Career Awards at the Scientific Interface

How do I go about getting a nomination from my university?

Each university selects its nominees differently. Usually it is through the dean’s office or the grants office. In addition, your department chair may be an integral part of the nominating process at your institution. You must secure your university’s nomination before submitting an application.

Do I need to include a letter of nomination with my application?

No. However, you must submit a signed hard copy of the completed Institutional Nomination Form to BWF for receipt by the application deadline. The Institutional Nomination Form can be downloaded and printed from this web site, or from proposalCENTRAL by clicking either “Download Templates & Instructions” or “Research Plan and Other Attachments” in the gray Navigation Menu on the left of the screen. The Official responsible for sponsored programs at your institution must sign this form. This should be the same person you entered as the “Signing Official” on the Nominating Institution & Contacts screen.

I am not a U.S. or Canadian citizen. How does my institution “verify my current residency status?”

If you are a permanent resident of the U.S. or Canada, or a temporary resident of the U.S., your current residency status must be verified by your nominating institution. To verify your current residency status, the Institutional Nomination Form must be printed, completed and signed by the nominating institution’s grants office, then sent in hard copy form to BWF for receipt by the application deadline. The Institutional Nomination Form can be found on  this web site, or on proposalCENTRAL in the “Download Templates and Instructions” section or in the “Research Plan and Other Attachments” section.

I am a temporary U.S. citizen with a valid U.S. visa and I also fall into the category of underrepresented minority (African-American, Hispanic, Native American). Can my institution nominate me as an underrepresented minority and thereby qualify for an additional nomination slot?

No. The extra nomination allowed to an institution for an underrepresented minority (URM) applies to U.S. or Canadian citizens. In other words, the URM must be a U.S. or Canadian citizen to count as an extra nomination. As a temporary resident, your institution can only nominate you as a temporary resident candidate. Each institution can nominate only one temporary resident for this program.

One of the institutional nomination guidelines states "institutions may have a single additional nomination if they nominate an African-American, Hispanic, or Native American candidate."  Does the additional nomination apply only if that person is a U.S. citizen?  More specifically, does someone from a Latin American country on a visa count as a temporary resident nominee, minority nominee, or both?

The extra nomination for an underrepresented minority applies only to U.S. or Canadian citizens.  In other words, the underrepresented minority must be a U.S. or Canadian citizen to count as an extra nomination.  So, someone from a Latin American country on a temporary U.S. visa would count only as a temporary resident.