KU Center for Genomics Postdoctoral Fellowship

• Conduct cutting edge research in genomics with Center-affiliated faculty, present research at conferences, and publish findings.
• Apply for additional external funding (NIH NRSA, NSF Postdoc, private foundations).
• Present research during our postdoctoral seminar series.
• Write an annual progress report.
• Help plan the annual symposium.
• Participate in Center activities.

• Applications will go live Nov. 1 each year 
• Applications will be due Feb. 1 the following year
• Applications will be reviewed by either
  • the advisory committee or an ad hoc committee
  • Each candidate will be assessed in terms of
    • preparation,
    • proposed project,
    • ability to span disciplines
    • likelihood of improving the genomics community at KU (including DEI and outreach efforts)
    • Preference will be given to candidates not currently at KU (as a graduate student or postdoc) unless the project is a significant departure from prior work
• The committee will narrow applications to five top candidates and ask for references within one week of the deadline. References will be given two weeks to provide letters.
• Candidates will be interviewed via Zoom. They will give a brief (30 minute) research talk followed by an overview of their proposed research. All Center members will be encouraged to attend.
• The committee will then rank the top five candidates, noting if any are considered inviable. The top candidate should be notified as close to March 15 as possible and will be given two weeks to accept or decline the offer. If possible, we will arrange a visit to campus during that time. If the top candidate declines, we will move down the list accordingly.

Applicants should submit the following by Feb. 1, 2024:

1. Online Application: Posting available in November
2. Cover letter (2 page maximum) clearly stating the following:
   1. Brief overview of your PhD work:This should be elevator-pitch level – just a few sentences.
   2. Research plans during your fellowship: these do not need to be part of a faculty member’s current research project but should be closely enough related that mentors can provide meaningful feedback. The plan should be innovative and promise to result in important findings, but also should be appropriate scope for a postdoctoral position.
   3. Career plans after your postdoc position: Are you planning on a position in industry, academia (primarily teaching or research)? What is your level of certainty about this plan? Why does the Center for Genomics Postdoctoral Fellowship help you achieve these goals? There is no correct answer here, we just want to know how you are thinking about this.
   4. Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging: How does diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging enhance the scientific enterprise? In what ways have you worked to enhance DEIB efforts as a PhD student? What sorts of things would you propose as a postdoc? There are several DEIB efforts on campus already. Feel free to discuss how you might fit into some of those efforts (start with the Office for Diversity in Science Training).
   5. A clear description of how your proposed work aligns with specific center member research interests. We strongly recommend that you contact the faculty member/mentor to work out potential details in advance of application materials being submitted. For complete faculty members/mentors information in the Center for Genomics, go to https://genomics.ku.edu/
3. CV
4. Contact information for three letter writers (these should be people who know your academic work: adviser, committee members, department faculty, senior colleagues).