AAPM Grant and Fellowship Offerings

2013 Summer Undergraduate Fellowship Program

Description:

The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Summer Undergraduate Fellowship Program is designed to provide opportunities for undergraduate university students to gain experience in medical physics by performing research in a medical physics laboratory or assisting with clinical service at a clinical facility. In this program, the AAPM serves as a clearinghouse to match exceptional students with exceptional medical physicists, many who are faculty at leading research centers. Students participating in the program are placed into summer positions that are consistent with their interest. Students are selected for the program on a competitive basis to be an AAPM summer fellow. Each summer fellow receives a stipend from the AAPM.

Fellow Application/Award Process

Each applicant must complete the online AAPM Student application. Upload the application and ensure that it and all required supplementary information are sent to the AAPM Headquarters by the due date. An application is not complete unless all information is provided. The Summer Undergraduate Fellowship Subcommittee consists of qualified medical physicists, who will review all applications and make final decisions regarding award of fellowships. Once the fellowships have been awarded, the Subcommittee Chair will work with each student to select an appropriate mentor.

Remuneration, Travel, Insurance and Local Accommodations

The summer fellow will receive a stipend of $4,000 USD payable to the host institution for the 10-week period. This is not a salary; it is meant solely to subsidize students so that they may participate in the program. The $4,000 stipend will be paid by the AAPM in two equal installments. If the summer fellow does not complete the full summer internship program they shall not receive the full stipend. There are no other benefits.

The summer fellow is responsible for health or any other insurance. The AAPM will not provide any form of insurance coverage for the fellow at any time and specifically will not provide any insurance coverage for the fellow while they are working and in a residence at a host institution for their summer experience. The mentor is encouraged to work proactively with the host institution to establish appropriate insurance coverage for the summer fellow ahead of their arrival.  This might be achieved for example by the institution designating the Fellow as a “worker”, “student trainee”, “volunteer” or other appropriate personnel category.

The fellowship will be for a period of 10 weeks during the summer academic period (May to September ), which is mutually suitable to the mentor and fellow.

Eligibility Criteria:

Each student applicant shall have completed at least 2 years of their undergraduate studies, but shall not have graduated, i.e. rank of junior or senior. Applicants shall have declared a major or be eligible to declare a major in physics, engineering, or other science, which requires mathematics at least through differential equations, modern physics/quantum mechanics, electricity and magnetism or equivalent courses in engineering sciences. Summer Undergraduate Fellowships are restricted to U.S. citizens, Canadian citizens and Permanent residents of the U.S.

Upload the completed application. Send supporting documentation to:
American Association of Physicists in Medicine.
One Physics Ellipse
College Park, MD 20740
Attn: Jacqueline Ogburn

For additional information contact:
Jacqueline Ogburn
Education Manager
(301) 209-3394
E-mail: jackie@aapm.org

Mentor Qualifications

Each mentor shall be a faculty medical physicist in a university environment or a qualified medical physicist. Each mentor shall be a full member of the AAPM. Each mentor shall be employed by a university, a hospital or clinical facility, or a radiological industry within the United States or Canada.

Mentor Application/Selection Process

Each mentor must complete the online AAPM Mentor application by the due date. The Summer Undergraduate Fellowship Subcommittee screens and selects qualified mentors who offer an opportunity for an outstanding research project or clinical experience in medical physics. In making that assessment, the Subcommittee evaluates the appropriateness of the project for junior or senior physics students (or equivalent), the qualifications of the mentor, the appropriateness of the laboratory and clinical facility, and the availability of administrative support.

For additional information contact:
Jacqueline Ogburn
Education Manager
(301) 209-3394
E-mail: jackie@aapm.org

Minority Undergraduate Summer Experience Program

Description:

The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Minority Undergraduate Summer Experience Program (MUSE) is designed to expose minority undergraduate university students to the field of medical physics by performing research or assisting with clinical service at a U.S. institutions (university, clinical facility, laboratory, etc). The charge of MUSE is specifically to encourage minority students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) or non-Minority Serving Institutions (nMSI) to gain such experience and apply to graduate programs in medical physics.

The mission of the AAPM is to advance the practice of physics in medicine and biology by encouraging innovative research and development, disseminating scientific and technical information, fostering education and professional development of medical physicists, and promoting the highest quality medical services for patients. This program supports this mission by introducing bright young scientists to the field of medical physics through summer fellowships.

