Information, Expectations, and Application Instructions
Deadline to apply has passed.
Information:
The CHARGE Syndrome Foundation is committed to fostering the next generation of professionals with interest and expertise in CHARGE syndrome. To that end, a scholarship fund has been created to support CHARGE Syndrome Davenport Fellows to attend the 16th International CHARGE Syndrome Conference, July 24–27, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Application requirements:
- Current enrollment in graduate/medical school or early career professional. Exceptional undergraduates who demonstrate a strong commitment to continue in the field may be considered.
- Relevant professional background, including, but not limited to: education/special education, genetics, medicine, occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychology, research, sensory loss, and speech and language pathology.
- Some experience with CHARGE, CHD7, deafblindness, or other relevant areas.
Fellowships are valued at over $1000, and will cover:
- Registration for both Meg Hefner Professional Day and International Conference (includes all meals)
- Hotel (shared room*) for 4 nights (check in on Wednesday July 23; check out on Sunday July 27)
- Travel stipend of $500 for travel from within North America and $750 for travel from outside of North America.
- NOTE: if you can get partial funding from your institution or other sources, that may allow us to fund more scholarships. Please let us know if you are also pursuing other potential funding sources.
*Davenport Fellows requesting their own room may need to cover half the cost of the room.
Click here to learn more about the Davenport Fellowship.
Expectations for Fellowship recipients:
- Be an active member of the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation. Click here to become a member.
- Register and attend both Meg Hefner Professional Day (Thursday July 24) and the International CHARGE Syndrome Conference (evening of Thursday July 24–noon on Sunday July 27). Registration instructions will be provided after acceptance to the Fellowship.
- Be matched with a family with a child with CHARGE. You will be expected to be in contact with them prior to conference and have at least one meal with this family to get to know them. In Camp, you will be with the child of this family
- Volunteer for ½ day in Camp (this requires completing a separate application and a background check)
- Participate in daily meetings with the Fellowship Advisors and other Fellows to debrief, review experiences, ask questions and plan for the next day
- Write up your observations/experiences (deadline: August 31). This will:
- Help you consolidate and process your experience
- Help us understand your experiences and improve the process in the future
- Provide material that can be excerpted for our newsletter and other publications
- You may use your experiences/write up for other purposes as well
- Provide feedback on the Fellowship program so we can continue to improve it in the future
Application Instructions
Application deadline: Deadline to apply has passed. All applicants will be notified via email by April 11 at the latest. Any questions regarding the application should be emailed to Rilla Hammett and Megan Schmittel at [email protected].
- GoogleForm: Information requested includes name, professional affiliation (if any), contact information, CHARGE-related experience (conferences, teaching, education, etc.), if you hope to have any other funding sources, whether you have submitted for a poster, presentation or research at conference, and name and contact information for your Reference/Recommendation.
- Essay: 2 pages or fewer double spaced
- Describe your background, professional training, and interests. Discuss any connections you already have to CHARGE specifically or other support groups/genetic conditions in general. You do not need to repeat information that is covered in your CV. Let us know who you are and your interest in CHARGE/genetics/deafblindness.
- Describe why you would like to attend the 2025 CHARGE conference in Phoenix as a Davenport Fellow. Include how you expect this experience to be meaningful to you and/or will advance your professional and academic goals. Let us know how you heard about this opportunity and how you hope to use this experience (what you hope to gain from it). If you have worked with or are otherwise connected to someone in the CHARGE community, please mention your connection to them by name (e.g., student of Dr. Mary Smith, have a 6-year-old with CHARGE in my classroom).
- Upload your essay as a word document or PDF in the GoogleForm.
- CV or resume: Upload your CV/resume as a word document or PDF in the GoogleForm.
Please have your mentor submit a letter of recommendation via the following GoogleForm link: https://forms.gle/gKAhb3F4jRAQDH4x9
- Letter of recommendation– 2 pages or fewer double spaced
- Please ask for a letter of recommendation to be submitted via the GoogleForm link. This should be from a mentor or someone who knows you well and can comment specifically on your relevant background, current knowledge/interest/expertise related to CHARGE syndrome/deafblindness and how attending the conference will benefit your training and/or career. Specifics are very helpful. This should include contact information for the writer and the specific context in which they know you. This Fellowship is intended to further the education and career of individuals already interested in CHARGE.
