Invited Application Deadline
     January 10, 2013 by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Data from your preproposal should populate previously submitted fields in the application.  Make corrections to this information where necessary and enter new information where requested, being careful to follow any online instructions.  All data entry must be completed prior to submission of the full application by the deadline.

A list of required and optional attachments are shown below, along with detailed instructions for each.  Standard word processing software (e.g., MS Word or WordPerfect) can be used to prepare the attachments. However, all documents MUST be converted from standard word processing format to Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files prior to being uploaded to the BWF grant application system.

The following attachments MUST be combined into ONE PDF file, in the order shown, prior to uploading to the online application. Use the following naming convention for the file: Last Name, First Name - Project Title.

• Signature Page (template form required)
  
• Candidate’s Curriculum Vita
• Scientific Abstract (template form required)
  
• Research Plan
• Bibliography for Research Plan
• Reprint(s)
• Statement(s) of Collaboration
• Institutional Certification Form (template form required)
  

Using the Signature Page Form, enter the relevant information, sign and date the form, and include it as the first page of the combined PDF file. Candidates are responsible for ensuring that the information on the Signature Page matches the information entered into the online application. Faxed, emailed, or hard copy documents will not be accepted.

Provide a curriculum vita of no more than three (3) pages. Include only those items that are relevant to your qualifications for this award. Use the categories listed below as a general outline. Within each category, order all information from present to past. For education and postdoctoral training, provide the name and location of the institution, the dates of study or training, and degrees conferred. 

• Name and position title
• Education 
• Doctoral and postdoctoral research 
• Grants and fellowships (include terms still in effect) 
• Professional associations 
• Honors 
• List of papers published and in press

Using the Scientific Abstract Form, describe the proposed work that is understandable to a multidisciplinary group of scientific reviewers. Do not add additional pages.

The research plan must address questions in any area of biomedical science. Research methods may include any combination of experiment, computation, mathematical modeling, statistical analysis, imaging, or computer simulation.

Use a standard 11- or 12-point font for the text, and no smaller than a 9- to 10-point font for figures, legends, and tables. Text must be single-spaced, with one-inch or larger margins on all sides. Number the pages of the research plan. Do not include a table of contents or appendices.

In the order listed below, your plan should describe: 

• Scope and significance of your postdoctoral research, highlighting your personal involvement in interdisciplinary work thus far. 
• Work you plan for the faculty years. 
• Career objectives, including how the award will help you achieve these objectives. If you plan to take additional course work in biology, describe it. 
• Why you are the best person to do the work you are proposing.

Provide a list of literature references directly relevant to the research plan. The bibliography is not included in the six-page limit for the research plan.

Provide up to three publications or manuscripts submitted for publication that demonstrate the candidate’s capabilities and relevant research accomplishments. At least one reprint is required.

Forging collaborations with other well-established investigators can add significantly to the award recipient’s productivity as an interdisciplinary researcher. Candidates are therefore encouraged to include one document from up to two proposed collaborators. Each document should contain both a one-page statement or letter and a two-page CV from the collaborator. These documents do not need to be confidential, and therefore, should be uploaded by the candidate. One document for each collaborator (containing both the collaborator’s letter and CV) may be included in the combined PDF file. If such documents are included, the relevant collaborative situations should be described in the six-page research plan.

Candidates must obtain approval from the institution where the work will be performed during the postdoctoral period of the grant. Applications must be approved by an official responsible for sponsored programs (generally from the institution’s grants and contract's office, office or research, or sponsored program's office), as indicated by submission of a completed and signed Institutional Certification Form. Candidates should complete the application information near the top of the form and have the institutional signing official complete the remainder of the form, including the signature. A completed, signed Institutional Certification Form must be included in the combined PDF file. Faxed, emailed, or hard copy documents will not be accepted.

Two additional confidential recommendation letters for the full application are required and MUST be uploaded to your application by the letter writer – (1) a letter from your graduate advisor and (2) a letter from a recommender who knows your work well. A third confidential recommendation letter may also be uploaded to your application by the letter writer, but is not required. No more than three recommendation letters may be provided. The postdoctoral advisor letter submitted with your preproposal is retained in the full application.

1. a. The letters can be created in any word processing software, but MUST be converted to a PDF file prior to uploading.
   


2. b.  The letters must be submitted on official letterhead with a signature block.
   
   
3. c.  The letters are to remain confidential and are not to be reviewed by the candidate. 
   
   
4. d.  The letter writers must upload their own letters to BWF’s grant application system before the application can be submitted. For this reason, the letter writers should upload their document, as a PDF file, well before the January 10, 2013 deadline.