ISAC Scholars Program

The ISAC Scholars program is designed to encourage and build an international group of young people with the varied interests and specialties that mirror ISAC’s membership. ISAC is in need of young and dynamic scientists actively involved in our society. This society has long been composed of outstanding members; the original founders of ISAC in the 1970’s and 80’s have been exceptionally approachable, active, and generous in sharing the wealth of their scientific experience, and we would like to see this spirit passed on to a new generation.

Currently our ISAC Scholars are an international and multidisciplinary group with young scientists from around the world who are graduate students, postdocs, core facility managers and young academics establishing their careers. ISAC Scholars have the opportunity to participate in the scientific activities of the organization during their scientifically formative years. The Scholars Program will foster these bright young members to work together now with the hope that they will participate in the future leadership of our society.

Who Qualifies?

• Graduate students, post-docs, young scientists, junior faculty, technicians, and core facility operators under 40 years old

Benefits

• ISAC membership for 5 years with electronic Cytometry part A subscription
• All rights and privileges of full members of the society with “training status”, i.e. eligibility for student congress fees, travel scholarships and student awards.
• Free registration for the ISAC biannual international congress (upcoming congress: Budapest 2008)
• Travel and lodging support for Budapest meeting (400 US $ for Europeans, 900 US $ for non Europeans)
• Mentorship program. A number of eminent ISAC scientists have generously agreed to be mentors for this program. The Scholars will have the opportunity to visit their mentor’s lab at least once, to learn and hopefully collaborate on a project with a resultant publication if applicable.

Sponsors

• Funding for the ISAC Scholars program comes from supporting companies, predominantly pharmaceutical companies who guarantee $5,000/year (Platinum Sponsor), $4000/year (Gold Sponsor), or $3000/year (Silver Sponsor) for 5 years to be used exclusively for the ISAC Scholars program. The program goals will be to start with 10 companies that will guarantee funding for the first 5 years.
• Currently the ISAC Scholars program is generously supported by
  • GlaxoSmithKline (Platinum Sponsor)
  • Invitrogen (Platinum Sponsor)
  • Pfizer (Platinum Sponsor)
  • Bristol-Meyers Squibb
  • Dompé farmaceutici SpA

How to Apply

• Deadlines for applications are: June 30th and December 31st, for Scholarships beginning in the following January.
• Applicants must fill out the application form  and supply the required documentation.

Our Current ISAC Scholars

2006

• Dario Coletti, Italy
• Tytus Bernas, Poland
• Dominik Lenz, Germany
• Lory Yang, USA
• Ryan Brinkman, Canada
• Claudio Panzarella, Italy
• Reiner Schulte, Germany
• Laura Adang, USA

2007

• Ardjmand Ghahestani, Iran
• Ji Fan, USA
• Zoë Cohen, USA
• Michael Richard Lewis, USA
• Sach Jayasinghe, GB
• Zaha Al-Makhlafi, Saudi Arabia

2008

• Andrea Holme, Singapore
• Dayong Jin, Australia
• Estelle Glory, USA

Some Recent History

Workshops

A satellite ISAC workshop was organized by the MSC as part of the 1^st International Meeting on Movement as Prevention and Health in Rome on September 27-29, 2006. The European ISAC scholars were invited, and presented their work in a morning ISAC Scholar’s session.

As a result of this workshop, two of our European ISAC Scholars, Dario Coletti and Reiner Schulte created and regularly update a funding page on the ISAC website directed towards students, with links to sites which fund student research and travel.  

Mentorships

Two mentorships are now underway:

• Dario Coletti (Italy). The first paper published under the ISAC Scholars program by Coletti et al.appeared in Cytometry.
• Ardjmand Ghahestani (Iran). Ardjmand has recently visited Partec company in Muenster, Germany