Eloy Rodriguez Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Conference Travel Award

The Eloy Rodriguez Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Conference Travel Award is a SIPS award aimed to broaden connections and recruitment of graduate students from groups historically excluded from STEM by supporting the presence of Cornell students and postdocs at key DEI events and conferences. The award is named in honor of Dr. Eloy Rodriguez (Professor emeritus, Plant Biology), who had a founding role in the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS).

The award includes funding for travel and registration costs for two SIPS students and one postdoc to attend conferences related to diversity in STEM. Potential meetings include: 

  • SACNAS annual meeting, 
  • Association of 1890 Research Directors (ARD) Research Symposium, 
  • National Society for Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) conference, 
  • Out in STEM (oSTEM) conference, 
  • Professional Agriculture Workers Conference (PAWC),
  • ABRCMS annual meeting, 
  • And others of the applicant’s interest

Awardees can engage in scientific presentations at the meeting, and/or represent Cornell graduate programs and distribute information to potential undergraduates (for example by hosting or joining the graduate school’s exhibitor stand). We particularly encourage students from historically excluded groups in STEM (including Black, Latinx, Native American, Disability, Gender or Sexuality minorities) to apply. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Current Cornell graduate student or postdoc within the SIPS community (including those employed through BTI and USDA).

Please email a short (1 paragraph) application with the following to sips-dicouncil [at] cornell.edu (sips-dicouncil[at]cornell[dot]edu) with “Rodriguez DEI Travel Award” in the subject line:

  • Information regarding your current status within the SIPS community: position, SIPS section, and expected graduation year (if applicable).
  • A description of why you’re interested in attending one of the listed conferences, and a description of the conference if not listed above.
  • What is your engagement or learning plan for the conference? Do you plan to present a scientific presentation and/or host an exhibitor stand for Cornell graduate programs?
  • How will you and/or the SIPS community benefit from this experience? For instance, how will attending this conference enrich your personal and professional development, or your involvement in DEI issues in SIPS or Cornell?