Fellow Application/Award Process

Each applicant must complete the online AAPM Student application. Upload the application and ensure that it and all required supplementary information is sent to the AAPM Headquarters by the due date.. An application is not complete unless all information is provided. The Summer Undergraduate Fellowship Subcommittee consists of qualified medical physicists, who will review all applications and make final decisions regarding award of fellowships. Once the fellowships have been awarded, the Subcommittee Chair will work with each student to select an appropriate mentor.

Remuneration, Travel, and Local Accommodations

The summer fellow will receive a stipend of $4,000 USD payable to the host institution for the 10-week period. This is not a salary; it is meant solely to subsidize students so that they may participate in the program.  The $4,000 stipend will be paid by the AAPM in two equal installments. If the summer fellow does not complete the full summer internship program they shall not receive the full stipend. There are no other benefits.

The summer fellow is responsible for health or any other insurance. The AAPM will not provide any form of insurance coverage for the fellow at any time and specifically will not provide any insurance coverage for the fellow while they are working and in a residence at a host institution for their summer experience. The mentor is encouraged to work proactively with the host institution to establish appropriate insurance coverage for the summer fellow ahead of their arrival. This might be achieved for example by the institution designating the Fellow as a "worker", "student trainee", "volunteer" or other appropriate personnel category. There are no other benefits.

The fellowship will be for a period of 10 weeks during the summer academic period (May to September ), which is mutually suitable to the mentor and fellow.

Eligibility Criteria:

Each student applicant shall have completed at least 2 years of their undergraduate studies, but shall not have graduated, i.e. rank of junior or senior. Applicants shall have declared a major or be eligible to declare a major in physics, engineering, or other science, which requires mathematics at least through differential equations, modern physics/quantum mechanics, electricity and magnetism or equivalent courses in engineering sciences. Summer Undergraduate Fellowships are restricted to U.S. citizens, Canadian citizens and Permanent residents of the U.S.

Upload the completed application.  Send supporting documentation to:
American Association of Physicists in Medicine.
One Physics Ellipse
College Park, MD 20740
Attn: Jacqueline Ogburn

For additional information contact:
Jacqueline Ogburn
Education Manager
(301) 209-3394
E-mail: jackie@aapm.org

Mentor Qualifications

Each mentor shall be a faculty medical physicist in a university environment or a qualified medical physicist. Each mentor shall be a full member of the AAPM. Each mentor shall be employed by a university, a hospital or clinical facility, or a radiological industry within the United States or Canada.

Mentor Application/Selection Process

Each mentor must complete the online AAPM Mentor application by the due date. The Summer Undergraduate Fellowship Subcommittee screens and selects qualified mentors who offer an opportunity for an outstanding research project or clinical experience in medical physics. In making that assessment, the Subcommittee evaluates the appropriateness of the project for junior or senior physics students (or equivalent), the qualifications of the mentor, the appropriateness of the laboratory and clinical facility, and the availability of administrative support.

For additional information contact:
Jacqueline Ogburn
Education Manager
(301) 209-3394
E-mail: jackie@aapm.org

Imaging Physics Residency Grant

Description:

On November 28, 2012, the AAPM Board of Directors approved $560,000 in funding for new imaging physics residencies, either diagnostic or nuclear medicine. RSNA is partnering with AAPM on this program and will provide an additional $280,000.  With this funding, it will be possible  to provide matching support for 6 new imaging residencies.

Each institution will receive $35,000 per year for 4 years in matching support of 2 residents.

The purpose of the AAPM/RSNA funding is to provide 50% support of a resident's salary for 6 imaging phyiscs residiencies that are not currently CAMPEP accredited. The awardee institutions will provide the other 50% support. After the period of the award is over, the intent is that the awardee institutions will continue to fully support the imaging physics residencies.

Only those imaging physics residency programs that have not previously submitted an application to CAMPEP (prior to Nov 28, 2012) for accreditation are eligible.

Eligibility Criteria:

Timeline:
Dec 20, 2012 – Program is advertised to the medical physics and radiology communities
Jan 4, 2013 –  Application details posted on AAPM web site
March 1, 2013– Applications are due 
April 1, 2013– Awards are announced
July 1, 2013- Funding available
Residents training must begin by 6/30/2014, or reapply next year.