Winship Postdoctoral Scholar Program

Each selected awardee of the postdoctoral scholar program will receive a named award, an engraved plaque, and an annual stipend of $5,000 (up to 3 years) as a recognition of their scholarly excellence, providing supplementary compensation beyond the NIH base salary, which is covered by their advisor. Additionally, they will be granted $2,000 for travel support to enhance their career development. Note that these funds cannot be transferred to other institutions or utilized if the awardee leaves their postdoctoral fellowship during the award period.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must have obtained their doctoral degree no more than 3 years before their intended start date, hold a postdoctoral fellow appointment at Emory University, and be sponsored by an active member of a Winship research program. If an applicant is not yet appointed at the time of the application deadline, they must submit a signed job offer letter from their PI along with their own signature before the deadline. Instructors and Staff Scientists are ineligible to apply. The selection process does not consider citizenship; international postdocs are strongly encouraged to apply. Foreign scholars may hold J-1 visas (for stipends) or H1B visas (for salary). A faculty member can sponsor one application per cycle and cannot have more than one active recipient of the Winship Postdoctoral Scholar Award concurrently.

Strong candidates will excel in research, demonstrating intellectual merit, ethical conduct, professional demeanor, and the ability to showcase research innovation and productivity (e.g., scholarly achievements, publications, presentations, inventions, performances, products, etc.), while contributing to research with significant impact on the field and/or society. Key attributes include:

• Establishing a robust scientific reputation through activities such as manuscript publications, awards, participation/presentation in educational workshops or scientific conferences, and mentorship of graduate and undergraduate students.
• Exhibiting a notable service record involving campus, professional, and/or other organizations.
• Advocating for and fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion within their research group, department, institution, community, and/or field through research, teaching, or service activities.

Excellence through Diversity

To support excellence and diversity among program applicants and awardees, proposals are encouraged from groups identified as nationally underrepresented in the sciences including women, members of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Application Process

Completed applications should be emailed as a single document to Winship Grants at winshipgrants@emory.edu no later than 11:59 pm on October 15, 2023. Please include the following with your application:

1. Cover Letter: Include your name, department, payroll title, contact information, project title, faculty mentor(s), key collaborators, and total months of postdoctoral experience.
2. Abstract (300 words maximum): Provide a lay language description of your research's purpose, approach, and project's significance. Avoid jargon and acronyms.
3. Narrative Statement (maximum 1 page, with optional figures and tables + additional 1 page of references): Present a brief statement of your proposed postdoctoral research. Format according to guidelines: 1-inch margins on all sides, 11-point or larger font (Times New Roman, Arial, Helvetica, or Verdana).
4. Faculty Sponsor Statement (500 words maximum): Describe how the applicant and their sponsor(s) will address the applicant’s individual technical and professional goals, considering the skills necessary for the desired career path. This statement should confirm the availability of sufficient financial support from the faculty sponsor to cover the applicant's research project's salary and costs.
5. Current NIH format biosketch for the postdoctoral scholar nominee (with postdoctoral appointment history, i.e. locations, dates and mentors).

Key Dates

• RFP Announcement: September 5, 2023
• Application Receipt Date: October 15, 2023
• Anticipated Start Date: January 1, 2024

Please direct any questions you have regarding this funding opportunity to winshipgrants@emory.edu.