Selection Criteria
Salk Fellows will often come directly from a PhD or MD program. The Fellows will be selected from a variety of disciplines ranging from biology to physics, mathematics to engineering, statistics to computational biology and will have expertise in a wide range of novel technologies. Successful candidates will propose research that is not simply an extension of their graduate work but builds on their previous expertise in unique and interesting ways. The work should be exciting and have a combination of originality and risk, two factors that often lower the chances of obtaining support through traditional channels.
Selection Process
Openings will be posted at http://www.salk.edu/careers/ and in scientific publications. Application instructions will be included with each posting. Fellows will be chosen by a faculty committee with broad scientific expertise and may include scientists from surrounding institutions. Select candidates will be invited to give a seminar and interview with Salk's faculty and committee members.
Appointment Terms
Salk Fellows will be independent group leaders of postdoctoral fellows, research technicians and undergraduate students. The Fellows will be appointed for an initial period of three years, which may be followed by a two-year extension subject to a positive performance review. The maximum total appointment period for Salk Fellows is five years. Salk Fellows are expected to leave the Salk Institute at the end of their terms and seek independent positions in other scientific establishments.
Institutional Resources
Fellows are given the space, financial resources and support needed to be independent group leaders and researchers. Fellows will be encouraged to apply for limited external funding since successful grant writing is a critical skill for an independent group leader and it increases the Fellow's competitiveness for faculty positions.
Mentoring and Career Development
A Salk faculty member will meet with the Fellow every six weeks for one-on-one discussions. In addition, the Fellow will have a mentoring committee that will meet annually to discuss the Salk Fellow's goals, progress, lab management and future research and career plans. A summary of the committee's observations and recommendations will be discussed with the Salk Fellow and a report sent to the President of Salk or his/her designee.
Faculty Contacts
For further information, please contact Inder Verma verma@salk.edu, Fred Gage gage@salk.edu or Ron Evans evans@salk.edu.
