The Survey Research Methods, Government Statistics, Social Statistics Sections are pleased to announce a competition for student and post-graduate papers. Winning papers are presented at the Joint Statistical Meetings August 3-8, 2013 at the Palais des congrès de Montréal. Approximately five awards will be granted. A subsidy of $800 is provided to each winner to cover JSM 2013 expenses.

To be eligible to participate you must be a current undergraduate or graduate student at any level, or a 2012 graduate who presents research conducted as a student. Faculty members are urged to encourage students to apply for these awards.

Papers entered in this competition must involve either a new statistical methodology, or a creative application of statistical analysis to a problem, issue, or policy question pertinent to the subject area of one of the sponsoring sections. The research does not have to be complete, but competitors must be able to submit an abstract prospectus that describes the planned research and nature of the intended innovation(s).

To apply, please send the materials requested below to:

• Grace O’Neill (GSS 2013 Program Chair Elect, ge_oneill@yahoo.com),
• Karol Krotki,(SRMS 2013 Program Chair Elect, kkrotki@rti.org),
• Michael Sinclair (SSS 2013 Program Chair Elect, sinclair-mike@NORC.org), at the email addresses listed.

Applications must include:

1. a cover letter with the applicant’s name, current affiliation and status, and contact information (address, telephone, e-mail);
2. an abstract (300 words maximum);
3. a draft paper (if available); or otherwise a 3-page research prospectus; and
4. a letter from his/her adviser that certifies the applicant's status (e.g., current student or new graduate who completed the degree within the past year), and describes plans to complete the research.

All materials must be received by 5 PM EST, December 15, 2012. Winners will be notified by mid-January 2013. Students may submit papers to no more than two sections and may accept only one section's award. Students must inform both sections applied to when he or she wins and accepts an award, thereby removing the student from the award competition for the second section.

More than twelve sections of ASA sponsor Student Paper Competition/Travel Awards to assist students with travel expenses to attend JSM. Beginning this year, the submission dates have been uniformly standardized. The submission deadline for all of the section competitions is December 19. ASA has created a portal page where students can see which sections sponsor Student Paper Competitions and links to the guidelines for each. (http://www.amstat.org/sections/studentpaperawards.cfm)