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The American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) invites emerging scientists to apply for its 2026 travel award program, a career-boosting opportunity to participate in an intensive scientific meeting focused on brain, behavior, and pharmacology. The program highlights new and often unpublished research, facilitates networking with internationally recognized scientists, and supports recipients with travel, lodging, and meeting access. Applications Open: April 6, 2026 and the Application Deadline is May 14, 2026 at 5:00pm Central Time. These exact dates are critical for planning your submission and coordinating any required nominator actions.
Recipients will join an annual gathering where poster presentation and mentorship are central elements. The College also maintains a tradition of honoring past colleagues through its travel awards program, including the ACNP Young Investigator Memorial travel Awards, a tribute established in 1997. Between 1998 and 2005, awards carried the names of contributors such as Louis S. Lasagna (1923-2003), Marian Weinbaum Fischman (1939-2001), Arnold J. Friedhoff (1923-2001), and others whose legacy continues through support of early-career scientists.
Program overview
The travel award is designed to accelerate the development of promising investigators in neuropsychopharmacology. Awardees receive a package of support that removes common financial barriers to attending large scientific meetings: waived meeting registration for the awardee and one accompanying person, the chance to present a poster, lodging coverage for up to five nights at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego (when the meeting is held there), and roundtrip economy airfare for the awardee. Note that lodging arrangements depend on the annual meeting location and may vary if overflow hotels are used. For on-the-ground costs the program provides modest stipends for ground transportation, meals, and an onsite childcare stipend when childcare is arranged by the College. Recipients also receive an ACNP member mentor during the meeting and an invitation to return to two additional meetings with reduced registration and poster opportunities.
Eligibility and applicant levels
Scientists from anywhere in the world may apply, but ACNP members and prior travel award recipients are not eligible. Applicants must select one of two levels: Junior Level or Senior Level. Candidates from historically excluded groups in science and medicine are strongly encouraged to apply. The Junior Level is intended for those below Assistant Professor (or equivalent) who hold a terminal degree and are no more than five years past their terminal training. For clinicians, terminal training is counted from the final year of residency or fellowship; for Ph.D. researchers, it is counted from the final year of postdoctoral fellowship. Junior applicants can request a one-year extension to the five-year limit for qualifying life events such as parental leave or serious illness by providing background information in the application.
The Senior Level covers investigators at the Assistant Professor level (or equivalent) who have not yet secured a large independent grant (for example, an R01 or U01) as PI or multi-PI. Senior applicants may be up to seven years past their terminal training; those at Associate Professor rank or with large independent funding are considered too senior to apply. Be sure to determine which level fits your status before submitting, since training cutoffs and grant history are strictly applied.
Application process, benefits, and special designations
Award benefits
Award recipients receive a range of practical supports: waived annual meeting registration for the awardee and one accompanying spouse or significant other, the opportunity to present a poster abstract, lodging for up to five nights at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego when applicable, and roundtrip economy airfare for the awardee only. The program also provides up to $100 for ground transportation, up to $50 per day for meals for up to six days, and an onsite childcare stipend of $80 per day per child for up to four days (must sign-up by December 15, 2026). Awardees gain an assigned ACNP member mentor and an automatic invitation to attend two additional meetings with reduced registration and poster opportunities.
How to apply
Applicants must complete the online application and upload a CV in PDF that lists publications, contributions to each paper, funding history, and teaching. A supporting letter is required from an ACNP member; members may nominate up to two candidates and must paste the letter into the online text field (letters from non-members are not accepted). The application also asks for a one-page focused career statement entered into a 3,700-character field, and a personal background statement (1,850-character limit) describing how life experience influenced training. If you need help entering the supporting letter or other materials, contact the ACNP Executive Office at [email protected] or call (615) 324-2360 during business hours.
Special designation awards and BRAD Fellowship
The College offers targeted designations for specific research tracks. Examples include the Harry June Travel Award for early career researchers in alcohol and substance use disorders and partnerships such as the ACNP/ALBA award for current ALBA Network members. The ACNP/NIDA Travel Award supports investigators working at the interface of neuropsychopharmacology and substance use. Recent recipients include 2026 and 2026 awardees listed by program. Separately, the ACNP/AMP BRAD Fellowship (deadline June 1, 2026) celebrates the role of humane animal research; that fellowship is open only to U.S. legal residents with relevant experience and an interest in scientific advocacy. Award notifications for the travel awards will be sent via email by late-July 2026.
If you have questions about eligibility, deadlines, or application details, contact ACNP at [email protected]. Careful review of the instructions and timely coordination with an ACNP member nominator will strengthen your submission and ensure compliance with specific character limits and document formats.