Purpose

The PhRMA Foundation Sabbatical Fellowship in Informatics provides stipend support for individuals engaged in a multidisciplinary research training program that will create or extend their credentials in informatics. The purpose (intent) of this program is to enable faculty with active research programs to work outside of their home institution for periods of six months to one year to learn new skills or develop new collaborations that will enhance their research and research training capabilities in informatics.

Matching funds must be provided by the home institution.

Applicants are expected to engage in multidisciplinary research that supports career development of scientists engaged in computational and experimental research to integrate cutting edge information technology with advanced biological, chemical, and pharmacological sciences in:

Genetics

Molecular
Medical (human)
Pharmacogenomics/genetics
Population

Genomics

Function
Structural
Toxicogenomics
Pharmaco
Comparative

Proteomics

Biological pathways

Preference will be given to those individuals whose research combines novel computational methods with experimental validation. Emphasis will be placed on the development of new informatics technologies that demonstrate the translation of genomic data into an elucidation and understanding of biological and disease processes.

The applicant and mentor of the program must describe how the multidisciplinary goals of the research experiential program will be accomplished and provide assurance that key collaborating mentors endorse and are willing to support the plan.

Eligible applicants must (1) hold a PhD or MD degree in a field of study logically or functionally related to the proposed post doctoral activities, (2) hold a faculty appointment that imparts eligibility for a sabbatical leave from their home institution, (3) have institutional approval of a sabbatical plan that includes partial salary that matches the PhRMA stipend, (4) hold an endorsement from a mentor who agrees to sponsor the applicants visiting scientist activity, and (5) be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Applications are to be submitted via the Foundation website and received by September 1, 2012.  Applications will not be accepted after the deadline date.

Award

Provides up to $40,000 stipend support for mid-career scientists to engage in an academic year or calendar year experiential program intended to redirect their core research focus to an area of emerging importance to pharmaceutical research and development. The program provides no other subsidies (travel, tuition, fringe benefit costs, etc.) and indirect costs to the institution are not provided. It is expected that the fellowship will be administered in accordance with the prevailing policies and procedures of the institution. Successful applicants will have approval for a sabbatical leave from their home institution, and a commitment to host their experience from a research mentor in an environment other than the applicant’s home institution. These funds are not transferable.

NOTE: Awards may be activated beginning January 1, 2013 or on the first day of any month thereafter, up to and including December 1, 2013.

Sabbatical Fellowship Application Components

1. General Registration Information
2. Applicant CV or biosketch
3. Extended Letter
An opportunity to tell us who you are and to detail your plans for your future. Include a synopsis of your career, tell us your interests and describe your desired future career path.
Your extended letter should not exceed 2 type-written pages (size 12 font).
4. Research Abstract
An abstract of approximately 200 words concerning the proposed research plan
5. Research Plan
The applicant must prepare a comprehensive statement, not to exceed eight, single-spaced, typewritten pages of 12 point or larger, of the plans for research, and for education and training in this discipline. Applicants are requested to use a format similar to that specified for the submission of grants to the National Institutes of Health, which includes a description of the objective(s), rationale, methods of approach and a bibliography of major references. Preliminary results should be included in the narrative of the research proposal and preprints or reprints of not more than three key papers may be included.
6. Department Chair’s information including an email address.
The home department chair must provide a letter of recommendation and confirm approval for the sabbatical leave.
7. Department Chair information including an email address.
The host department chair must provide a letter identifying the department of the institution in which the position and training will be established and its affiliation with whatever other departments may be jointly involved in said training.  It should identify other individuals with whom the applicant will be directly involved and in what fashion and the date on which the position described will be started.
8. Sponsor information including an email address and CV or biosketch
The letter should include a brief description of the training and research facilities that will be available to the candidate at the host institution and an indication of approval of the applicant’s plan from all collaborators participating in the sabbatical activity.
9. Information and letters of reference from up to 3 other individuals
familiar with your scientific career.
10. Reprints