Therapies (ABCT) conference allows for dissemination of the advancement of scientific approaches in order to best understand and improve of human functioning. Specifically, one of the aims this year is “Neuroscience and Psychological Treatment”. As an aspiring clinical researcher, with an interdisciplinary background in both clinical assessment, treatment, and neuroimaging, the opportunity to attend this conference would allow me to network and further develop as a clinical researcher in a number of different ways. First, as I will be presenting a poster on brain mechanisms that underlie emotion regulation difficulties in autism spectrum disorder, I will be able to make connections with others who are using fMRI methods. Critical knowledge from these exchanges can help me further analyses develop a manuscript from this poster. Secondly, the conference offers special interest group expositions, including one on Neurocognitive Therapies and Translational Research which will allow me to directly connect with leading researchers in the field and better understand where the field is going. Third, several workshop opportunities are available, including a full day training on “Neuroscience-Informed Behavioral Interventions: From Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Cognitive Training”. Lastly, since I am in the clinical science area, a requirement for graduating the doctoral program is going on clinical internship during the last year of graduate school. At ABCT there is an Internship Training Meet and Greet, which would allow me to make early connections with sites I could attend. All in all, if funded to travel to the 50th annual convention for ABCT in New York City, CY, I would be able to further my career as an aspiring clinical researcher.

Below are estimated details on the expenses:
General Registration: $130 
Student Membership: $74
Hotel: 600$
Travel: DC-NY Amtrak roundtrip $200
Mileage Blacksburg-DC: 269 miles * 2 (round trip) * .54(rate)= $290.52
Per Diem (food, travel): $200

http://www.abct.org/conv2016/