CUSP students at lunch during the annual 2024 ASBH Conference.

Cross-Institutional Undergraduate Sponsorship Program (CUSP) in Bioethics

To support the next generation of bioethicists, we are funding selected undergraduate students (from any major) to attend this year's American Society for Bioethics & Humanities (ASBH) conference in Saint Louis, MO from September 18-21, 2024.  We will provide the following for selected students: (i) conference registration, (ii) up to $500 in travel costs to Saint Louis, (iii) accommodation near the conference and (iv) some meals.  In addition, there will be cross-institutional mentorship of selected students, including a mentor both during and after the conference as well as a pre-conference Zoom workshop.

This program is currently funded by the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine at the University of Michigan, Emory Center for Ethics, Georgetown University's Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Greenwall Foundation, Saint Louis University's Albert Gnaegi Center for Health Care Ethics, Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics and University of Colorado Center for Bioethics and Humanities. 


If participating in this year's ASBH conference would further your academic and professional goals, please apply here. The application will open on July 1, 2024 and close on August 1, 2024.

The program is available to (i) current undergraduate students as well as (ii) people who completed their undergraduate degree in the 12 months before this year's ASBH conference and who are not currently students pursuing a non-undergraduate degree. Applications will be competitively reviewed on a rolling-basis by an interdisciplinary, cross-institutional committee. If you know of any students or recent graduates who may be interested in this program, please share this website! If you have any questions, please email mabioethics@emory.edu.

This student sponsorship program was founded in 2021 by Gerard Vong and Joanna Young from the Emory University Center for Ethics. This program has now grown significantly and involves cross-institutional collaboration from dozens of universities across North America. The Emory Center for Ethics values the diversity of our students and is working to ensure our bioethics education is accessible to and supportive of students of diverse and historically underrepresented backgrounds. These efforts complement the Emory Diversifying Graduate Education (EDGE) initiative at the Laney Graduate School as well as Emory University's diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. To further these important efforts, we are particularly interested in providing support for undergraduate students that are historically underrepresented in bioethics.

FAQs

We are looking for applicants that have a demonstrated aptitude for (and interest in) bioethics who will have their specific academic and professional goals furthered by attending the ASBH conference and receiving year-long mentorship.

As we are looking for demonstrated aptitude in bioethics, an academic essay (or self-contained excerpt from such an essay) that focuses on ethical issues related to health, healthcare, public health,  biomedical sciences and/or biomedical research is acceptable.  This submission can be something you have already written (e.g. For a class).

No. However, it is our expectation that sponsored students attend the majority of the conference. If you know at the time of application that you are unable to stay for the entire conference, it would be helpful to make that clear as a note in your application. If you really are unable to participate in a full way for at least the majority of the ASBH Conference during the dates on which it will be held, you, perhaps, ought to wait to apply during another year if possible. Sponsored students are encouraged to attend presentations, network with other conference attendees, spend time in the Exhibit Hall, review books and other publications/materials provided by exhibitors. You also ought to plan to attend the Student Sponsorship Program dinner (typically the 2nd night of the full Conference).

Business casual. Examples of traditional business casual attire include blazers, blouses, dress shirts, dress pants, longer skirts, slacks and/or khakis. Additionally, when packing for an in-person conference, we recommend you check the weather before you go, since you may be outdoors (e.g., to reach the conference from the airport, to walk to find dinner, or to participate in planned conference outings).

Yes. The pre-conference workshop is designed to help sponsored students get the most out of the conference. You are welcome to send questions in advance to be certain your areas of concern are addressed.

No. Students will need some of their own spending money to cover miscellaneous expenses which may include travel to and from accommodation and some meals.  These miscellaneous expenses vary from year to year due to differences in conference city, the distance from the airport to the provided accommodation, and whether or not the student chooses to utilize public or shared transportation.  If the student chooses to utilize only private transportation and sit-down restaurant meals, the cost can be up to a few hundred dollars per student.  A number of meals will be provided to sponsored students (e.g. some meals in the main Exhibit Hall as part of the ASBH Conference, as well as a dinner with the other sponsored students).  If you are selected for sponsorship and foresee these additional costs to be an undue financial burden, please contact mabioethics@emory.edu at least a week before the start of the conference.

