Postdoc Circle Funding
UMPDA sponsored Postdoc Circles are eligible to receive reimbursement for events related to their activities. For more information about how to request reimbursements, and other postdoc circle SOPs, click here.
Conference Award
The University of Michigan Postdoctoral Association (UMPDA) provides awards of up to $250/each or $500/each to support Postdoctoral Fellows wishing to attend conferences virtually or in-person, respectively.
Awards are granted twice a year in accordance with the University’s fiscal year. Cycle 1 is for conferences held between July 1st and December 31st. Cycle 2 is for conferences held between January 1st and June 30th.
The application period for awards typically opens about one month before the beginning of each cycle (i.e. in June for Cycle 1, in December for Cycle 2) and closes at the end of July or January, respectively, but exact dates may vary.
How to Apply
- Apply here
- Once you click on the link you will be asked to submit information. Please, prepare the following:
- Information about the conference (dates, website, etc.)
- Estimated budget for participating in the conference
- If presenting, you will be required to upload a copy of your abstract
- A short paragraph (200 words max.) explaining how this award will benefit your development as a Postdoctoral Fellow
Eligibility
- Current Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Michigan at time of application and at the time of the meeting/conference.
Factors Affecting Decision
- Presentation: Due to limited resources, oral presentations will receive the highest priority, followed by poster presentations, and, lastly, applicants who will not be presenting​
- New awardees: Participants who have not received UMPDA or Medical School (OGPS) Postdoc Conference Awards in the past will have first priority
- Previous attendance at meetings: Priority will be given to Postdoctoral Fellows who have not attended a meeting/conference in the past 12 months or only few meetings throughout their postdoc
- Other sources of funding: Because this is a need-based award, priority will be given to applicants with fewer sources of conference support
- School/College and Department: Units that have not received UMPDA conference awards in the current year will receive higher priority
Award Receipt
- Following review, the UMPDA Travel Award Committee will contact the selected applicants.
- Any award winners who indicated that they will be presenting at the meeting/conference will be required to submit confirmation of abstract acceptance to maintain eligibility.
- Funds will be disbursed through reimbursement following meeting/conference travel.
- Awardees are responsible for submitting all required materials in order to be reimbursed, failure to do so within 90 days of event forfeits funds.
Questions?
- Please contact the UMPDA Travel Award Committee (UMPDATravelAwardCommittee@umich.edu).
Professional Development Award
We recognize the value and importance of participating in annual conferences and meetings, but also the real need for financial support to pursue other activities that aid postdocs to widen their professional realm. The UMPDA provides awards of up to $250/each to support Postdoctoral Research Fellow career development through professional learning, training, and membership opportunities.
Due to capacity limitations, the Professional Development Award is currently only available for activities between January and June of each year. Applications are open in January/February. Exact dates may vary.
Eligibility
- Must be a current Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Michigan at time of application and at the time of the professional development activity
- Awarded funds may only be used for approved professional development activities
- Activities funded in the past include professional society memberships, software licenses, technique workshops, faculty application coaching, etc.
Application
Apply here!
To complete the application, please prepare the following:
- Information about the professional development costs & specifics (dates, website, etc)
- Other sources of professional development funding
- A general list of other professional development activities/costs in the past year
- A short paragraph (200 words max) explaining how this professional development activity/cost will benefit your development as a Postdoctoral Fellow
Factors Affecting Decision
- Previous attendance or access to professional development activities: Priority will be given to Postdoctoral Fellows who participated in fewer professional development activities (outside of conferences) in the past 12 months. Higher consideration will also be given to postdocs who have paid out of pocket to participate in professional development activities.
- Other sources of funding: Because this is a need-based award, priority will be given to applicants with fewer sources of professional development support
- School/College and Department: Units that have not received UMPDA awards in the current year will receive higher priority
- New awardees: Participants who have not received UMPDA or Medical School (OGPS) Professional Development Awards in the past will have higher priority.
Award Receipt
- Following review, the UMPDA Postdoctoral Affairs Committee will contact the selected applicants
- Award winners will need to confirm award acceptance and receive their funds through reimbursement after submitting receipts.
- Awardees are responsible for submitting all required materials in order to be reimbursed, failure to do so within 90 days of event forfeits funds.
Questions?
Please contact the UMPDA Postdoctoral Affairs Committee umpda-pdaffairs@umich.edu
Outstanding Postdoctoral Fellow Award
The University of Michigan Outstanding Postdoctoral Fellow Award is designed to recognize outstanding postdoctoral fellows who have demonstrated a breadth of excellence among research, mentorship, teaching, leadership, and service. Three postdoctoral fellows are awarded $1,000 (post-tax) and honored during National Postdoc Appreciation Week.
The awards are administered by the UMPDA with support from Rackham Graduate School and the University of Michigan Medical School Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (OGPS). Funding for the award is provided by the University of Michigan Office of Research (UMOR), Rackham Graduate School and the University of Michigan Medical School OGPS.
Eligibility
- Applicants must have completed at least six months of service at U-M as a postdoctoral fellow by the award deadline to be eligible for the award.
- Applicants must be currently affiliated with U-M as a postdoctoral fellow at the time of the award (appointments through November 1, 2023).
- While applicants may be involved with patients (for research purposes), their primary pursuit must be additional training, not service such as a clinical fellowship.
- The award is open to domestic and international postdoctoral fellows.
- Postdoctoral fellows who have previously been awarded the Outstanding Postdoctoral Fellow Award are not eligible for a second award.
Application
To complete the application, please prepare the following:
- A brief description of your research
- A Statement of Purpose (1,000 words max) describing your achievements from the following categories: Research, Mentoring and Teaching, Professional Leadership and Service, Community Service and Outreach.
- A Curriculum Vitae (3 pages max) documenting your achievements and contributions in each area of excellence identified above
- A letter of recommendation submitted by your postdoctoral advisor, mentor, PI, or another community leader of your choosing at University of Michigan.
Review Process
- A review committee of postdoctoral fellow peers and previous awardees will make the award selection based on established criteria.
- The review committee is looking for multi-dimensional candidates. Therefore, equal weight will be given to all areas described in the review guidelines (research, mentoring and teaching, professional leadership and service, and community service and outreach).
- Awardees will be notified during the summer months and will be recognized at a lunch during Postdoc Appreciation Week in September.
Selection Criteria
Nominees are expected to demonstrate excellence in the following areas (as applicable):
- Research
- Mentoring and Teaching
- Professional Leadership and Service
- Community Service and Outreach
Nominees will be evaluated on the significance of their contributions. Examples include:
- Peer reviewed publication, such as in a top tier journal
- Grant submission
- Securing funding
- Fellowships and other awards
- Patents
- Editorial and peer review experience
- Volunteer experience
- Service associated with professional organizations
- Teaching experience at the college level and/or K-12
- Exemplary mentoring of graduate and/or undergraduate students
Reviewers will be encouraged to recognize outstanding achievements in a variety of disciplinary areas.
Find all information and the application guidelines here: http://www.rackham.umich.edu/postdoctoral/outstanding-postdoctoral-fellow-award
Questions?
Please contact the UMPDA OPFAapplications@umich.edu
Other Funding Information
Postdoctoral Funding searchable database, maintained and updated by Johns Hopkins
Postdoc Funding Opportunities, collated by the Physiology Department