Awards and Grants

AASM Foundation Grants and Awards 

The AASM Foundation invests in people, research, and communities to improve the sleep health of all people. Our core values include creating inclusive and collaborative opportunities, which include various travel grants, merit-based awards, and programs.

To apply for these opportunities, you must register on the AASM Foundation Online Portal. Please refer to the AASM Foundation Application User Guide for guidance on creating an account. 

Research Mentor Award 

The Research Mentor Award honors exemplary individuals for their efforts and leadership in developing early career researchers, including undergraduates, graduates, post-doctoral trainees, and junior faculty who develop research careers in sleep and circadian science. 

Nominations are due September 8, 2025. 

The Research Mentor Award provides $500 to each selected award recipient. 

This AASM Foundation award is supported by AASM Foundation general funds. 

The following individuals are eligible to self-nominate or be nominated: 

  • Active sleep/circadian science mentor for at least 10 years, with a minimum rank of Associate Professor or equivalent, or responsibility for multiple funded research projects with evidence of sustainability. Examples include but are not limited to: Research Director, Senior Scientist, Professor, Department/Division Chair. 

The following individuals are NOT eligible to self-nominate or be nominated: 

  • Current AASM and AASM Foundation Board of Directors members 
  • Current AASM Foundation Research Career Development Committee members 

The AASM Foundation Research Career Development Committee will evaluate and score all submitted nominations and recommend recipients to the AASM Foundation Executive Committee for approval. Factors that will be taken into consideration include: 

  1. Intellectual Growth Mentee(s) and Broader Community: Has the mentor fostered intellectual development in mentees and contributed to broader field advancement through impactful programs or initiatives? 
  2. Talent Development: Have mentees achieved notable career milestones attributable to the mentor’s guidance? Are outcomes consistent across diverse mentees? 
  3. Collegiality and Community-Building through Generosity: Does the mentor promote inclusivity and uplift all individuals? Have they fostered collaboration and community in their field? 
  4. Advocacy for Mentees: Has the mentor actively elevated mentees’ visibility and access to opportunities? Are there clear, lasting impacts from their advocacy? 
  5. Sponsorship/Networking/Dissemination: Has the mentor connected mentees, especially from all groups, to key networks, recognition, or platforms that advanced their careers? 
  6. Balancing Productivity with Career Advancement: Has the mentor supported mentees in prioritizing meaningful, career-enhancing work over less productive demands? 
  7. Positive Role Modeling: Do mentees view the mentor as a professional and ethical role model? Have they adopted the mentor’s values or practices? 

Trainee Investigator Award 

The Trainee Investigator Award recognizes an AASM Student/Resident Member who presents an outstanding research abstract at the SLEEP annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS). This award not only highlights exceptional research but also serves to encourage and nurture the professional growth of early-career investigators in sleep medicine. 

Nominations are due December 8, 2025. 

The Trainee Investigator Award provides the following to the selected award recipients: 

  • 1st Place: $1,000 
  • 3 honorable mentions: $500 each 

This AASM Foundation award is supported by AASM Foundation general funds. 

The following individuals are eligible to self-nominate: 

  • Undergraduate Student
  • Graduate Student
  • Master’s Student
  • Medical Student – Preclinical
  • Medical Student – Clinical
  • Resident
  • Fellow (sleep medicine)
  • Fellow (non-sleep related)
  • PhD Student
  • Postdoctoral Researcher
  • Advanced Practice Provider Program Students (PA, NP, etc.)
  • Allied Health Program Students (sleep technologist, respiratory therapist, etc.)

International applicants, who meet all the eligibility criteria and can accept the payment of grant funds in U.S. dollars, are eligible to self-nominate.

The following individuals are NOT eligible to self-nominate: 

  • Current AASM and AASM Foundation Board of Directors members 
  • AASM Foundation Research Career Development Committee members 
  • Individuals located in, or operating from, countries subject to U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctions are not eligible to receive AASM Foundation funding 

The AASM Foundation Research Career Development Committee will evaluate and score all submitted nominations and select recipients for the award for AASM Foundation Executive Committee approval. Factors that will be taken into consideration include: 

  1. Clarity: Is the abstract clear, well-organized, and easy to understand? 
  2. Methodology: Are the research questions, methods, and results clearly presented and justified? 
  3. Significance: Is the topic important, timely, and does it make a significant contribution to the field? 
  4. Innovation: Is the work original, innovative, and does it offer new insights or approaches? 

SLEEP Travel Grant for AASM Patient Advocacy Roundtable

The SLEEP Travel Grant for AASM Patient Advocacy Roundtable supports attendance at the SLEEP meeting for organizations that are members of the AASM Patient Advocacy Roundtable and have limited financial resources to attend. 

Applications are due January 5, 2026. 

The SLEEP Travel Grant for AASM Patient Advocacy Roundtable provides a $2,000 grant to be used for SLEEP 2026 travel and registration expenses.

