Legacy Award Grant

Funding Amount: up to $10,000

Application Submissions Open: March 13, 2026

Application Deadline: May 28, 2026

Letters of Recommendation Due: One week after proposal application deadline

Notice of Award: At time of ASP Annual Conference (you do not need to be present at the meeting to be a recipient of this funding mechansim)

Intent of Funding

The Legacy Fund was established in 2010 with an important founding gift from Past President Don Lindburg, with the stipulation that it be used for a new initiative in service to the Society and to primatology. Many early career scientists present their first professional paper at the Society’s annual meeting, and go on to become lifelong members of the Society and significant contributors to the science and practice of primatology. In recognition of the role that the Society has played in career development, the Legacy Fund was established to facilitate interdisciplinary training for an ‘early-career’ professional in primatology.

The intent of the grant is to provide for a period of short-term training in a discipline, or development of a skill-set, that is outside the recipient’s area of expertise, but will add to the ability of the recipient to make unique contributions to primate research or to the agencies and organizations that affect primate research. Examples include (but certainly are not limited to) a field primatologist receiving training in molecular biology or endocrinology, a laboratory primatologist acquiring skills in field primatology, or a primatologist serving on a Congressional committee, doing training with USDA, or interning in journalism and science writing.

Applicant Eligibility and Funding Requirements

The applicant must be in a professional position, be a Full or Early Career Member of ASP, and be within seven years of having completed the terminal degree appropriate to the applicant’s career (MA, Ph.D., DVM, MD). Candidates that are no more than two years beyond this seven-year window, but had career interruptions after completing their terminal degree due to health, facility, or personal reasons must submit a half-page Special Circumstances document to research@asp.org explaining why this eligibility window should be backdated for their application. ASP will consider requests to extend the status period for reasons that include: childbirth, medical concerns, disability, family care responsibilities, natural disasters, and active duty military service.

Candidates must provide evidence of ethical approval for their project, such as by their Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, or equivalent ethical research reviewing body, before funds are disbursed.

Support for salary will not be allowed. Please note that ASP does not pay indirect/overhead costs or publishing fees.

Important note about membership: If you are not already an ASP member, you must apply for membership to be eligible for this grant. First-time members must provide two current ASP members as sponsors. If you are in need of an ASP member as a sponsor, please contact the ASP Treasurer. First-time membership approvals can take up to 2 weeks, so please apply well in advance of the grant deadline. Leaving the CV and endorsers/sponsor section blank may extend the approval time. ASP membership for individuals from habitat or developing countries is FREE for those unable to pay dues. Please contact the ASP Treasurer for more details on complimentary membership. 

How to Apply

To apply for this grant, you must login to the website. You will find a link to the application on your member profile page.

The application must contain the following sections:

1. One page essay on Candidate’s accomplishments and goals;
2. Two page description of proposed activities, including a clear statement of how the activities will supplement the Candidate’s existing strengths;
3. An itemized budget and a narrative budget;
4. Detailed letter from hosting individual and/or institution confirming the commitment to training and details of the training;
5. Curriculum vita for the Candidate
6. Contact information for someone willing to submit a letter of reference on the candidate’s behalf; note that the referee will be emailed a link that will allow them to upload their letter as a pdf. Letters are due one week after the application deadline.
7. Name and contact Information for the Financial Officer at the candidate’s institution to whom the funds will be released to.
8. A half-page Special Circumstances document (if required – see Eligibility requirements above)

Proposals will be accepted that request up to $10,000 in support. The itemized budget of expenses and a narrative budget should identify in broad terms how the requested money will contribute to the identified training goals. Allowable expenses include travel, per diem, and equipment or supply costs. 

Reference Requirements

At the time you submit your grant application online, the online system will request the email address of your referee and automatically email them with instructions on how to submit their recommendation letter. This letter is due one week after the grant application deadline.

Evaluation Criteria and Process

The Research and Development Committee will evaluate the Candidate’s full application, and assess the degree to which the training will lead to a career-enhancing outcome with regard to the ability of the candidate to make important contributions to the field of primatology. 

Reporting

Candidates who receive the ASP Legacy Grant will prepare a two-page summary of the outcome of the training experiences for the Research and Development Committee at the completion of training and within one year of receipt of the award. In addition, within three years of completion of training, the awardee will be invited to an annual meeting of ASP to present a “Legacy Address” to the Society. This address should highlight the interdisciplinary training received during the award and the resultant impact on the career trajectory of the awardee.

Contact Information

This grant is managed by the Research and Development Committee, but all applications are reviewed by an ad hoc committee appointed by the Board of Directors. Contact the chairs of the Research and Development Committee for more information and with questions about this grant or the application process at research@asp.org