University of Virginia
Department of Cell Biology
Post Doc Resource Guide
2008
Congratulations on your post doctoral appointment to the UVa. Department
of Cell Biology.
With the goal of expanding the knowledge of research and providing quality
education, this guide is designed to facilitate the successful execution of a
post doc fellowship.
What is a the definition of a post doc appointment?
-The appointee was recently awarded a Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate (e.g., Sc.D.,
M.D.) in an appropriate field
-the appointment is temporary
-the appointment involves full-time research or scholarship
-the appointment is viewed as preparatory for a full-time academic and/or research
career
-the appointee works under the supervision of a senior scholar
-the appointee has the freedom, and is expected, to publish the results of his or her
research during the period of the appointment.
An important Guide for Research Associates at UVa can be found at:
<http://www.virginia.edu/vpr/postdoc/handbook.html>
Eligibility for Fellowship Awards:
Eligibility varies with each fellowship, but most awards are for those who have
received their degree within 3-5 years of the time of award. Other programs have
fewer restrictions, or none at all.
For most fellowships, US citizenship or permanent residency is required, however,
there are funding opportunities available for those who are not US citizens or
permanent residents. Check each grant opportunity for eligibility.
Things to Consider:
First it is important to identify appropriate funding sources.
You will need to consider your research interests; the expertise of your mentor and
who funds fellowships in this area of interest?
You need to consider deadline dates; do you have time to prepare and submit a well
prepared application? Remember, a well prepared research plan can be used for
application to multiple organizations.
Provide time for revision and resubmission. Be persistent, apply early and
often. Most of all, don't get discouraged! Even the most generous
programs fund far less than half of the applications they receive.
Please note that some programs have a Letter of Intent (LOI) deadline in
advance of the full submission date; in most cases, these LOI deadlines are
mandatory.
Also, almost all applications require letters of reference; to reduce
complications and delay, arrange to have these completed as early as
possible.
UVa. fellowship applications require departmental approval followed by
institutional review and signature. The Cell Biology administrative office can
help with OSP procedures and authorizations.
Searching for Funding:
UVa. Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP)
facilitates research and research administration at the University of Virginia and provides a
comprehensive service in award administration and regulatory compliance.
Visit http://www.virginia.edu/sponsoredprograms/ for detailed information and useful links
For finding grant opportunities, making application, receiving funding etc.
Phone: (434) 924-4270
Fax: (434) 982-3096
The Office of Research
has a wealth of useful information about internal and external funding sources
including all stages of the grant writing and submission processes with focus on
the post doc at:
http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/research/find.cfm#Postdoc
All funding applications require OSP internal tracking of approvals using the
“Golden Rod” form
http://www.virginia.edu/sponsoredprograms/SOMNEWGOLDENROD.doc
Important links:
UVa post doc “fast fact” sheet:
http://www.virginia.edu/vprgs/postdoc/docs/FastFacts.pdf
UVa. Post Doc Enhancement, Language Assistance:
http://www.virginia.edu/vprgs/postdoc/international.html/
National Post Doc Association:
http://www.nationalpostdoc.org/site/c.eoJMIWOBIrH/b.1388059/k.DBBE/NPA_
Home.htm
For questions regarding post-doctoral issues, please contact 243.4014 or
postdoc-at-virginia.edu
NIH Grant Opportunities:
All discretionary grants offered by the 26 federal grant-making agencies can be
found on <http://grants.nih.gov/grants/oer.htm>
You do not have to register with Grants.gov to find grant opportunities. However,
once you are ready to apply for a grant, you will need to get registered.
This process takes 3-5 business days. See link below
<http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp>
Basic Search http://www07.grants.gov/search/basic.do
Search by keyword, Funding Opportunity Number (FON) or Catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number.
Browse by Category http://www07.grants.gov/search/category.do
Search by a variety of categories of funding activities.
Browse by Agency
Search from a list of agencies offering grant opportunities.
Advanced Search http://www07.grants.gov/search/advanced.do
Search by more specific criteria such as funding instrument type, eligibility or subagency.
Once you find the right grant, access the application package by either:
Clicking on the "How to Apply" button in the grant opportunity's synopsis.
Entering the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) or Catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number on the Download Application Package
page at:
<http://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply_for_grants.jsp>
Register now and receive notifications of new grant postings delivered right to your
email inbox at:
http://www07.grants.gov/applicants/email_subscription.jsp
General NIH proposal forms at: <http://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms.htm>
National Science Foundation Fellowship Opportunities:
http://www.nsf.gov/funding/
The National Science Foundation funds research and education in most fields of
science and engineering.
NSF receives approximately 40,000 proposals each year for research, education
and training projects, of which approximately 11,000 are funded. In addition, the
Foundation receives several thousand applications for graduate and postdoctoral
fellowships.
NSF fellowships are designed to provide support for active mentoring of the
Fellows by the sponsoring scientists who benefit from having additional lab
members. The research and training plan of each fellowship must address
important scientific questions in contemporary biology within the scope of the
BIO Directorate and the specific guidelines in this fellowship program solicitation.