This AASM Foundation travel grant is supported by AASM Foundation general funds. 

The following individuals are eligible to apply:

A review committee, appointed by the AASM Foundation Executive Committee, will evaluate and score all submitted nominations. Factors that will be taken into consideration include: 

  1. Financial Need: Has the organization provided a compelling justification for financial need, explaining why external support is necessary to enable attendance at the SLEEP meeting? 

Note: Preference may be given to organizations with limited budgets. 

  1. Impact of Attendance at the SLEEP Meeting: Has the organization clearly articulated how participation in the SLEEP meeting will benefit the organization’s advocacy efforts, enhance its visibility within the sleep medicine community, and foster meaningful connections with stakeholders and future partners?

SLEEP Travel Grant for Medical Students and Residents

The SLEEP Travel Grant for Medical Students and Residents supports attendance at the SLEEP meeting for AASM Student/Resident members who are medical students currently enrolled in an accredited medical or osteopathic medical school, or medical residents currently enrolled in an accredited residency training program. 

Applications are due January 5, 2026. 

The SLEEP Travel Grant for Medical Students and Residents provides a $2,000 grant to be used for SLEEP 2026 travel and registration expenses. 

This AASM Foundation travel grant is supported by AASM Foundation general funds. 

The following individuals are eligible to apply: 

The following individuals are NOT eligible to apply: 

  • Individuals who are outside of the United States 
  • Current AASM and AASM Foundation Board of Directors members are not eligible to apply 

A review committee, appointed by the AASM Foundation Executive Committee, will evaluate and score all submitted nominations. Factors that will be taken into consideration include: 

  1. Commitment to Sleep Medicine: Has the applicant demonstrated a strong and early interest to grow in the field of sleep medicine through personal experiences, educational experiences, patient care and/or professional activities? 
  1. Impact on Professional Development: Does the applicant have a clear and well-thought-out plan for how attending the SLEEP meeting will enhance their skills, knowledge, network, and professional growth? 

SLEEP Travel Grant for Sleep Technologists and Advanced Practice Providers 

The SLEEP Travel Grant for Sleep Technologists and Advanced Practice Providers supports first-time attendance at the SLEEP meeting for non-physician members of the sleep team, such as sleep technologists and advanced practice providers. As part of our dedication to fostering opportunities to engage with others within the sleep community, grant recipients will also be able to participate in a special networking activity at SLEEP 2026. 

Applications are due December 15, 2026 

The SLEEP Travel Grant for Sleep Technologists and Advanced Practice Providers offers a $2,000 grant to be used for SLEEP 2026 travel and registration expenses. 

  • Funded by a generous donation from Christopher Hope, MD, MHA 

Note: Dr. Hope will not be involved in any aspect of designing the applicant’s application. In addition, Dr. Hope will not be involved in the AASM Foundation’s grantmaking process, including the review process for applications, and making funding recommendations or decisions. 

The following individuals are eligible to apply: 

  • AASM members who are registered sleep technologists (or eligible to sit for the registry examination) or advanced practice providers. 

The following individuals are NOT eligible to apply: 

  • Current AASM and AASM Foundation Board of Directors members are not eligible to apply. 
  • Individuals who are located outside of the United States are not eligible to apply. 

SRS and AASM Foundation Dependent Care and Accessibility Grant

The SRS and AASM Foundation recognize that many SRS and AASM members have caretaking responsibilities at home, limiting access to attend professional conferences and events. These responsibilities may include care for young children, an ill or disabled spouse, an aging parent, or other situations the SRS and AASM Foundation may not be aware of. Members who have a disability that may require additional assistance when traveling also qualify.

The SRS and AASM Foundation Dependent Care and Accessibility Grant provides up to $1,000 to be used for allowable SLEEP 2026 expenses. 

Up to $1,000 may be requested; the SRS and AASMF Foundation reserve the right to fund partial budget amounts. Please request only the necessary funds to maximize award distribution to those with need. 

Awards will be in the form of reimbursement following submission of receipts after the meeting. The number of awards and the amount for each award will depend on the total number of applications received and available funding. 

The following individuals and organizations are eligible to apply: 

  • Must be an active member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), Sleep Research Society (SRS), or dual AASM/SRS 
  • Must abide by approved allowable expenses: 
Allowable Expenses:Unallowable Expenses:
  • Dependent care expenses (incurred at home or in the annual meeting city)
  • Expenses incurred in bringing a caregiver and/or dependent(s) to the annual meeting city
  • Travel of a relative or caregiver to the recipient’s home to care for a dependent(s)
  • Travel of the recipient’s dependent(s) to the location of a relative or caregiver
  • Increased travel or lodging expenses related to a recipient’s disability
  • Dependent care expenses at home that would normally be incurred (after school care, ongoing dependent care)
  • Food
  • Meeting registration, meeting courses or other paid meeting events

Reviews will be conducted in a blinded fashion.

Please note:  Preference will be given to first-time applicants depending on the availability of funds.