Career Awards at the Scientific Interface

Progress Reporting

Due Date: October 1

Progress and financial reports are required of all BWF grants and are due on the date(s) specified in the award letter or agreement. The Advisory Committee and staff depend heavily upon progress and financial reports to evaluate progress. Late reports inconvenience advisory committee reviewers and impede BWF's evaluation of its programs. Failure to submit progress or financial reports in a timely fashion will result in payments being withheld, and if submissions are missed repeatedly, the award will be terminated.

BWF provides the following progress report guidelines to assist in preparing and submitting progress reports in an acceptable manner. The progress report and financial updates are to be submitted through Proposal Central. After logging in to Proposal Central, you can find the required deliverables on the home page. Failure to submit any portion of the report by the due date will interrupt or cancel your funds.

If you need help using Proposal Central, please follow their Customer Service webpage instructions to contact their tech support team.

General

Can I submit more than one application?
No. However, you may simultaneously submit an application to another BWF program if you meet the eligibility criteria for that program. If you happen to be selected as a finalist for two BWF programs at once, you must choose which to accept since awardees may not hold more than one BWF award simultaneously.

Do you pay indirect costs?
No.

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.

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.

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.

Can I change my application once submitted?
You have the option to unsubmit the application before the deadline. However, you must resubmit your application before the deadline for the Letter of Intent (or full proposal application, if invited) to be considered. Once the deadline has passed, no further changes will be permitted.

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

Do I need to include citations and references in the essay of the proposed work?
No. Citations and references are not required in the Letter of Intent and should not be included. If you are invited to submit a full application, citations and references can be included in the optional Bibliography attachment.

I understand that I can propose research with up to two collaborators. Does the collaborator(s) need to be located at my institution? Can a collaborator(s) be located elsewhere? Is it ok if the collaborator(s) is located outside of the US and Canada?
If you are invited to submit a full proposal application, applicants may propose partnering with up to two collaborators in their research plan. Applicants may work with collaborators at other institutions as well as those outside of the US and Canada. Note that partnering with a collaborator(s) is entirely optional. If you choose to propose work with a collaborator(s), you must include in your full proposal application: 1) a letter of collaboration; and 2) the collaborator(s) curriculum vitae (CV) or biosketch.

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.

Can I contact BWF to determine my eligibility?
It is the responsibility of applicants to read the published Request for Proposals 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. Please read the eligibility requirements defined in the Request for Proposals and FAQs carefully before contacting BWF.

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 master’s degree. You must have this exception approved by the program officer before applying.

I hold or have accepted an NIH K99/R00 award, or another postdoc-to-faculty transition award, such as the HHMI Hanna Gray Fellowship. Can I apply for this program?
No.

I have applied to the NIH K99/R00 program and/or other postdoc-to-faculty transition award programs, 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 (or other postdoc-to-faculty transition award) and a CASI award.

I have not yet decided whether I will pursue a full-time career in research as an independent investigator at a non-profit institution [501(c)(3) or equivalent] in the U.S. or Canada. Can I apply to this program?
No.

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.

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 master’s 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. Instead, you may want to consider applying to the Career Awards for Medical Scientists program.

Can I send my CV/biosketch to BWF to determine eligibility?
No, due to the high volume of inquiries, BWF cannot evaluate each candidate’s CV/biosketch to confirm eligibility. Please read the eligibility requirements and FAQs carefully before contacting BWF.

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.

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.

I am a postdoc at an independent research institute, teaching hospital, or similar type of institution. Am I eligible for a career award?
Possibly. Your institute must be a non-profit institution [501(c)(3) or equivalent] in the U.S. or Canada, and your primary postdoctoral mentor must hold an appointment at the same institution. Additionally, your institution must have organizational representatives that receive and process grant agreements as we make the grant to the institution on your behalf. If 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.

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.

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. 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).

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.

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.

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

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.

What if I plan 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.

What if I plan 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.

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 login 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.

If one of my publications gets accepted after the Letter of Intent, full application deadline, or interview, how can I inform the Advisory Committee of this?
After each deadline, you may no longer amend your application, including updates to a publication or the addition of a new publication. Applications are turned around quickly to the advisory committee for review; you can provide the latest updates on the progress of your research at each phase of application process, including the final interview phase.

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.

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 Proposals.

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 through bioRxiv or arXiv, are allowable as one of your five publications. The requirement for one first-author publication still applies.

Letter of Intent

Do I need to submit a Letter of Intent prior to submitting a full application?
Yes. All applicants to the program must submit a Letter of Intent as the first step. Not everyone who submits a Letter of Intent will necessarily submit a full application. Letters of Intent will be reviewed by the Advisory Committee and selected candidates will be invited to submit a full application.

My postdoc mentor and graduate advisor are the same person. For the LOI application portal, should I list their name under each section?
Yes, you may list them as both – the Postdoc Mentor Recommendation Letter is required for the LOI, and the Graduate Advisor’s name only is required for the LOI. If invited to submit a full proposal, the Graduate Advisor is required to submit a Recommendation Letter. However, in this case, we would provide flexibility, allowing you to choose to have your PhD/graduate thesis committee chair (or other committee member) submit the letter jointly with your graduate/postdoctoral mentor regarding work completed during your graduate phase.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

I have been invited to submit a full proposal application and have had developments in my research since my LOI submission, can I change my title?
We do not allow title changes after the LOI other than correcting grammatical errors or typos. If you have had developments in your research that you want to make clear to the review committee, you should explain the new developments in your proposal.

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. Emailed or hard copy letters will not be accepted.

What is a “graduate advisor” and do they need to submit a Recommendation Letter?
Your graduate advisor is the individual who mentored you when you trained to obtain your Ph.D./doctoral degree—otherwise known as a “Ph.D. advisor.” We ask you to list their name during the Letter of Intent phase, but they do not submit a recommendation letter during this phase. If invited to submit a full application, your graduate/Ph.D. The advisor will submit a letter of recommendation at that time.

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.

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 the instructions included in the Request for Proposals document.

Can the recommendation letter be sent separately?
No. Letters of recommendation must be uploaded by the letter writer before 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. Emailed or hard-copy letters will not be accepted.

I have two postdoctoral mentors. Can I submit two recommendation letters?
Only one recommendation letter may be submitted with your LOI 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 co-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.

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

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 at pcsupport@altum.com. For questions regarding eligibility, please email casi@bwfund.org.