IAMSE Conference Buddy Program

The Buddy Program pairs IAMSE student and faculty members to help students make the most of the Annual Conference. This is a great opportunity to connect with a new colleague, make a new friend, add to your CV, and pick up some IAMSE swag!

There are two roles in the Buddy Program: the Junior Buddy and the Senior Buddy. The Junior Buddy will be a student attendee who may be new to the IAMSE Conference and is looking for someone to help them get the most out of their time at conference. The Senior Buddy will be a terminal degree recipient who has previously attended an in-person IAMSE Conference and can answer questions, share tips, and introduce one or more Junior Buddies to other members of IAMSE. 

Senior Buddies

  • Terminal Degree Recipient
  • Has attended an in-person IAMSE Conference before
  • Contact your Junior Buddy via email to introduce yourself before the annual conference and identify an agreed upon time to meet with your buddy at the conference. We suggest the student reception where you can pick up your Buddy Program swag! 
  • During the conference, answer any questions your buddy has, share tips about how to make the most of the conference, introduce your buddy to other IAMSE members. 
  • After the conference, contact your buddy for a quick debrief of the conference. 

Junior Buddies

  • Student Attendee
  • May or may not have attended a previous IAMSE Conference
  • Meet up with your senior buddy at the conference.  
  • Bring any questions you have pertaining to the conference and be ready to meet some wonderful new colleagues!  

Buddies will be matched based on the following criteria:

  • Similar degree
  • Similar field of study
  • Similar career trajectory
  • Similar research interests
  • Similar spoken language(s)
  • Similar demographic information

To join the Buddy Program, make sure to select "yes" when asked if you would like to participate in the Buddy Program during registration. 

Buddy Program Timeline

  • April 15, 2024: Buddy Program Registration Deadline
  • May 15, 2024: General Information Sent to Junior and Senior Buddies
  • May 30, 2024: Buddy Assignments are Sent to Senior and Junior Buddies

If you have any questions about the Buddy Program, please reach out to support@iamse.org.