Postdoctoral Research Fellowships UC MEXUS – CONACYT

Postdoctoral Research Fellowships UC MEXUS – CONACYT

University of California Institute for Mexico and the United States

Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
for Recent Mexican Ph.D.s at University of California Campuses
and for Recent UC Ph.D.s at Mexican Institutions
2008-2009

Deadline for Receipt of Proposals: March 10, 2008

A program established under the 1997 UC-CONACYT Agreement of Cooperation in Higher Education and Research

The University of California Institute for Mexico and the United States (UC MEXUS) and Mexico’s National Council for Science and Technology (CONACYT) are pleased to announce a joint program to support postdoctoral researchers at the University of California or at Mexican institutions of higher education or research.

The primary objective of this program is to advance academic scholarship by emerging Mexican researchers and UC scientists and scholars in the early stages of their careers, after obtaining their Ph.D. In addition, the program seeks to support existing or developing binational academic networks by enhancing collaborative research projects between UC and Mexican faculty and institutions through the innovative involvement and training of new researchers.

In keeping with these goals, postdoctoral applicants will be considered who will be actively participating in a research project or training program at the host UC campus or Mexican institution, with an emphasis on using the stay to advance their own academic and professional development as well as to solidify future binational research ties and networks. Applicants are encouraged to connect their proposed stays with projects submitted to the UC MEXUS-CONACYT Collaborative Grants Program competition. The program also seeks to support projects that include matching funds, either from the host campus or institution or from other funding sources.

Dependent on the pool of applicants, reviewer recommendations, and available funding, up to 18 fellowships are offered with a preferred even division between Mexican and UC postdoctoral researchers. Fellowships for Mexican postdoctoral researchers support training and research with a UC host faculty member in the natural, physical or social sciences, humanities, engineering, or computer science. Fellowships provide up to $34,000 for up to a 12-month period at any UC campus, research center, institute or laboratory.

Fellowships for UC postdoctoral scholars support training and research at a Mexican institution of higher education and/or research in the natural, physical or social sciences, humanities, engineering, or computer science. UC postdoctoral scholars conducting their postdoctoral stays in Mexico will receive up to $34,000 for up to a 12-month period.

UC MEXUS does not provide funding for health insurance, benefits, and required University contributions. CONACYT will provide support towards their portion of the cost of the postdoctoral scholar’s medical, dental, and vision premiums based on marital and dependent status and CONACYT maximum allowable guidelines. UC host departments are responsible for their portion of the Mexican postdoctoral scholar’s health insurance and benefits. Please see UC Academic Personnel Manual guidelines regarding the appointment of postdoctoral scholars at the University of California, and responsibility for the payment of health insurance and benefits.

Postdoctoral scholars may begin their residencies no earlier than September 1, 2008. They must begin their postdoctoral stay within 90 days of their originally proposed starting date and complete their stay no later than within 12 months or less from that date. This program does not allow fellowships to be deferred to a subsequent academic year if the residency cannot be completed within this timeline, and successful applicants may not apply for a second year of funding.

The postdoctoral fellowship is a full-time commitment at the host institution. Activities for all candidates should include scientific and academic development at the postdoctoral level, with the purpose of providing unique expertise for the applicant, increasing knowledge and access to new techniques and methodologies for the applicant’s future home institution, and/or to initiate a long-term program of research and collaboration between Mexican institutions and the University of California. Teaching and student assistance may be included, if appropriate for increasing academic ties, but the focus of the postdoctoral stay should be based on participation in a research project or program.

Eligibility
The applicant must earn their Ph.D. by April 4, 2008 in order to be eligible to apply for the postdoctoral fellowship. Applicants already holding the Ph.D. must have received their doctoral degree within two years prior to the publication of this Call. Mexican citizens who recently received a doctorate from a Mexican university program recognized by CONACYT may apply only for residencies at a UC campus and must be hosted by eligible UC faculty or researchers. (UC faculty or researchers may find the criteria for eligibility under the UC Policy for Eligibility to Submit Proposals.) Mexican citizens who received their doctorate outside of Mexico are not eligible. UC doctoral graduates may apply only for residencies at Mexican research institutions and must be hosted by a Mexican faculty member or researcher who holds a full-time academic/research appointment in a Mexican institution of higher education and/or research. (Mexican students previously supported by UC MEXUS-CONACYT under the cost-sharing program are not eligible for this program.)

