FUNDING MEMO

Title: Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship

Funding Agency: Caltech; The Kavli Foundation

External Deadline(s):

01/12/2024 01:00 PM PST (Full Proposal)

Cognizant Office: Strategy Implementation

Description:

In 2016, the Presidential Postdoctoral Fellows Program (PPFP) was established at Caltech to increase the number of historically underrepresented minority faculty in STEM fields by providing support for a more diverse and inclusive postdoctoral community. Fellows receive stipends, mentoring, and services that build community and foster professional development. The Presidential Postdoctoral Fellows program builds and expands on the highly successful California Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP). In 2023, with support from The Kavli Foundation, Caltech established the Kavli-Caltech Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship. Embedded within the broader PPFP, this fellowship provides full salary support for fellows working in nanoscience with faculty affiliates of the Kavli Nanoscience Institute.

Frequency: Typically offered multiple times per year

Total Award: $90,000 to $180,000

• Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship: Fellows will receive up to $90,000 in funding ($45,000/year for two years) for salary and benefits. Remaining funding will be provided by a combination of advisor support and/or external fellowship. Fellows who receive external fellowships covering their full salary and benefits will be provided with $5,000 for research and relocation allowance. Health insurance benefits will be covered if not provided for by an external fellowship.
• Kavli-Caltech Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship: Fellows will receive $180,000 in funding ($90,000/year for two years) to cover salary and benefits.

Indirect Costs:

N/A

Duration: 2 years

Discipline(s): Biology and Biological Engineering; Chemistry and Chemical Engineering; Engineering and Applied Science; Geological and Planetary Sciences; Humanities and Social Sciences; Physics, Mathematics, and Astronomy

Eligibility: Postdoc

• PPFP applications are invited twice yearly (January and July). For the January 2024 cycle, the following applicants are eligible:
  • Postdocs yet to start their position at Caltech/JPL, whether or not they have conferred about a position with a faculty member (please see guidelines for Open Call and Specific Position applications, below).
  • Postdocs who started at Caltech/JPL on or after July 2023.
  • Generally, postdocs already at Caltech may apply to PPFP only in the first available cycle after their arrival. However, postdocs who started their positions at Caltech/JPL on or after January 2023 who have a strong track record pursuing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility initiatives,  on or off campus, during their postdoctoral tenure can apply for the second deadline after their arrival on campus.
• This fellowship aims to support a diverse and inclusive postdoctoral community at Caltech. Applicants with diverse perspective and backgrounds are encouraged to apply, but applicants of any background are eligible. Applicants are encouraged to speak about their backgrounds and lived experiences in their Statement of Purpose and describe their contributions to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in their Contributions to Inclusion and Diversity Statement. For any questions about eligibility or statement writing, please contact [email protected].

Research Areas of Interest:

• Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship: All disciplines.
• Kavli-Caltech Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship: Nanoscience.

Post-Award Obligations:

TBD

Guidelines & Other Information:

Overview: https://ppfp.caltech.edu/

Application and Eligibility: https://ppfp.caltech.edu/application-and-eligibility

Pre-Proposal Requirements:

Interested applicants can apply to the Presidential Postdoc Fellowship in one of two ways:

Open Call - For applicants interested in completing a postdoc at Caltech, but who have not yet been offered a position in a Caltech research group. These applicants need not have had previous contact with a Caltech faculty member. Funding may be available to allow Open Call finalists to visit Caltech and potential research groups before committing to a position. Application requirements specific this type of application are indicated with an (OC) below.

Specific Position - For applicants who have been in contact with a Caltech faculty member who has offered the applicant a position in their research group, irrespective of whether the offer is contingent on receiving the PPFP fellowship. Application requirements specific to this type of application are indicated with a (SP) below.

Please submit, to [email protected], all of the following documents:

• Statement of Purpose (1-2 pages) - please introduce yourself to the review committee, share any relevant experience and discuss why you are interested in a postdoc position at Caltech. If you have external funding for your postdoc, please indicate it in your statement. This will not factor into the decision of who receives a Presidential Postdoc fellowship. (OC) Please include the names of 2 - 4 faculty members at Caltech you would most like to to work with during your postdoc, and why.
• CV
• 3 letters of recommendation sent directly from the letter writer.
  • 1 letter can be from someone who can speak to your previous work related to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. This person does not need to be a faculty member or someone in academia.
  • (SP) 1 should be from your future Caltech advisor.
    • Instructions for Caltech Advisor - The recommendation letter should address why this fellowship applicant was offered a position in your research group, their research plan and how you foster an inclusive environment in your research group.
• Research Statement (1-2 pages) - discuss your proposed research at Caltech.
• Contributions to Inclusion and Diversity Statement (1-2 pages) - the statement should address how you might support Caltech's commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity and accessibility during your time on campus. You are encouraged to discuss any previous work in this area and to provide specific examples. Supporting information and evidence can be included as an appendix which does not count towards the page count. How will my statements be evaluated?

Opportunity ID: 1765