Because the fellowships are offered only to postdoctoral scientists early in their
careers, doctoral advisors are encouraged to discuss the availability of BIO
fellowships with their graduate students early in their doctoral programs.
Fellowships are awards to individuals, not institutions, and are administered by
the Fellows.
Advancing Theory in Biology (ATB)
http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=501066&org=NSF&sel_org=BIO&from=fu
nd
CONTACTS
Irwin ForsethBIOTheory@nsf.gov(703) 292-8413
Anne-Francoise LamblinBIOTheory@nsf.gov(703) 292-8470
Kamal ShuklaBioTheory@nsf.gov(703) 292-7131655S
Saran TwomblyBIOTheory@nsf.gov(703) 292-8133635.03
08-513 Announcement
Full Proposal Deadline Date: February 17, 2009
SYNOPSIS
The Biological Sciences Directorate invites submission of proposals that advance our
conceptual and theoretical understanding of living systems. The Advancing Theory in
Biology (ATB) solicitation supports the development of new theoretical approaches that
will improve our understanding of fundamental biological principles that integrate
phenomena across levels of biological organization.
4. Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) for Individual Postdoctoral
Fellows (F32)
This is the NIH omnibus postdoctoral fellowship funding opportunity announcement
supported by NIA, NIAAA, NIAID, NIAMS, NIBIB, NCI, NICHD, NIDCD, NIDCR, NIDDK,
NIDA, NIEHS, NEI, NIGMS, NHLBI, NHGRI, NIMH, NINDS, NINR, NCRR, and
ODS. The objective of this program is to provide support to promising postdoctoral
applicants who have the potential to become productive and successful independent
research investigators in scientific health-related fields relevant to the missions of the
participating NIH Institutes and Centers.
5.
The NSF Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) and the Directorate for Social,
Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) offer Minority Postdoctoral Research
Fellowships and related supporting activities in an effort to increase the participation of
underrepresented groups in selected areas of science in the U.S.
Deadline for Receipt of Fellowship Applications is the first Friday In December
For instructions and application visit:
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/stis1994/nsf94133/nsf94133.doc
NSF Cellular Systems Cluster
CONTACTS
Eve Barakebarak@nsf.gov(703) 292-7113655 S
John C. Rogersjrogers@nsf.gov(703) 292-7139655 S
Loverine Taylorltaylor@nsf.gov(703) 292-7110655 S LaJoyce
Debroldebro@nsf.gov(703) 292-7135655 S
PROGRAM GUIDELINES
Apply to PD 04-1114 as follows:
http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=12772&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&fr
om=fund
For full proposals submitted via FastLane: standard Grant Proposal Guidelines apply.
For full proposals submitted via Grants.gov: NSF Grants.gov Application Guide; A Guide
for the Preparation and Submission of NSF Applications via Grants.gov Guidelines
apply (Note: The NSF Grants.gov Application Guide is available on the Grants.gov
website and on the NSF website
at:http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/docs/grantsgovguide.pdf)
DUE DATES
Full Proposal Target Date: January 12, 2009
Other Post Doc Opportunities:
Ph-RMA Foundation
http://www.phrmafoundation.org/
European Molecular Biology Organization fellowships:
http://www.embo.org/fellowships/index.html/
Fellowships, Grants, and Awards for U.S. and International Women
Scholars
http://www.aauw.org/education/fga/fellowships_grants/index.cfm/
American Brain Tumor Association
http://www.abta.org/index.cfm?contentid=38
American Cancer Society Grant index
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/RES/RES_5_1.asp?sitearea=RES
American College of Clinical Pharmacy
http://www.accp.com/frontiers/research.php
American Institute for Cancer research
http://www.aicr.org/site/PageServer?pagename=res_ga_home
American-Scandinavian Foundation
http://www.amscan.org/pdf/AwardForScandinaviansFlyer0910.pdf
American Society for Hypertension
http://www.ash-us.org/about/awards/index.htm
Lymphoma Research Foundation
http://www.lymphoma.org/site/pp.asp?c=chKOI6PEImE&b=2267445#post
Parker B. Francis Fellowships in Pulmonary
http://www.francisfellowships.org/
Helen Hay Whitney Foundation HHWF Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
http://www.hhwf.org/HTMLSrc/ResearchFellowships.html
Human Frontier Science program
http://www.hfsp.org/
International Agency for Research on Cancer
http://www.iarc.fr/ENG/Fellowships/index.php
International Union Against Cancer
http://www.uicc.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14258&Itemid=18
1
Community of Science Funding Alert
http://www.uicc.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14258&Itemi
d=181
Life Sciences Research Foundation
http://www.lsrf.org/geninfo.htm
National Neurofibromatosis Foundation
Young Investigator Award
http://www.nf.org
National Research Council Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships
for Minorities
http://www2.nas.edu/fo
NSF; Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE)
http://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=OISE
Department of Defense
http://cdmrp.army.mil/
European Molecular Biology Organization
http://www.embo.org/research.html