CROI invites community leaders who engage in communication, advocacy, and educational activities focused on the prevention, treatment, and cure research of HIV, hepatitis viruses, SARS-CoV-2, monkeypox, and other viral infections and their related conditions, to apply for a CROI Community Scholarship. Community Scholarship applicants must demonstrate an established commitment to sharing scientific knowledge with community members and stakeholders as well as an ability to expand research and science literacy among communities affected by topics presented at CROI.  

CROI is an intensely science-focused meeting. Individuals who are awarded the CROI Community Scholarship are leaders who are highly motivated to learn and apply the dynamic and ever-evolving research that comes out of CROI every year. To be considered for a Community Scholarship, applicants must demonstrate the competency and skills to translate complicated science to a wide array of community members and stakeholders in different contexts.  

In an effort to increase and broaden the scope and impact of the CROI Community Scholarship program, community leaders with experience attending scientific conferences, but have not attended CROI in the past, are encouraged to apply.  

Scholarship Application Submission Is Closed

Scholarship application submission for CROI 2023 closed on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, at 5:00 PM Pacific Time. Dispositions will be sent by email on Tuesday, November 1, 2022. Access the CROI Scholarship Submission System (clicking the link opens the submission website).

Note: Scholarship applications are only available for general abstract submissions on HIV and hepatitis viruses and their related conditions. Scholarships applications are not available for our December 1st submission opening for abstracts on all SARS-CoV-2 and monkeypox sciences plus late-breaking abstracts on HIV and hepatitis viruses.

Obtaining a visa for travel to the US: Citizens from some countries are required to obtain a US visa for travel to CROI. If you plan to attend CROI 2023, book a visa appointment as soon as possible. You may use the CROI Letter Of Invitation For Visa And Other Purposes as supporting documentation to obtain a visa. The Visa Section of the US State Department Website provides additional information on obtaining a visa.

IMPORTANT DATES

Visit the Important Dates and Deadlines page for more information on key dates for scholarship application submission and disposition notices.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship Award 

There are 3 types of Community Scholarships: 

  • Full Scholarship includes complimentary conference registration. It also covers up to US $750 (US/Canada) or US $1500 (International) to and from the conference at the lowest fare for economy travel and up to 5 nights hotel accommodations at the discounted scholarship rate. A daily stipend may also be provided for awardees from resource-limited countries. 
  • Partial Scholarship will receive complimentary conference registration. It also covers travel OR hotel depending on the recipient’s need as demonstrated in their application 
  • Registration Scholarship will receive complimentary conference registration
Scholarship Criteria 

The CROI Community Scholarship is limited and highly competitive. Applicants must be actively involved communications, education, and advocacy efforts in their communities. Only candidates affiliated with organizations that provide communications, advocacy, or educational services will be considered (limit of 2 applications per organization).  

Applicants will be assessed on motivation, creativity, competency, literacy, and their demonstrable ability to understand and disseminate research in communities. Scoring will include the overall quality of the application, as well as the applicant’s letter of recommendation (limit of 1 letter of recommendation per recommender). The selection committee will consider the following: 1) demonstrable experience and aptitude in understanding and disseminating conference-acquired information, 2) application quality, 3) work setting, 4) demonstrably strong scientific literacy and strong command of English, and 5) applicant’s degree of financial need. Preference is given to individuals who:  

  • Have demonstrated the capacity and commitment to engage diverse communities with relevant science- and research-based information    
  • Engage in community-focused communication, advocacy, and education efforts. The selection committee will give preference to individuals whose efforts in this area go beyond direct-to-client prevention services (including biomedical-focused services) and clinical trial recruitment

Medical professionals, administrators, researchers, and media professionals are not eligible to apply for the CROI Community Scholarship. Scholarship recipients are limited to a total of 3 scholarships. As there is a limit on the number of scholarships that can eb awarded every year, this policy is designed to give a wide variety of individuals the chance to attend CROI. 

Due to the transition of CROI 2020 from an in-person to a virtual conference, scholarships received that year will not be included in the consideration of the number of scholarships the applicant has received.  

All CROI Community Scholarship recipients are required to participate in the full conference, including the Program Committee Workshop for New Investigators and Trainees. At the close of the Conference, scholarship recipients will need to complete all conference evaluations. Scholarship recipients who cannot participate in the full conference must decline the award. The scholarship is not transferable.  

How to Apply

Community Scholarship applications should be submitted as part of the abstract submission process through the CROI Abstract and Scholarship Submission system. The person submitting this application must be the scholarship applicant. Applicants may submit only 1 type of CROI Scholarship (eg, New Investigator Scholarship, International Investigator Scholarship, or Community Scholarship) application.  

The Community Scholarship application must include a letter of recommendation from leadership from the applicant’s organization (limit of 1 letter of recommendation per recommender). The letter of recommendation should be placed on organizational letterhead and signed by the person providing the recommendation. The letter must be saved as a PDF file and uploaded by the scholarship applicant.