Our Community

We are pleased to announce the third annual Rising Stars Symposium at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. This symposium is intended to recognize the accomplishments of outstanding postdoctoral trainees in the scientific workforce and develop novel opportunities for faculty recruitment at the Institute.

The dates for the symposium are May 13-14, 2026.

During the symposium at the Salk Institute, selected candidates will have the opportunity to participate in the following:

• Present their novel research in a symposium setting and interact with other trainees and colleagues who are at the forefront of their respective fields.
• Network with Salk faculty one-on-one and be paired with a Salk faculty member for mentorship following the symposium.
• Learn about the Institute, expose them to the ongoing developments at Salk, and inform them of upcoming faculty recruitment opportunities.

Travel costs and lodging accommodations associated with attending the symposium will be covered by the Salk Institute.

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to current postdoctoral researchers who are at least 1-2 years from entering the job market. Trainees of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

The application requires the following:

• CV
• Project abstract (250 words)
• Career goals (250 words)
• Community commitment statement (250 words)
• Letter of support from postdoctoral advisor (1 page)

Application

The application deadline to be considered for the Rising Stars Symposium is December 15, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Postdoctoral trainees are welcome to apply with or without a nomination. Following the application deadline, the candidate’s postdoctoral advisor will be contacted and asked to submit a 1-page letter of recommendation by Friday, January 16, 2026. A link to upload the letter will be sent to the advisor’s email provided in the application form.

Application opens October 1, 2025

Nomination

If you are a Principal Investigator and would like to nominate a postdoctoral trainee, please email community@salk.edu. Send us their name, contact information, and a brief statement (4-5 sentences) about their current work and potential as an independent investigator. Include details about how the trainee would benefit from the Rising Stars Symposium which is focused on developing novel opportunities and relationships to enhance Salk research.

Contact Us

If you have any application questions, please contact us at community@salk.edu.