Through a recognition of the need to prepare research scientists and future leaders who understand the challenges associated with zoonotic infectious disease, the Penn Vet Institute for Infectious and Zoonotic Diseases will provide a fellowship for a post-doctoral scientist interested in infectious diseases of humans and animals.
This fellowship provides support to postdocs conducting research broadly related to the biology of infectious disease (viral, bacterial, fungal and parasitic). Support will be for up to two years depending on continued availability of funding. The level of support will be equivalent to a total of $35K/year.
The sponsoring laboratory must be able to demonstrate supplemental funds to fully support the applicant’s salary and research. Post-doctoral fellows are expected to prepare their application in collaboration with a Penn faculty mentor whom they identify and reach out to prior to applying.
The Penn faculty mentor should have a strong record of federal funding and training experience. Areas of research focus include enteric pathogens, vector biology, vaccine development, tropical medicine and public health, microbiome, functional genomics, immunology, molecular epidemiology, molecular diagnostics, mathematical modeling, concepts in evolution (e.g., evolution of virulence), ecology (e.g., host population dynamics), and human behavior (e.g., risk-aversion).
Training provided includes development and review of an individual development plan, taking courses in animal and human subjects research, participating in career development seminars; and attending a monthly research-in-progress seminar series. All trainees are encouraged to present at these meetings. There will be opportunity for the fellowship awardee will have access to all services offered through the UPenn Biomedical Postdoctoral Program office.
Fellows will be provided support for submission of applications to extramural funding sources in, such as the K43 Emerging Global Leader Award.
Fellows will be encouraged to publicly present their data in local and international scientific conferences and to prepare and write manuscripts for submission.
To be eligible for this Postdoctoral Fellowship, the applicant must possess a PhD, MD, DDS, DMD, DVM/VMD or equivalent degree in a biomedical, disease ecology, epidemiology or related science field; or certification by an accredited university indicating all the requirements leading to such a doctorate. The candidate must have excellent written and oral communication skills.
Applicants must have no more than three years of relevant postdoctoral experience and may have up to only two years of clinical training. Fellows can be U.S. citizens, permanent residents or qualify as non-immigrant, foreign nationals who possess valid work authorization issued by the appropriate Federal agency. Non-immigrants are defined as those who are not Citizens or Permanent Residents of the United States.
Deadline for applications is April 15, 2022 with funding start date of June 1, 2022.
Interested applicants should submit the following documents collated into a single PDF to debroski@vet.upenn.edu and blackmic@upenn.edu:
Application materials:
- A nominating letter from the UPenn faculty sponsor is required.
- NIH Biosketch from the faculty sponsor (s).
- CV of the candidate.
- Two-page description (0.5 margins with 11 pt. Arial or Helvetica font, including citations) of research project including specific aims, research approach and personal statement explaining your relevant experience and how this fellowship fosters your career goals.
Download the position description (PDF)...
