About
The Suzanne G. Cusick Professional Development Fund provides $500 professional development and career support grants for scholars of music, sound studies, and musical performance. These grants are intended to support low-income independent scholars, contingent faculty, and individuals whose paid work outside the academy does not offer them access to professional development. In all programs supported by this fund, special efforts will be made to ensure equitable participation by members of historically under-represented groups.
The deadline to apply for the Suzanne G. Cusick Professional Development Fund is 3 March 2025, 11:59pm ET.
Eligibility requirements
To be eligible for this grant you must:
- Have been active in the AMS within the last five years (e.g., by presenting papers, working on committees, contributing to AMS publications, or being an AMS member);
- Have an annual income that falls within the lowest two tiers of the Society’s income-based membership dues scale.
Recipients will be chosen by lottery. To support diversity, the lottery may be weighted to ensure adequate representation of historically under-represented groups.
Eligibility

Frequently Asked Questions
The AMS uses the Formsite platform for professional development grant applications. All application responses must be entered into the provided spaces on the Formsite application. Applications not submitted by the deadline cannot be considered. Upon submission of your application form you will receive an email confirmation. If you have any questions, please contact ams@amsmusicology.org.
Funds can be used to support a wide-array of professional development opportunities related to music and sound studies including, but not limited to, conference registration, technology purchases, travel/research funding, fees, and payment for education courses.
Applicants for the Suzanne G. Cusick Fund need not be current members of the AMS. However, they must have been active in the AMS within the past five years. Activity is defined as presenting papers, working on committees, contributing to AMS publications, or being an AMS member.
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