National Mentoring Community Bringing Emergency Aid to Mentees (BEAM) Fund
Students who are mentees in the National Mentoring Community and are faced with an unexpected financial hardship can apply for assistance and if approved, receive funds within two weeks.
Rules and eligibility
Students must be actively participating in the National Mentoring Community at the time of applying for assistance from the BEAM Fund. Most students request between $500 - $2,500 at a time. There is a lifetime limit of $5,000 that a student can request through the BEAM Fund.
View the full eligibility details on APS's mentoring website
Process and selection
There is no deadline for the BEAM Fund applications, and NMC mentees should first contact their mentors and apply for assistance when a financial emergency arises that threatens their ability to continue their physics studies.
After contacting their mentor, students participating in the NMC should apply through APS's mentoring website using their myAPS.org login. In addition to the application, students may provide supporting documents, such as bills or emails, that they would like to share with the review committee.
After the application is submitted, the the BEAM fund review committee will make a decision within seven to 10 business days. The committee is composed of members from the APS Committee on Minorities in Physics and APS staff.
After submitting the application and receiving approval for funds, the applicant will also need to complete and submit appropriate payment forms, relevant receipts, and a brief statement.
View the full instructions on the NMC website
Establishment and support
The BEAM Fund is made possible with generous support from Kenton and Amy Brown.
The membership of APS is diverse and global, and the nominees and recipients of APS Honors should reflect that diversity so that all are recognized for their impact on our community. Nominations of members belonging to groups traditionally underrepresented in physics, such as women, LGBT+ scientists, scientists who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), disabled scientists, scientists from institutions with limited resources, and scientists from outside the United States, are especially encouraged.
Nominees for and holders of APS Honors (prizes, awards, and fellowship) and official leadership positions are expected to meet standards of professional conduct and integrity as described in the APS Ethics Guidelines. Violations of these standards may disqualify people from consideration or lead to revocation of honors or removal from office.