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Application Files

Progress Reporting

Due Date:  October 26

Progress and financial reports are required of all Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF) grants.  Advisory Committee and staff depend heavily upon progress and financial reports to evaluate progress.  Late reports inconvenience advisory committee reviewers and impede the Fund’s evaluation of its programs.  Failure to submit progress or financial reports in a timely fashion will result in termination of funding.

BWF has provided Progress Report Guidelines to assist in the preparation and submission of Progress Reports in an acceptable manner.  Awardees must provide BWF with an annual progress report detailing scientific progress.  Institutions must provide an annual financial report.  Both reports must be submitted by the due date on forms that will be provided and according to the instructions below.  All PDF on-line forms and instructions referenced on this page can be accessed on this website.

No-Cost Extensions

The named investigator may request a no-cost extension at least 30 days in advance of the grant period end date.  A request for an extension must be made in writing and must include a detailed explanation of the purposes for which the extension is requested.  The request for a no-cost extension must be copied to both the named investigator and the appropriate representative of the named investigator’s institution.  In general, extensions do not exceed 24 months.  The Fund reserves the right to deny such a request in whole or in part.  If the request is approved, it will be incumbent upon the named investigator and his/her institution to provide annual progress and expenditure reports each year of the no-cost extension period, as well as final progress and expenditure reports at the end of the no-cost extension period. BWF will request a return of all no-cost extension funds if progress report requirements and deadlines are not met.

General

Can I submit more than one application?
No.

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Do you pay indirect costs?
No.

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What date should I use as having received my Ph.D.?
You can use either the date of your Ph.D. defense or the date your degree was conferred by your institution.

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The eligibility requirements mention that a candidate must be based at a non-profit institution [501(c)(3) or equivalent] in the U.S. or Canada. What is a 501(c)(3)?
According to the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, a 501(c)(3) organization is an American tax-exempt, nonprofit organization. Almost all degree-granting institutions are classified as such, as are most research institutes. You will need to check with your institutional officials, usually called the grants and contracts office or the sponsored programs office, etc., to confirm your institution’s classification. BWF cannot make this determination for you.

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Are the BWF application deadlines firm?
Yes.

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How do I return to an incomplete application that I saved, but have not yet submitted?
To access a saved application, return to the ProposalCentral system, login, and access the Letter of Intent on the “Proposals” tab. The Letter of Intent may be edited until the application deadline.

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Can I change my application once submitted?
You have the option to unsubmit the application prior to the deadline. However, you must resubmit prior to the deadline for the Letter of Intent to be considered. Once the deadline has passed, no additional changes may be made.

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What is a “signature block”?
A signature block is found at the end of a letter and includes the letter writer’s name, title(s), department(s), and institution. It is usually found just after the closing of the letter (e.g., just after the word “Sincerely,’ or ‘Yours truly,’) and just under the letter writer’s signature. Here’s an example of a signature block:

Jane Smith, Ph.D.
Chair and Professor, Department of Physics
ABC University

Eligibility

How do I determine if I am eligible to submit a Letter of Intent; what is the first step?
Review eligibility in the Request for Proposal.

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Can I contact BWF to determine my eligibility?
It is the responsibility of applicants to read the published guidelines and FAQs to determine eligibility. BWF staff will do their best to respond to every inquiry but will prioritize those questions that are not already clearly addressed in the published guidelines. Please do not contact BWF to ask if we can make an exception to clearly stated guidelines.

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Which Ph.D. fields are eligible?
Candidates must hold a Ph.D. degree in one of the fields of mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science, statistics, or engineering. This includes related areas of physical, mathematical, computational, theoretical, and engineering science. Exceptions will be made only if the applicant can demonstrate significant expertise in one of these areas, evidenced by publications, undergraduate major, or masters degree. You must have this exception approved by the program officer before applying; do not presume you will be given an exception.

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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 or engineering 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 makes use of non-biological approaches.

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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.

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I have an engineering degree/background? Can I apply to the program?
Yes – as long as you meet all other eligibility requirements, you can apply.

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I hold an M.D. Am I eligible to apply to the CASI program?
Possibly. If you hold both an M.D. and a Ph.D., and your Ph.D. is in one of the fields of mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science, statistics, or engineering, you are eligible. This includes related areas of physical and computational science. Exceptions will be made only if the applicant can demonstrate significant expertise in one of these areas, evidenced by publications, undergraduate major, or masters degree. In addition, you cannot have spent more than 60 months in postdoctoral research since receipt of your Ph.D. If you hold an M.D. without also holding a Ph.D., you are not eligible to apply to this program, but you may want to consider applying to the Career Awards for Medical Scientists program.