No. The program has a limited funds. Financial support for this program is provided by a number of institutions and organizations from across the United States. If there are additional funds, those funds will be used to expand the program and/or sponsor additional students.

The ASBH sponsorship will cover the cost of $50 for one checked bag. If your airline charges a checked bag fee, this means that the student will be responsible for the baggage fee either to or from the ASBH Conference. You will need to pay the baggage fee both directions and then submit the receipt / information for charges up to $50 for reimbursement from the ASBH Student Sponsorship Program after the Conference ends.

It would be wise to have at least some cash (approximately $100) and/or a personal credit card with you on this trip. Some of your meals are not covered and you may have the need for some incidental expenses during the trip or wish to buy a book.

You will be met during the ASBH Conference by some people involved in the ASBH Student Sponsorship Program. While we hope that your assigned mentor may be attending the Conference, not all of the faculty members who volunteer to mentor are able to attend each ASBH meeting. Rest assured, however, the faculty who volunteer to mentor are really great and interested in students. You will have the chance to meet other students, other faculty mentors, and some of the Student Sponsorship Program organizers.

Student Highlight - Ayannah Lang

Ayannah Lang attended the ASBH conference with our support in 2022.  After completing a Bachelor of Science degree (cum laude) in Biochemistry and Philosophy from Spelman College, she joined the PhD program in Chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. At MIT, she is now a Graduate Diversity Ambassador with the Office of Graduate Education and teaches yoga and meditation classes with MIT Recreation.  She has also co-authored two articles in bioethics, 'Research involving the recently deceased: ethics questions that must be answered' in the Journal of Medical Ethics and 'Billing for Electronic Patient-Physician Communications: An Ethical Analysis' in JCO Oncology Practice.

Ayannah Lang, Spelman College (graduated 2022), 2022 ASBH Student Sponsorship Award Winner

Student Highlight - Caroline Beit

Caroline Beit is a rising senior at Yale University Double Majoring in the History of Science and Medicine and Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. This fall, she will be presenting at ASBH after being inspired by all of the fantastic presentations she saw last year thanks to sponsorship from Emory's Bioethics Center. Her presentation will be on "Reimagining the Psych Pool: Ethical Considerations for Undergraduate Participation in Psychological Research."  This summer Caroline is working at Baylor College of Medicine's Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy.

Caroline Beit, Yale University (graduated 2023), 2021 ASBH Student Sponsorship Award Winner

Testimonial

Samantha Chipman

"Thanks to the Student Sponsorship, I was able to join the RACE Affinity Group at ASBH and collaborate on a panel abstract for the 2022 Conference. I was also able to connect to researchers at the Mayo Clinic, and secure a position as a summer Bioethics Graduate Intern. I'm being mentored by Dr. Meagher, and am working on a qualitative project about antimicrobial resistance and discourse analysis in medical textbooks. I'm also co-mentored by Dr. Barwise, and am revising a manuscript I drafted about patients with limited English proficiency with public health ethics. I couldn't be more grateful towards the Sponsored Student program for making this Mayo Clinic opportunity possible."

Samantha Chipman, Loyola University Chicago (graduated May 2022), 2021 ASBH Student Sponsorship Award Winner



Some of the 2024 CUSP students, alumni, mentors and sponsors at the 26th Annual Conference of the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities in St. Louis, Missouri. 

Some of the 2024 CUSP students, alumni, mentors and sponsors at the 26th Annual Conference of the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities in St. Louis, Missouri. 

Some of the 2024 CUSP students and lead faculty member Dr. Gerard Vong at a conference session at the the 26th Annual Conference of the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities in St. Louis, Missouri.

Some of the 2024 CUSP students and lead faculty member Dr. Gerard Vong at a conference session at the 26th Annual Conference of the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities in St. Louis, Missouri.

Emily Peugh, 2022 CUSP recipient, presenting at the 26th Annual Conference of the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities in St. Louis, Missouri.