Applications are particularly sought for residencies at Mexico’s state universities, research institutes or centers located outside of Mexico City that are registered in the National Register of Institutions and Scientific and Technological Institutes (RENIECYT). Applicants may connect their fellowships to projects submitted to the UC MEXUS-CONACYT Collaborative Grants competition. However, the fellowship proposal must be unique to this program and applicant, i.e., it may not be a copy of any proposal submitted to the collaborative grants program or by other fellowship applicants connected to the same research group.

UC and Mexican hosts should provide evidence of their responsibility in ensuring that they will integrate the postdoctoral scholars into the academic community by facilitating their participation in research, instruction, and contact with other researchers, faculty and students. They should indicate that their departments will provide the postdoctoral scholars access to appropriate research facilities, office space, equipment and communications, and additional funding for the payment of health insurance and benefits not covered by CONACYT. Applications that include several sources of support apart from UC MEXUS-CONACYT are particularly encouraged.

Conditions of Award of Fellowship
UC MEXUS-CONACYT postdoctoral researchers are expected to participate in a faculty-directed research project or to advance their own professional training under faculty supervision. The fellow must be affiliated with the host institution during the entire tenure of the fellowship. It is expected that during their tenure, postdoctoral scholars may be requested to participate in seminars, conferences and educational activities organized by UC MEXUS-CONACYT as part of this program.

Each fellowship is expected to result in the completion of the proposed work within the project period, and a final narrative report of activities must be submitted jointly by the fellow and host faculty member. Failure to do so will prevent the recipient from receiving additional awards from UC MEXUS-CONACYT programs. The support of UC MEXUS and CONACYT shall be acknowledged in proposals, publications, conference materials, exhibitions, videotapes, or other products of the grant. A copy of each such product must be provided to UC MEXUS as the Office of Record for the UC MEXUS-CONACYT postdoctoral fellowship program.

Submission of Applications
Eligible Mexican or UC postdoctoral candidates must submit their applications using the electronic submission site, which will be open for submission starting November 12, 2007. The items required in a complete application set are listed below. Each of the items must be completed in order to submit the entire application on line. Each applicant is responsible for securing all appropriate approvals and signatures prior to the submission of their application.

In addition, three sets of one complete proposal packet (original plus two copies) with all required items must be submitted to UC MEXUS by March 21, 2008 for the application to be considered complete. (Please note the caution regarding Semana Santa on page E-5 ).

The proposal packet must include hard copies of all files uploaded to the electronic submission site. The following items are required as part of the proposal packet, for both the online submission and the three hard copies sent to UC MEXUS:

Online application cover sheet with an abstract in English and Spanish. (The application cover sheet is available at the online submission site. Applicants must create an online account in order to access the cover sheet.)
Curriculum vitae of applicant (not to exceed five pages), including educational achievements, academic positions and/or awards, a list of publications and current works in progress.
Abbreviated curriculum vitae of faculty host (and co-host if applicable) including publications and research interests in the last five years and indication of ability to direct postdoctoral research (not to exceed five pages).
Letter of intent from the faculty host (and co-host if applicable) indicating research responsibility and support. The letter of intent should provide evidence of the host’s familiarity with the applicant’s project plan, indicate host support for the proposed activities, and discuss the potential benefit of the stay to the scholar and host institution (not to exceed 2 pages).
Project plan for work to be undertaken (not to exceed 5 pages). Provide a summary of not more than five pages in English or Spanish, describing the proposed research and the specific goals and objectives of the work to be undertaken. Applicants should include a timeline and address the significance of the proposed research within the discipline. They should also discuss the work to be performed, plans for continuation of the research, as well as the potential impact of the proposed research on the professional and academic development of the applicant. The project plan should include a discussion of the methodology and relevant literature as well as any disciplinary, interdisciplinary and international collaborative approaches.
Please note that UC MEXUS and CONACYT look favorably upon host involvement and commitment to the postdoctoral applicant’s proposed activities. However, postdoctoral proposals must be original projects formulated by the applicant.
Official letter of invitation to a UC department, laboratory, research center, or institute or into a Mexican institution of higher education and/or research registered in the National Register of Institutions and Scientific and Technological Institutes (RENIECYT). This letter serves as an official authorization from the department or research institute where the postdoctoral candidate will be conducting his or her stay. It must be written by the department chair or by the director of the research institute hosting the candidate’s residency. Letters of invitation for Mexican postdoctoral candidates should also indicate the UC department’s acknowledgement of their portion of financial responsibility for the fellow’s health insurance and benefits. (See E-2 for more information.)
If applicable, official evidence that the postdoctoral candidate belongs to the Sistema Nacional de Investigadores (SNI) of Mexico with the applicant’s registration number.
Certification of completion of the Ph.D. degree from a Mexican university or institution of higher education or from a UC graduate program. If the candidate has not yet completed the doctoral degree, he or she must submit a letter from their dissertation advisor indicating that the Ph.D. will be completed by April 4, 2008. The applicant must submit evidence of the successful completion of the Ph.D. to UC MEXUS by April 4, 2008, no later than 5:00p.m.
Supporting letters that must be uploaded and sent separately include:

