General Information
The Morgridge Institute for Research has established a postdoctoral fellowship program directed toward developing researchers trained and dedicated to improving human health through the pursuit of excellent interdisciplinary biomedical research. We are particularly interested in supporting individuals who have strong interests in collaborative research and communicating science to society. Candidates’ research programs must have two co-Principal Investigators — one of whom is associated with the Morgridge Institute and the other with UW–Madison — who pursue distinctively different disciplines that will benefit from bridging research areas, reflecting the interdisciplinary intent of the Fellowship program.
Applicants must have a doctoral degree by the time the fellowship is activated. Recognizing the time required to develop interdisciplinary interests and expertise, both first-time postdoctoral candidates and those with previous postdoctoral appointments will be considered. International candidates are eligible, provided they have appropriate work authorization.
In addition to collaborative research, Morgridge Institute Fellows are expected to participate in seminars, career development training and public outreach; these activities are to be outlined in an Individual Development Plan written by the Fellow and the co-Investigators, upon acceptance into the program. Fellows are to produce annual reports of these activities and, at the end of their second and third years, give an oral presentation at an annual Morgridge research symposium. Training activities will be guided by the Mission and Guiding Principles of Morgridge and the Core Competencies developed by the National Postdoctoral Association.
Support can be for up to three years, subject to annual review. The level of support will be consistent with NIH career-level guidelines, based on years of experience, and includes salary and fringe benefits, and an additional $5,000 to be used for travel and supplies. Morgridge Fellows will have space allotted to them in the Discovery Building, but may also access additional space at the UW, depending on the resources of the UW–Madison Investigator.
At the time of the application applicants must identify both Investigators and have their support and agreement to participate. UW–Madison faculty eligible to act as co-Investigators in the Fellows Program includes any faculty member eligible to be an academic advisor and mentor for graduate students and postdoctoral trainees. Morgridge Institute Investigators interested in applying for a fellowship on a new project before candidates are identified should contact the program manager.
Required Sections
A. Basic Data
Please provide a table with the following information:
| Name | Last, First, and Middle Initial |
| Preferred Pronouns | |
| Degree(s) Earned | Please include date(s) earned and institution name(s) |
| Current Position | Include title, institution, school/college, and department |
| Current Address | |
| Telephone Number | |
| Email Address | |
| Citizenship | If not a US citizen, please provide your current US visa status. |
B. References
Please provide two professional references other than the proposed co-Principal Investigators. We may contact these individuals to discuss your research potential. Letters from these individuals are not required. Please include the following information for each reference:
- Full Name
- Institution and Title
- Telephone Number
- Email Address
- Person’s Relationship to You
C. Candidate Curriculum Vitae
Please include a copy of your current CV.
D. Candidate Statement (3 pages maximum, 12pt. font)
Describe the research that you propose to do as a Morgridge Fellow, including the laboratories where the work will be done.
Describe your scientific history and your experience and/or interest in science communication.
Describe your career goals and how you envision your experiences as a Morgridge Fellow will help you achieve these goals, specifically in the areas of conducting excellent research, developing collaboration skills, and communicating science.
E. Co-Investigator Letters of Support and Commitment (1-2 pages each)
Each PI should submit a letter that includes the following:
- How support for the candidate will fulfill the program’s goal of bridging research across disciplines
- Training and career development activities the candidate will have access to such as scientific meetings, seminars, etc. (Other than those planned as part of the Morgridge Fellows Program)
- The PI’s commitment and experience as a research and career mentor
- How the applicant’s proposed research fits into the PI’s research program and expertise
- FOR MORGRIDGE INVESTIGATORS ONLY: In a brief paragraph, include your plans for alternative research to be conducted by this postdoctoral trainee if the primary research project described in this application does not go forward due to unavailable data, change in collaborator status, “negative results,” or other reasons.”
F. Suggested Reviewers
If possible, and to facilitate review of the proposed work, we ask that co-Investigators provide 2-3 reviewers for the proposed project. Ideally, reviewers are part of the UW–Madison scientific community. Reviewers do not need to be fully “arm’s length” – it is okay to suggest current collaborators, though they should not be a direct collaborator on the proposed work.
G. NIH Biosketches for Each Co-Investigator
Please submit a current NIH Biosketch for each proposed Investigator.
Submission Instructions
Complete and submit all sections of your application in a single PDF document with the filename “Lastname-MIRFellow-YEAR-App.pdf” to wmarner@morgridge.org.
Questions?
Additional information about the Morgridge Postdoctoral Fellowship program, including answers to Frequently Asked Questions, is available online.
If you have questions about the program or about the application process, please contact:
Wes Marner, Educational Programs Manager
wmarner@morgridge.org
(608) 316-4716