The Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI) and ACSM are committed to supporting diversity in sports science and nutrition. This award encourages research in exercise physiology, sports science, sports nutrition, and/or exercise psychology by underrepresented graduate students. In addition to research funding, to help promote professional development, award winners will receive one year of 1:1 mentorship from a GSSI scientist. Award winners will also receive complementary registration to ACSM’s Annual Meeting and tickets to the ACSM Honors reception.   Two awards will be given to master’s students leading or highly involved in research projects in their graduate programs. Award funds may be used to purchase research equipment, supplies, animal or human subject costs, or other miscellaneous research expenses. Funds are not to be used for:  

• overhead or indirect costs
• membership dues to professional organizations
• subscriptions to journals
• purchasing books
• travel or meeting registration
• publication expenses
• clinical traineeships
• malpractice insurance premiums
• salary
• personal expenses

Evaluation will be based on how clearly the research contributes to the field of exercise physiology, sports science, sports nutrition, and/or exercise psychology and should also demonstrate how it aligns with GSSI’s mission. Evaluation will also be based on the applicant’s interest and desire to be mentored by a GSSI scientist. 

Eligibility:

• Applicants must be ACSM national members in good standing before applying for funding. ACSM chapter membership alone does not fulfill this requirement.
• Applicants must be from a racial or ethnic group that is underrepresented in the sciences (as defined by NIH here): Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander.
• Open to masters students enrolled in full-time programs at a U.S. school in exercise physiology, sports science, sports nutrition, and/or exercise psychology with a GPA of at least 3.0.
• Applicants directly associated with or engaged in any fashion with GSSI will not be eligible. Submitted work funded, partially or wholly, by GSSI or PepsiCo is not eligible.
• Previous winners of the GSSI-ACSM Diversity in Sports Science Award, GSSI-ACSM Young Scholar Professional Development Grant, or GSSI-ACSM Young Investigator in Sports Nutrition Award are not eligible to apply.
• Previous ACSM research grantees must submit final grant and expenditure reports prior to receiving this award.