HIP Graduate Student Award Key Information

The HIP Graduate Student Award encourages first-, second-, or third-year graduate students in the United States, Canada, and Mexico to pursue a career in academic hematology. As part of the Hematology Inclusion Pathway, this award is available for students conducting research on blood science-focused projects and gives students time to generate sufficient expertise to be competitive when applying to other awards such as the HIP Fellow Award.

The award provides an annual stipend of $40,000 for a two-year period that can be used for a tuition/salary/stipend of up to 70% of the award's value, research, training-related expenses (including health insurance), and travel to the ASH annual meeting.

Program Benefits

Participants receive a $40,000 annual stipend for a two-year period (for a total of $80,000) that can be used for a tuition/salary/stipend of up to 70% of the award's value, research, training-related expenses (including health insurance), and travel to the ASH annual meeting and present their research.

Eligibility Requirements

At the time of application, the applicant must:

• Provide a response to the HIP question articulating how the applicant advances the goals of the initiative.
• Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States, Canada, or Mexico, J1 Visa holders, or have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status.
• Be planning and committed to conducting the relevant research project in the United States, Canada, or Mexico with an ASH mentor.
• Be enrolled in a graduate-level course of study at a school or institution leading to a PhD degree. Applicants must plan to pursue an investigative career in blood sciences research.
• Be within the first three years of their PhD program. Applicants may submit a formal exception request for the time-based eligibility requirement to [email protected]. Please include the expected graduation date and a justification for the exception in the request.
• Have clear and documented support of an established ASH member mentor in good standing for the award term.
• Provide a document from an institutional leader who has the authority to ensure that at least 65-75 percent (approximately 2704 – 3120 hours (about 4 and a half months) of protected time devoted to research over the two-year period) of the applicant's full-time professional efforts will be devoted to research during the funded period.

Eligible applicants may not hold other ASH awards during the HIP Graduate Award term. Students pursuing a master's as their terminal degree are not eligible.

Supported Research

Applicants must submit proposals to conduct research in blood sciences. Proposals that fall within any of the below categories are encouraged:

• Basic Research
• Translational Research
• Patient-Oriented Clinical Research
• Outcomes-Based Research

For additional details on eligible research categories, please consult the Research Definitions page.

Application Process and Required Materials 

The HIP Graduate Award application, as well as all supporting documents outlined below, must be submitted through the ASH online awards system.

All applications must include the following: 

• Applicant NIH Biographical Sketch
• Research Mentor NIH Biographical Sketch
• Applicant Career Development Plan
• Applicant Personal Statement
• Applicant Project Proposal
• Research Mentor Letter of Support
• Institutional Commitment Letter from Department Chair on official letterhead

Evaluation, Selection, and Notification

Applications submitted by the deadline will be reviewed by the HIP Study Section and be evaluated on the following criteria:

• A focus on blood science research.
• The applicant’s qualifications and experiences; factors to be considered include, but are not limited to, the potential for future independent investigation and commitment to a career in blood science research.
• Quality of the mentor and the plan for mentor-applicant interaction and career development.
• The significance, feasibility, and originality of the proposed hypothesis, research, and methodology.
• Availability of institutional resources to support the proposed project.

While not an excluding factor, consideration will be given to ensuring a balance between PhD and MD/PhD programs.

There is no limit to the number of applications that an institution and its affiliates may submit. For purpose of fairness and balance, institutions will be limited in the number of awards granted. For this purpose, ASH’s definition of “medical school” encompasses all affiliate institutions (e.g., University of Washington would include the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle Children's Hospital, etc.).

Terms and Conditions

All awards will be activated on July 1 and will conclude on June 30 of the final year. Payment will be made to the appropriate financial officer for the institution as indicated on the proposed budget form.

As a condition of acceptance of the HIP Graduate Student Award, it is required that:

• All funds be used for the research project specified in the application submitted to ASH in strict compliance with the budget included with the application or any subsequent budget approved by the Society. Indirect costs (e.g., facilities and administration costs) are not allowed.
• Recipients cite support from the American Society of Hematology in any publication describing research conducted during the period of the award.
• The applicant is responsible for any visa and/or citizenship restrictions applicable to receiving this award.
• Recipients dedicate at least 65-75 percent (approximately 2704 – 3120 hours (about 4 and a half months) of protected time devoted to research over the two-year period) of his/her full-time professional efforts to research during the funded period.
• Recipients must respond to all requests from the Society for information about their career progress following the award period.
• Recipients must attend the ASH annual meeting, including Hematology Inclusion Pathway specific events (luncheon, presentation, and reception) and present their research.

Transfer, Reallocation, Mentor Changes

Students may request a reallocation of funds from one expense category to another. This written request must specify the dollar amount, which categories are impacted, and a justification as to why this change is necessary. Mentor changes may allowed and must be submitted to ASH for approval prior to change.

Changing Mentors

Please contact [email protected] if you need to change primary mentors. This must be approved by the chair of the ASH subcommittee.

Progress and Final Reports

Students must submit an evaluation form at the end of their award's first year. Failure to submit the progress/evaluation report, after the first year, will render the student ineligible for the second year of funding. A final written and financial report (not to exceed four pages) is expected within 60 days of the end of the award period.

Unused Funds

Funds are paid directly to the awardee and are non-transferable. Any funding not spent by the end of the award term must be returned to the Society when submitting the final report. A check made out to “American Society of Hematology” must be sent to the address listed below:

American Society of Hematology - ASH - Administration
P.O. Box 37580 (Truist Lock box ID: 9478)
Baltimore, MD 21297-3580

Have a Question?

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].