New funding opportunity in its Microbiology of the Built Environment (MoBE) program.

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation has created a new funding opportunity in its Microbiology of the Built Environment (MoBE) program.

The Foundation seeks to further the development of talented early stage Ph.D. scientists and engineers by establishing the Microbiology of the Built Environment (MoBE) Postdoctoral Fellowship program. The program will provide support for postdoctoral researchers in laboratories engaged in research on the microbiology of the built environment in the U.S. or Canada. Eight awards of $120,000 each will be awarded over the 24 months of the program. Successful fellows will have developed an innovative project in consultation with an established advisor in the research area.

Deadline for applications: September 1, 2013

Announcement: October 2013

Research Area of Interest: Applications most likely to be of interest should describe innovative fundamental research in the microbiology of the built environment. Cross-disciplinary studies in microbial biology and engineering are encouraged.

Eligibility: Applications will be accepted from graduate students for their first postdoctoral fellowship, and the fellowship must begin within one year of completion of the Ph.D. degree. Awards are open to applicants in academic and other not-for-profit organizations, the states, districts, and territories of the United States of America and Canada. Graduate students will initiate the applications for the fellowships but these applications must include a letter of commitment from the potential postdoctoral advisor. Successful applicants must be committed to conducting research on the Microbiology of the Built Environment during their postdoctoral fellowship.

Selection Awards will be based on several factors: assessment of the proposed research, the arrangements for the interdisciplinary educational broadening of the fellow, and the previous research records of the potential fellow and advisor. Distinguished scientists and engineers who are knowledgeable in the field will review the applications. The Sloan Foundation is committed to enhancing diversity in the science and engineering communities and applications from graduate students from underrepresented groups are especially encouraged.

Budget The MoBE Postdoctoral Fellowship program provides a $120,000 award, payable in two $60,000 installments. Funds are normally expended over a period of two years after the appointment of the fellow. Charges associated with indirect costs or institutional overhead are not allowed. The stipend support for the fellow should be at least $48,000 of the total annual award amount (stipends may be supplemented from institutional or other sources). $2,000 is provided as a stipend to the fellow for travel or research expenses. Fringe benefits from this award may not exceed $10,000 per year. In the event that institutions/laboratories receiving the MoBE Postdoctoral Fellowship award have higher rates for fringe benefits, the institution must provide the difference

Application Procedure All application materials must be received electronically by the deadline of September 1, 2013. Winners will be announced in October 2013.

Application package: The application and application details can be requested from Wolf@sloan.org

If you have specific questions, please contact Paula Olsiewski at olsiewski@sloan.org.