SAALAS Professional Development Grant

The South African Association for Laboratory Animal Science, (SAALAS) would like to invite members
to apply for the professional development grant.

The grant has been established to assist SAALAS members with their continuing professional
development needs by providing financial assistance to attend workshops, conferences, courses
locally and internationally affording members more opportunities to network with colleagues and
develop professionally. The aim of the grant is not only for the personal development of individuals in
our community, but for those individuals who’ve had an opportunity to learn, to share our
knowledge and have a positive impact in the community at large.

The grant will be awarded on an annual basis (as finances of the association permit), in March each
year.

Grant funds can be used towards:
– Registration fees to attend workshops, conferences, courses relevant to laboratory animal
science,
– Travel and accommodation costs to attend these events,
– Funds can not be used towards stipends, salaries or personal expenses.
*** SAALAS reserves the right to limit the expenditure to specific service providers.

Eligibility:
* Current paid up SAALAS member
* Successful applicants will be expected to provide a feedback report to the SAALAS Exco within
14 days of returning from the event.
* If attending a course / workshop evidence of how the course will benefit the South African LAS
community should be provided.
* If attending a conference, a poster or oral presentation should be presented and the abstract
submitted with the grant application.
* Applications can be sent to the SAALAS secretary (secretary@saalas.org) before 15 January
each year. The selection panel will convene during January to evaluate the applications
received and notification of successful applications will be sent out by the end of February each
year. Successful applications have 1 year in which to spend the grant.
* PLEASE NOTE: 2025 applications deadline is 15 January 2025 (EXTENDED to 28 February 2025).
* Application forms can be found on the SAALAS website (https://www.saalas.org/)

Submit
* the application form in one PDF document with
* a motivation letter as well as
* a current 1 page CV and
* Abstract if applicable
* evidence of permission from your employer to attend the event.

* Should the grant not cover the full cost of the event, evidence of the availability of the
outstanding funds to fund the event must be supplied

Priority will be given to applicants who demonstrate:
* That the grant will provide not only personal professional growth but will have an impact in the
LAS community
* Individuals who have not yet attended such events previously
* Applicants who face financial impediments to attend such events and whose attendance will
further the establishment of LAS in South Africa.

Terms of the Grant:
• SAALAS reserves the right not to proceed with awarding the grant in any given year.
• The announced decision shall be final.
• The decision will be made by a panel, decided upon by the executive committee of SAALAS, the
panel will compromise at least 3 members from different professions represented by SAALAS.
•A total grant pool of R20 000 is available per annum, the amount awarded to each individual will
be based on the number of eligible applications received. The total grant pool WILL NOT be
awarded to one person.
• Should an individual no longer be able to attend the event, the grant must be paid back in full to
SAALAS.
• SAALAS may print the recipient’s report in the SAALAS newsletter.
• The recipient agrees to their name, and photographs of themselves being published in formats such
as the website, reports, newsletters etc.
SAALAS