receive one award.
• You must have submitted a poster, submitted talk, flash talk, or symposium to the 2026 APS Annual Convention.

FAQs

Do I have to be a member of APS to receive assistance? 
Applicants are not required to have an active APS membership to apply, but must have a membership active through 1 June 2026 to receive travel assistance. Click here to learn more about APS and join. Reduced membership rates are available to individuals living in countries defined as low and lower-middle income by the World Bank and Membership Assistance discounts are available.  

Am I required to volunteer if I receive travel assistance? 
No, travel assistance recipients are not required to volunteer at the 2026 APS Annual Convention. 

When will I be able to apply for travel assistance? 
For 2026, financial assistance applications open on 12 November 2025, and close 22 January 2026, at 5:00 pm EST (22:00 UTC). This is a firm deadline. No late applications will be accepted. 

When will decisions go out? 
Decisions will go out prior to 13 March 2026. 

Should I register for the Convention before receiving notification of financial assistance? 
Please do not register until you find out whether you have received travel assistance. You will receive notification before the 8 April early-bird registration deadline. 

How will I know you received my application?
You will receive a confirmation email upon completion of the form. If you did not receive a confirmation email, please contact [email protected].