Travel Awards to support attendance at the EPPS Training school

The Wheat Phenotyping to Support Wheat Improvement Expert Working Group (Phenotyping EWG) and the Wheat Initiative (WI) have co-organised the training school: “Phenotyping Practice, Machine Learning and Industry Insights”, that will be held in Bonn, Germany, from 12 to 15 September, 2025.

The training school is aimed in particular at early career researchers. It is designed to introduce the participants to the fundamentals of Machine Learning and Deep Learning and it will provide the student with hands-on experience and insights from industry experts on the use of the latest technology.

The school is also including an online preparatory workshop, that will be held on September 5, 2025 (attendance is mandatory).

The on-site training program consists of a first day of introduction to machine learning and deep learning, and one hands-on module on Python programming. In the second day, Saturday 13, students will participate to a half-day excursion with visits to a large coal mining area, and activities on the way to a bio-based economy. The last day of September Monday 15 will be devoted to hands-on training with industry representatives to asses phenotyping traits with latest technologies. For full program see here: https://epps2025.plant-phenotyping-network.de/EPPS_training_school

The Phenotyping EWG and the WI are pleased to announce that up to 6 travel awards will be available for Early Career Researchers (ECRs) and PhD students to support attendance at the EPPS Training school: Phenotyping Practice, Machine Learning and Industry Insights and the EPPS in Bonn, Germany. Travel awards amounts will range from €400 to €2,000 depending on the distance and means required to travel to Bonn, Germany.

Please note that these awards are intended to help cover travel and accommodation expenses associated with attending the EPPS Training school: “Phenotyping Practice, Machine Learning and Industry Insights” and the registration fees for the training school and the EPPS in Bonn, Germany.  Funds can only be provided as reimbursement.  This means that successful awardees must provide receipts of their travel and accommodation expenses after the event, in accordance with the Wheat Initiative Guidelines.  No funds can be provided in advance. 

Eligibility:

  • ECRs and PhD students need to be registered to attend the European Plant Phenomics Symposium (EPPS) 2025 (16-19th of September 2025).

  • Students must be enrolled in a PhD program at the time of the event (September 2025).

  • Early Career Researchers must have less than five years work experience since completing their PhDs.

  • Participation in person and pre-registration is mandatory.

  • Applicants must be enrolled or working at an institution located in:

    • Wheat Initiative member country (Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Morocco, Republic of Korea, Türkiye, United Kingdom, Uruguay, United States)

    • CIMMYT or ICARDA

    • WECAWheat

    • Non-G20 (except when the country is an OECD country)

    • Non-OECD country (except when the country is a WI member)

Application:

The applicants must submit the documents required for the training school complemented by the cost estimate template (TEMPLATE) to epps@fz-juelich.de

  • Applications must be received before 7th of July 2025.

  • Subject line: “Application for travel support: Phenotyping EWG”.

All steps are also outlined on the training school webpage: https://epps2025.plant-phenotyping-network.de/index.php?index=508

Please provide the the filled out template in your e-mail message including:

·         Full name and e-mail address

·         Address of institution where you are enrolled as a PhD student or employed, name of supervisor

·         Short CV (max. one page)

·         Motivation letter (max. one page)

·         Estimation of your travel expenses (max. one page). Including ONLY the following expenses:

o   Hotel accommodations (11 to 16 September: 5 nights maximum)

o   Travel costs by plane, train or long distance bus (economy fare)

o   Registration fees for the training school and the EPPS

o   Local public transportation costs

o   Visa cost to attend the event (when applicable).

Additional information:

  • The travel awards must be used to cover costs of travel and accommodation expenses to attend the EPPS Training school: Phenotyping Practice, Machine Learning and Industry Insights and the registration fees to EPPS in Bonn, Germany, only.

  • Notification of the outcome of your application and the amount awarded will be announced by July 16, 2025.

  • The notification email will include the guidelines on how to present invoices and obtain the reimbursement.