Two letters of reference in English or Spanish addressing the applicant’s research accomplishments and ability to undertake a postdoctoral research program. One letter preferably should be from the applicant’s dissertation adviser. Information regarding uploading letters separately will be provided on the electronic application site. Applicants must provide this information to those individuals who will be providing letter. Letters should be addressed to the UC MEXUS-CONACYT Review Committee and, after being uploaded to the electronic submission site, they should be sent directly to UC MEXUS at the address below.
Within 10 working days following the electronic submission deadline of March 10, 2008, send three hard copies (original plus two copies) of a complete application set with all required materials listed above in one package to the following address:

UC MEXUS – Postdoctoral Fellowships Program
3324 Olmsted Hall
University of California
Riverside, CA 92521 USA
Attn: Dr. Wendy DeBoer; tel: (951) 827-7339
Deadline for receipt of applications
To be considered, proposals must be submitted to the electronic site not later than 5:00 p.m. Monday, March 10, 2008, and the three hard copies of the complete proposal packet must be received by March 21, 2008. Hard copies of proposals not previously submitted electronically will not be accepted, nor will late submissions, faxes, e-mail attachments, incomplete, or subsequently revised proposals. The copies sent to UC MEXUS must match the text and information submitted in the online version of the proposal. Hard copies that do not match materials submitted electronically will not be included for review.

Please keep in mind that the week of March 17-21 is Semana Santa (Easter week), and most Mexican institutions will be closed. However, UC MEXUS will be open during this time, and the final date for receipt of the hard copies is March 21, 2008, without exception. The proposal will not be entered into the competition unless the hard copies are received. We strongly suggest that applicants get the required institutional signatures well before the proposal is submitted electronically.

Review
UC MEXUS and CONACYT are committed to the principles of peer review and parity in the review and selection processes. Each proposal will be reviewed, evaluated, and rated by a committee of faculty members and/or researchers from Mexican and UC institutions representing expertise in relevant topics. Proposals should be written for a committee of broadly based expertise and interests. Appropriate bibliographies and supporting documents should be provided.

In addition to standard review criteria such as clarity, quality, and feasibility of the proposed work during the fellowship period, reviewers will consider the qualifications of the applicant, the potential for the establishment of long-term collaborative activities with the host campus or institution, the relevance of the proposed work to the UC CONACYT program and its significance for society and for the advancement of science and scholarship. Reviewers will look for project design that leads to development of research programs and resources in UC or Mexican institutions.

UC MEXUS and CONACYT provide no pre-review of proposals, and reviewer comments on individual proposals are not provided following the competition and final decisions.

It is strongly recommended that applicants review the proposals writing suggestions and the frequently asked questions (FAQ’s) for this program.

Online Fellowship Proposal Submission:
Before submitting your proposal online, please read the description and instructions on this page. Also, read the Uploading Requirement and Instructions.

Submit your proposal online.

For additional information contact:
Wendy DeBoer, Ph.D.
Director of International Academic Programs, UC MEXUS
tel: (951) 827-7339; e-mail: wendy.deboer@ucr.edu
or
Dra. Maria Cristina Revilla Monsalve
Directora, Direccion de Investigación Científica Básica, CONACYT
Tel: 5322-7790 ext. 6100; e-mail: mrevilla@conacyt.mx
UC MEXUS Universitywide Headquarters
3324 Olmsted Hall • University of California
Riverside, CA 92521-0147, USA
Tel: (951) 827-3519 Fax: (951) 827-3856 Email: ucmexus@ucr.edu

Más información en: http://www.ucmexus.ucr.edu/funding/08cnpostdoc.html