2012 Grass Fellowship Program at Marine Biological Laboratory, USA

Purpose: With these Fellowships, The Grass Foundation encourages independent research by investigators early in their careers and increases research opportunities for persons planning careers in neurobiological investigation. Supported approaches include neurophysiology, biophysics, integrative neurobiology, neuroethology, neuroanatomy, neuropharmacology, systems neuroscience, cellular and developmental neurobiology, and computational approaches to neural systems. The Foundation also has a longstanding interest in epilepsy-related research.

Grass Fellowships at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA, support investigator-designed, independent research projects. While sharing space in the Grass Laboratory (Grass Lab), Fellows function as an intellectual and social group within the MBL community. In a weekly, private seminar series, eminent investigators at the MBL discuss their work with the Fellows. In addition, a yearly Forbes Lecturer (in 2012, Dr. Baldomero Olivera from the University of Utah) will spend a portion of the summer in the Grass Lab interacting with Fellows.

Grass Fellowships provide research support including laboratory space, animals, equipment and supplies for one summer at the MBL.  Additionally, the investigator, his/her spouse or legal domestic partner, and dependent children are provided housing, a daily meal allowance and round-trip travel to the MBL.

Eligibility: Applicants may be in the late stages of predoctoral training or postdoctoral researchers. Applicants should not combine a Grass Fellowship with writing a Ph.D. thesis. Priority is given to applicants with a demonstrated commitment to a research career and no extensive research experience at the MBL (participation in an MBL course is not considered research experience; course alumni are encouraged to apply). Applications that fall outside these guidelines may be considered; please contact the Program Coordinator. IRS regulations require that international Fellows (i.e., not US citizens or resident aliens) hold a J-1 visa for the entire duration of the fellowship. The Grass Foundation values diversity in all of its programs.

Duration: The duration of the program is 14 weeks, from 28 May to 1 September, 2012. Fellows are expected to be in residence at the MBL during the entire 14 weeks of the program (contact the Program Coordinator regarding potential exceptions).

Applications: Applications for summer 2012 must be received by 5 December 2011. Applicants must ensure that the completed application and letters of recommendation are submitted by the deadline. Decisions will be announced by 20 January 2012.

Selection: The Selection Committee, consisting of the Trustees of The Grass Foundation, judges applicants’ ability to organize and present pertinent information, the scientific merit of the proposed research and evidence of applicants’ ability to work independently. Approximately 8-10 Grass Fellowships are awarded annually. Most Fellows share space in the Grass Lab; some arrange to work in the space of another MBL investigator.

Further Scholarship Information and Application