ASPIRE for Students

ASPIRE Offers a Variety of Programming and Activities for Student Attendees

Student Career and Professional Development Day

Monday, October 13 is Student Career and Professional Development Day. Featuring helpful information and activities targeted at today's students and tomorrow's HF/E professionals, Student Career and Professional Development Day at ASPIRE provides an opportunity for students to focus on career preparation, job seeking, and transition. This special day of programming will feature interactive panels and presentations focusing on job search, transition and early career success and more.  Check back soon for details.

HFES Student Forum

The Student Forum is a special track featuring talks delivered by students.  These talks are those that were submitted through the regular call for paper and which have been accepted for presentation.

Third Annual Doctoral Colloquium

The Doctoral Colloquium is for PhD students who are expected to graduate within two years of the colloquium (by 2027). The colloquium will focus on obtaining and succeeding in an academic position.  Tentative topics include getting an academic job, working in academia, expectations for promotion and tenure, mentoring PhD students, and work-life balance. A nominal registration fee applies and includes lunch.  Nominations must be submitted by the department heads/chairs as the event will be limited to two students per department in each academic institution.  Watch for the link to the nomination form on this page soon.

Student Reception

A reception just for student attendees of ASPIRE will take place on Tuesday, October 14 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. We will provide snacks and non-alcoholic beverages.  A cash bar will be available.  Attend this reception to meet others sharing your experience and expand your network.

Mentorship Luncheons

HFES is pleased to continue (through the generous sponsorship of the University of Wisconsin Madison) mentor/mentee luncheons on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to assist students, early-career professionals and those in career transition to develop mentoring relationships with established professionals in the field. The luncheons will be held during the lunch breaks of ASPIRE at an off-site location to be determined. There is no fee to participants.  Celebrating its 21st year, this luncheon series has provided mentoring opportunities for more than 1,250 HFES members. Previous participants have included some of the Society's most distinguished members, with representatives from top companies and universities.  Watch for the sign up link on this page soon.

Student Lounge

Relax before and between sessions and meet other student attendees in the Student Lounge.  Hours are 8:00 a.m.to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.  

Save Funds and Share a Room with Another Student Attendee

The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society is providing the Roommate Finder service for the benefit of its meeting attendees. Use this forum to contact other attendees looking for roommates with whom you may share lodging costs at the Hyatt Regency Chicago Hotel. Those agreeing to share accommodations will need to make arrangements for lodging on their own (securing the actual room reservation) and agree on how to share the room costs. 

Travel Award for First-Year Graduate Students

The Travel Award for First-Year Graduate Students supplies $500 for graduate students who are in the first year of their academic program (entered the program no earlier than the fall of 2024) to support their travel to ASPRIRE. Students must be members of HFES at the time of application. Applicants who submit completed applications will be randomly selected. The application form will be posted in June.

Student Presenter Award

The Student Presenter Award supplies $500 to students who are authors of accepted papers or posters for the HFES Annual Meeting to support their travel-related expenses. The student must be listed as the presenting author of the associated work at the time of submission. Students must also be members of HFES at the time of application. Nominations for this award must be submitted by a faculty member in the student's program. The nominator does not have to be an advisor or coauthor of the work. Travel awards will be assessed based on need and, in the case of multiple qualified applicants, randomly.  The application form will be posted in June.

ASPIRE Student Volunteer Program

Each year, HFES offers full-time students an opportunity to serve as volunteers at ASPIRE. Student volunteers perform many essential functions and help ensure the annual meeting runs smoothly. HFES Student Affiliate members are given priority assignments, though nonmember students may apply. After all HFES student members have been placed, non-HFES Student Affiliate members can be included as student volunteers.

Student Volunteers must commit to a minimum of four hours of service in return for a reimbursement of 50% of their registration fees paid, or a minimum of eight hours of service in return for a reimbursement of 100% of their registration fees paid.  Reimbursements, which do not include fees for special events such as workshops, tours or special symposia are processed after the meeting.  Watch this page for the sign-up link. Please do not email to inquire.  Thank you.