Student Support

We have received generous funding from NSF and IEEE EMBS to support students who wish to participate in IEEE BSN 2026. This support is specifically intended for students lacking funds to attend the conference. These grants provide a full waiver of the conference registration fee. Travel, accommodation, and other personal expenses are not included. Applicants for student support should NOT pay for conference registration prior to notification of whether an award will be made. All award decisions will be made prior to the early-bird registration deadline. Previously paid registration fees may not be reimbursed, as we plan to provide award recipients with a unique discount code.

For BSN 2026, students will have new opportunities to participate in professional development and networking events. These planned events include a career session with industry and academic scientists and a symposium for students to present flash talks on their research.

Eligibility

All students planning to attend BSN may apply for award consideration. The award funding source will be determined by the selection committee based on eligibility. (Students not eligible for NSF-funded awards can still be considered for IEEE EMBS-funded awards.) Postdocs are not eligible for support. All award recipients are required to participate in the entirety of the three-day main conference and to submit a report describing their activities during the conference.

Priority consideration will be given to students who meet at least one of the following criteria:

• First-time attendees to BSN.
• Early-career students with demonstrated interests in research topics relevant to BSN.
• Applications from students with accepted full papers are more likely to receive support, although applications based on accepted abstracts are also eligible.

We encourage applicants to register for IEEE Student Membership.

Important Dates

The application deadline is July 27, 2026. Applicants will be notified of the decision by August 3, 2026. Students who are selected for an award will have until August 11, 2026, one week, to confirm their acceptance.

Application

A single application form and review process will be used for support consideration.  To apply, complete the form using the link above.

In addition to the application form, the following materials will be required:

• The student’s curriculum vitae
• A supporting letter from the student detailing how the student will benefit from attending BSN. The letter should indicate which aspects of the BSN program are likely to impact the student’s research and career development.  Applicants are expected to demonstrate a serious interest in this research field. You may also mention any other relevant details that should be considered in the evaluation of your application. Please be concise: a brief letter that clearly and convincingly addresses the above points is strongly encouraged.
• A recommendation letter from a faculty advisor (for university students) or an appropriately qualified mentor. This letter should confirm that the student is in good standing, comment on the student’s strengths, and affirm the student’s interest in research topics relevant to BSN.
• A written statement regarding 1) the availability (or lack thereof) of travel funds and 2) a commitment to covering travel expenses in excess of the conference registration cost. For students funded by their institution, this statement should be included in the faculty advisor’s recommendation letter. If a different individual or organization will be covering the expenses, then a brief supplementary statement from that entity may be provided. In either case, please include an explicit commitment, e.g., “If [applicant] receives this award, then I intend to support the remaining travel expenses necessary for them to attend BSN, including transportation and lodging.”

All supporting documents should be in a PDF format.

Inquiries

Please direct any inquiries to Prof. Brandon Oubre ([email protected]) and Prof. João Pedrosa ([email protected]).