The UCSF Postdoc Travel Award, launched in 2018, was created specifically to help UCSF postdocs launch careers as independent investigators and further their professional career development.
Parameters
- The goal of this award is to fund travel to attend a conference, workshop, or professional development event in support of a postdoc's independent research project and career.
- The award is intended to support a postdoc in gaining research independence. The postdoc applicant can request support related to research in any scientific field that is different from their PI's research work.
- The goal of the travel should be either:
- To present work from a research project that is distinct from the primary research project being led by your PI serving as the key investigator, OR
- To gain access to a specific network of scientific researchers in the field of your independent work, or to gain specific skills that will further enhance your likelihood of independent research success and recognition. This work can be in an ongoing or new research area provided that it is different from your PI's work, and is spotlighting your individual discoveries.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be appointed in a UCSF postdoc title code at time of application and time of travel
- Conference-related travel can be domestic or international and should not be combined with personal leave unless advance approval is given
- Open to all UCSF postdocs regardless of U.S. residency or citizenship status
- Postdocs are eligible for only one award during their tenure at UCSF
- Travel must serve the goal of helping to establish or further the applicant’s research independence
- The 2025 application is open through Friday, July 18.
Application Procedure
Applications for the 2025 UCSF Postdoc Travel Award are being accepted through Friday, July 18, 11:59 p.m. PDT.
In addition to basic information about you and the conference or workshop you plan to attend, the application requires you to upload your most recent CV, and to answer two essay prompts. Please use language directed toward an educated and non-specialist audience, and avoid field-specific jargon. Applicants will need to answer the following essay prompts:
In language suitable for an educated, non-specialist audience, briefly:
- Summarize your PI's research program (1-2 paragraphs) and then describe how your research goals differ from those of your PI and how this travel will support your independent research (3-4 paragraphs). Maximum 4,300 characters (including spaces), which is approximately 600 words.
- In 3 paragraphs or less, describe the conference/workshop you propose to attend; identify your goals for participating; summarize your strategy to achieve the identified goals and how you plan to assess if you have met them; and describe how these goals will ultimately support you as a future independent investigator. Maximum 4,300 characters (including spaces), which is approximately 600 words.
apply for the ucsf postdoc travel award
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