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Can I send my CV/biosketch to BWF to determine eligibility?
Due to the high volume of inquiries, BWF cannot evaluate candidate CVs/biosketches. Please read the eligibility requirements and FAQs carefully before contacting BWF.

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My work experience since receiving my Ph.D. exceeds the 60-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 research field (including outside academia) and exceeds 60 months, you are not eligible. However, if part of your work experience was not in a science research field, and your scientific work experience doesn’t exceed 60 months, you are eligible.

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I’m a temporary resident of the U.S. or Canada. Am I eligible for the award?
Possibly. If you are a temporary U.S.or Canadian resident and you hold a valid visa that allows you to remain in the U.S. or Canada 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. or Canada may be limited by their visa status. If you are invited to submit a full application, your institution must verify your immigration status as part of your application.

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I am a postdoc at an independent research institute. Am I eligible for a career award?
Possibly. Two criteria must be met in order for you to be eligible – (1) your research institute must be a non-profit institution (501(c)(3) or equivalent) in the U.S. or Canada, and (2) your primary postdoctoral mentor must hold an appointment at an accredited, degree-granting institution in the U.S. or Canada that will provide support for your application. We make the grant to the degree-granting institution on your behalf. If both of these criteria are met, you are eligible to apply. With the exception of eligible postdoctoral fellows at the National Institutes of Health, Letters of Intent will not be accepted from federal facilities. These policies are non-negotiable.

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My title is not “postdoctoral fellow”. Am I eligible for the award?
Possibly. You are eligible if (1) you have at least 12 months, but not more than 60 months of postdoctoral research experience, including time as, for example, an instructor, research associate, or non-tenure track research faculty, and (2) you meet all other eligibility requirements.

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I have two postdoc mentors. Can I still apply?
Yes. One of the mentors will need to be the primary mentor. The primary mentor will be the one who can certify the Letter of Intent and provide a recommendation letter. Only one recommendation letter can be submitted. If necessary, your primary and secondary mentor can provide a joint letter to be submitted by the primary mentor.

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I hold or have accepted, an NIH K99 award. Can I apply for this program?
No.

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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.

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Do I need a commitment from a university for a faculty appointment to apply for this award?
No. The purpose of the award is to help postdoctoral scientists obtain a faculty appointment at an institution of their choosing. Candidates may be applying for faculty positions at the same time of application, but if you currently hold or have accepted, either verbally or in writing, a tenure-track faculty appointment, you are not eligible.

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I am based at a North American non-profit institution, but my primary postdoctoral mentor doesn’t hold a faculty appointment at an accredited, degree-granting North American institution. Can I apply to this program?
No.

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I have not yet decided whether I will pursue a full-time career in research as an independent investigator at a North American degree-granting institution. Can I apply to this program?
No.

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I have publications from my graduate (and undergraduate) studies, but I am not the first author of any of them. Am I eligible to apply?
No. You must have at least one first-author publication to be eligible to apply for this program. This includes papers on which “first authorship” is shared.

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I have submitted a first-author manuscript from my graduate (or undergraduate) studies, but it has not yet been published. Am I eligible to apply?
Possibly. If the manuscript is accepted for publication or in press, you are eligible to apply – otherwise, you are not eligible.

Accessing the Application

I have two postdoc mentors at two different institutions. Does it matter which one is the primary mentor?
Yes. If your mentors are at two different institutions, the primary mentor should be the one located at the institution where you will be doing the proposed work (the institution you will enter on the “Nominating Institution” page of the online application) This mentor should also hold a faculty appointment at an accredited degree-granting institution in North America.

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Can I add a postdoc mentor if I am invited to submit a full application?
You may add a mentor, but you may not change the primary mentor whose name is associated with your Letter of Intent.

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What if I am planning to start a faculty position in the fall after the Letter of Intent deadline and before the full application deadline?
This award cannot be made to a tenure-track 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.

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What if I am planning to start a faculty position in the spring after the full application deadline and before the interview?
This award cannot be made to a tenure-track 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.

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Do I need to complete an application in one session?
No, you can start an application and return at a later time to complete the application. When beginning a new application, you are required to establish a log-in and password. At any time during the application process, you may click the “save and close” button, exit the application, and return at a later time.

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If one of my publications gets accepted after the Letter of Intent or full application deadline, how can I inform the Advisory Committee of this?
After the deadline, you may no longer amend your application, which includes updating a publication or adding a publication.

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After submitting a Letter of Intent, can I change my mentor or institution if I am invited to submit a full proposal?
No. Invitations to submit a full application are based on the information submitted in the Letter of Intent. The training environment (mentor and institution) is an important part of this consideration, thus they cannot be changed for the full proposal.

