Career Awards at the Scientific Interface

I’m a U.S. temporary resident. Am I eligible for the award?

Possibly. If you are a temporary U.S. resident and you hold a valid U.S. visa that allows you to remain in the U.S. during the postdoctoral period of the grant, you are eligible. If a grant is awarded and your visa does not allow for such a stay, BWF may terminate the grant. BWF will not intercede on behalf of non-citizens whose stay in the U.S. may be limited by their visa status. If you have questions about this, you must contact BWF prior to submission to determine your eligibility. In addition, your institution may only nominate one temporary resident per year. There is a form that must be printed, completed by the nominating institution's grants office, and sent in hard copy form to BWF to verify your nomination and visa status. This form is called the Institutional Nomination Form and can be found on this web site and on proposalCENTRAL in the "Download Templates and Instructions" section or in the "Research Plan and Other Attachments" section. 

I am a postdoc at an independent research institute. Am I eligible for a career award?

Possibly. You must be nominated by a degree-granting institution, so you must apply through a university affiliated with your research institute. Also, if you receive an award, the university affiliated with the research institute must agree to administer the award. With the exception of the National Institutes of Health, nominations will not be accepted from federal facilities or research institutes that are not affiliated with a degree-granting institution. This policy is non-negotiable.

My title is instructor, or research associate, non-tenure track. Am I eligible for the award?

Possibly. If you have 48 months or less of postdoctoral experience, including your time as an instructor or research associate, non-tenure track, you may be eligible. BWF will need to look at your C.V. to make a final determination.

What if I am planning to start a faculty position in the fall after the application deadline and before the interview?

This award cannot be made to a faculty member, because it is a transition award. If you are planning to start a faculty position before the award begins you are not eligible to apply.

My work experience since receiving my Ph.D. exceeds the 48-month limit. However, my work has not always been as a postdoc. At present, I am working in a postdoctoral position. Am I eligible?

If your entire work experience since receiving your Ph.D. has been in any scientific field and exceeds 48 months, you would not be elibigle. However, if part of your work experience was not in a science field, and your scientific work experience doesn’t exceed 48 months, you may be eligible. BWF will need to look at your C.V. to make a final determination.

My Ph.D. is in biochemistry/biophysics/biology/cell biology/etc. Am I eligible?

Possibly. The Career Awards at the Scientific Interface program is designed to support those working in biology with backgrounds in the physical/mathematical/computational sciences. If you can show evidence of significant accomplishment or competence in one of those areas (i.e., papers published, advanced coursework, or undergraduate major), and if your proposal draws on that background, you are eligible. You will need to make a case that your work is truly interdisciplinary, and making use of non-biological approaches.

My Ph.D. is in chemistry. Am I eligible?

Yes, as long as you meet the other eligibility criteria, and can demonstrate that your work is truly interdisciplinary.

I have applied for permanent residency in the United States, and I have not received my green card. Am I eligible for the award?

Possibly. If you are a temporary U.S. resident and you hold a valid U.S. visa that allows you to remain in the U.S. during the postdoctoral period of the grant, you are eligible, provided your institution chooses you as their one temporary resident candidate. If a grant is awarded and your visa does not allow for such a stay, BWF may terminate the grant. BWF will not intercede on behalf of non-citizens whose stay in the U.S. may be limited by their visa status. If you have questions about this, you must contact BWF prior to submission to determine your eligibility. Your institution must verify your immigration status as part of your application.

I hold a J-1 visa. Am I eligible?

Possibly. As long as your visa is valid and will allow you to remain in the U.S. during the postdoctoral period of the grant, you are eligible, provided your institution chooses you as their one temporary resident candidate. If a grant is awarded and your visa does not allow for such a stay, BWF may terminate the grant. BWF will not intercede on behalf of non-citizens whose stay in the U.S. may be limited by their visa status. If you have questions about this, you must contact BWF prior to submission to determine your eligibility. Your institutional officer must verify your immigration status as part of your application.

I have publications from my graduate (and undergraduate) studies, but they are not necessarily relevant to the research I am proposing in the application. Should I include them anyway?

At least one reprint -- publication, or manuscript submitted for publication -- is required to be submitted as part of your application. Up to two more can be submitted, for a total of three. Applications are more competitive if reprints are included, even if they are not relevant to the research being proposed in the application. All scientific publications (whether or not you include them in the application as reprints) should be listed in the "Candidates CV" -- whether relevant to the proposal or not.

I am a temporary resident of Canada. Am I eligible to apply?

No.

I hold an NIH K99 award. Can I apply to this program?

No.

I have applied to the NIH K99 program, but the awards have not been selected. Can I apply to the BWF CASI program?

Yes. However, awardees cannot receive funding simultaneously from both a K99 and a CASI award.