The John Merck Fund
2009 The John Merck Scholars Program in the Biology of Developmental Disabilities
in Children
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For Assistant Professors (neurobiologists and cognitive scientists
)
with UTL, MCL, NTLR appointments-internal selectin process required.
Sponsor website
Internal deadline: Tues., Dec. 2, 2008, 12 noon
(see internal
selection process guidelines below)
Sponsor: January 14, 2009
Number of Stanford nominees: 2
(one from neurobiology
(one from cognitive science)
Funding
Amount of Award: $300,000
over 4 years ($75K/yr x 4 years)
At the Scholar's discretion, up to 25 percent of the award may be used
for his or her summer salary support, and the balance for research assistants,
equipment or other purposes that promote the Scholar's scientific activities. The
award is for the exclusive use of the Scholar and may not be used for institutional
or departmental support. No provision will be made for institutional overhead,
but fringe benefits may be charged to the award.
Eligibility
Academic rank of assistant professor in a university or medical school (assistant professors with MCL, NTLR and UTL appointments)
Have a record of research in areas relating to the Fund's interest in the underlying causes of developmental disabilities
Not more than 4 years of experience in an independent faculty position (as of Jan. 14, 2009) (Note: please use the date your appointment as an assistant professor (MCL, UTL, NTLR) was approved by the Provost Office. Do not include time you spent as an "acting" assistant professor.)
Evidence of a commitment of a career in neuroscience or cognitive science.
Refer to research areas below
Applicants may not:
Hold tenured positions or their equivalent
Apply in more than 2 rounds of competition
Apply for continued postdoctoral support.
Other funding restrictions
Holding
other fellowships (i.e., scholar awards) concurrently with the John Merck Scholar Award is discouraged. Prior approval by The John Merck Fund for an overlapping fellowship is required and will be given only in unusual circumstances.
Purpose
The John Merck Fund has had a longstanding interest in the problem of children who have co-occurring cognitive and emotional disorders. It is focusing on investigations of the underlying causes of developmental disabilities by neurobiologists and by cognitive scientists. By supporting the most promising basic research into the processes that impair the lives of the developmentally disabled, the Fund hopes to foster a better scientific understanding of the origin of these disabilities and thereby provide the foundation for more effective approaches to their prevention and treatment.
The John Merck Scholars are chosen from the ranks of the most promising assistant professors currently working, or planning to work, in neurobiological and cognitive sciences relating to the biology of mental disability and developmental disabilities, including developmental studies of cognition, perception, language, reading, learning and motor performance. The Fund will accept one application for a neurobiologist and one for a cognitive scientist from major universities and other research centers.
Research Areas
JMF has in the past funded and will continue to fund the most promising young researchers whose work illuminates neurodevelopmental disorders from the perspectives of
(i) synapse formation and synaptic plasticity;
(ii) learning and memory, and synaptic plasticity;
(iii) perception, cognition and behavior;
(iv) neurogenesis and pattern formation; and
(v) genetics and early development.
We also encourage proposals that
(i) investigate the possible role of environmental chemicals in the origins of developmental disabilities, or that
(ii) aim to distinguish subgroups within accepted diagnostic categories through the use of sophisticated behavioral and neuroimaging tests of perception, cognition, and emotions based on concepts from modern cognitive neuroscience.
In all cases, we seek proposals from young scientists conducting research that is of the highest quality and that has the greatest chance of increasing our understanding of neurodevelopmental disorders.
Stanford
Internal Selection Process and Submission Guidelines
By Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008, 12 noon please deliver 5 hard copies and an electronic version of the following to
Elizabeth Lasensky
Office of the Dean of Research,
Building 60, Room 223
(650) 723-9034 lasensky@stanford.edu
a) Letter of nomination printed on your department letterhead and signed by your division chief (if applicable) and your department chair. (In the first paragraph please identify if you are a neurobiologist or cognitive scientist.)
b) 3-5 page description of the proposed research program, describing faculty person's background, plans and aspirations. Identify the category: neurobiologist or cognitive scientist. References and illustrations are not included in the page total.
c) Short CV
d) List of all other support, current and pending funding (include the name of the sponsor, the term of funding and the amount of funding)
Selection Process
Your proposals will be reviewed by the Dean of Research Office internal review committee. That committee will select the two applicants to represent the university (one neurobiologist and one coginitive scientist). The sponsor's application deadline is Jan. 14, 2009.