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When will I be notified as to whether I have been selected to submit a full application?
Applicants who submitted a Letter of Intent will be notified via email by the date stated in the Request for Proposal.

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Can I include submitted manuscripts in the list of publications?
No. Only papers that have been published or are “in press” (accepted for publication) should be included. Pre-prints, however, such as bioRxiv or arXiv.org, are allowable as one of your five publications. The requirement for one first-author publication still applies.

Letter of Intent

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 on the application form?
Yes. Up to five of your top publications should be included in the Letter of Intent, even if they are not relevant to the research being proposed.

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Do I need to include references in the essay of the proposed work?
No. References are not required in the Letter of Intent and should not be included. If you are invited to submit a full application, references can be included at that time.

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Can letters of collaboration be included in the Letter of Intent?
No.

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Do I need to submit a proposed budget with my Letter of Intent?
No.

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My visa is not valid for more than one year but I need a new “position offer” to get a new visa. Do you ask for a valid two-year visa (for the postdoc period) when submitting the Letter of Intent?
We understand that not all U.S. visas will cover the full two years of postdoc for the award. For this reason, we are not asking for a valid two-year visa when submitting the Letter of Intent. If you are invited to submit a full application, BWF requires that your institution certify that you hold a current valid U.S. visa and that the institution will manage your residency status during the postdoctoral period of the award (perform all necessary paperwork to extend visa status). More information will be provided if an invitation is sent to you.

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Can I include figures, tables, graphs, diagrams, and/or pictures in the section of the Letter of Intent asking for an essay of the proposed work?
No.

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Do I need to be nominated by my institution to submit a Letter of Intent?
No.

Recommendation Letter

To whom should my recommendation letter be addressed?
The letter of recommendation should be addressed to the CASI Advisory Committee and must be uploaded to your application by the letter writer prior to submission by the deadline. Faxed, emailed, or hard copy letters will not be accepted.

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What should be included in the recommendation letter?
The primary postdoctoral mentor should describe your qualifications and potential for contributing to biomedical science, highlighting specific skills or expertise in a scientific discipline other than biology. The letter should also describe the research environment in which you will work, your mentoring plan, the number of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in the lab, and the supporting services to be provided by the institution.

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How can I submit my recommendation letter?
Since the recommendation letter must remain confidential, the recommender (your primary postdoc mentor) must upload their own letter to your application before the application deadline. For this process to work properly, you must send an email from within your application to your primary postdoctoral mentor requesting the letter. The email will contain a link that is specific to your application and your primary postdoctoral mentor. For detailed instructions on how to request a confidential letter from your primary postdoctoral mentor, see Applicant Instructions.

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Can the recommendation letter be sent separately?
No. Letters of recommendation must be uploaded by the letter writer prior to submission of your application. An application can only be submitted when it is complete; therefore, it is highly recommended that the recommendation letter be uploaded to the application at least a week or more before the deadline. Faxed, emailed, or hard copy letters will not be accepted.

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I have two postdoctoral mentors. Can I submit two recommendation letters?
Only one recommendation letter may be submitted with your application. This letter should be from the person designated as your primary postdoctoral mentor in the application. However, if both mentors wish to write and sign one letter, that is acceptable. Two letters will not be accepted.

Logistics

I completed my application. How do I submit it?
Once the application has been completed and the mentor has completed the letter of recommendation and certification information:

• Click “Validate” on the application sidebar.
• If the application is not missing the required items, click the “Submit” link on the sidebar and hit the “Submit” button on the page.
• If any items are still missing, a list will appear at the top of the page. Otherwise, you will receive a message that the Letter of Intent is submitted. If you do not, please contact ProposalCentral tech support.

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I forgot my user ID/password. What should I do?
For a forgotten password or user ID, access the ProposalCentral log-in screen and click the forgotten password link.

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I’m having trouble using the online application system to request a confidential letter from my primary postdoctoral mentor. What should I do?
For detailed instructions on how to request a confidential letter, see Applicant Instructions. If you’re still experiencing difficulties after reviewing this document, contact Melanie Scott, Senior Program Associate.

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My primary postdoctoral mentor is having trouble uploading his/her confidential recommendation letter to my application. What should I do?
For detailed instructions on how to upload a confidential letter, see Recommender Instructions for Uploading a Confidential Letter. If your primary postdoc mentor is still experiencing difficulties after reviewing this document, ask them to contact Melanie Scott, Senior Program Associate.

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If I have questions about a particular program guideline or the electronic application, whom can I contact for help?
For problems with the electronic application, please contact the ProposalCentral help desk. For eligibility questions, please contact Melanie Scott.