Grants>Microbiology

American Society for Microbiology-UNESCO Leadership Grant for International Educators

Annual Deadline: November 1

This new program, sponsored jointly by ASM and UNESCO, has been developed to enable a select group of undergraduate educators from resource-limited countries to attend the ASM Conference for Undergraduate Educators (ASMCUE) and a pre-conference workshop to provide leaders in education with the resources to build innovative teaching modules that engage students and lead to enduring understandings in microbiology.

To learn more about the ASMCUE, please visit: http://www.asmcue.org/

The objective of this program is to provide educational leaders from resource-limited countrieswith training in the latest developments in microbiology education in order to improve microbiology education in their home country. Participants will receive training through a three pronged approach:

Participants will attend a half-day interactive leadership training workshop that will demonstrate how to use ASM resources to build innovative teaching modules that engage students and lead to enduring understandings in microbiology.

Participants will join a community of approximately 300 microbiology and biology educators at the ASM Conference for Undergraduate Educators (ASMCUE), a three-day forum for undergraduate faculty providing scientific and education professional development through plenary sessions, discussion and working groups, posters, and exhibits. The ASMCUE features an exchange of best practices and largest challenges in teaching.

Participants will join a one-year virtual Learning Community that will continue to provide training and assistance after returning to their institutions.

Funding
Successful applicants will receive financial support to cover airfare (economy class), room, board and registration to the pre-conference workshop and ASMCUE.

Reporting Requirements
An initial report must be submitted to the ASM department of International Affairs within one month of the completion of the ASMCUE. Additional reports must be submitted four and eight months after the completion of ASMCUE describing efforts to transmit the knowledge gained during the program to colleagues in the participant’s country.

American Society for Microbiology
1752 N Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036-2904
(202) 737-3600

Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy Young Investigator Awards

Recognize and reward early career scientists for research excellence and potential in microbiology and infectious disease.

Eligibility:
Nominees must be no more than three years beyond completion of postdoctoral research training in microbiology or infectious diseases at the time of the nomination deadline.

Award:
A cash prize of $2,500 to support travel to the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) where the awards are presented. Up to five awards may be presented each year. One of the awards is earmarked for a researcher working in the area of HIV who resides and works in North America.

Deadline:  April 1.

Nominations:
Nominations will be reconsidered annually so long as eligibility criteria are met and an updated curriculum vitae is submitted. Self-nominations and more than one nomination per nominee will not be accepted. Only one nominating form and two supporting forms are accepted per nomination. The two supporters must be persons other than the nominator who are familiar with the nominee's qualifications and accomplishments. Only one of the three individuals involved in the nomination may be employed at the nominee's institution. The nominator and supporters must not share employers. Nominations must consist of the following:

Curriculum vitae, including a list of publications, emailed to awards@asmusa.org
Nominating Form
Supporting Form

Call for Applications: Caltech's Amgen Scholars Program

Application, Recommendations, and Proposal Deadline: February 15, 2012

Caltech's Amgen Scholars program provides students the opportunity to conduct research in biology, chemistry, and bio-technical related fields under the guidance of seasoned research mentors. The program offers students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. a great opportunity to experience the research process.

Amgen Scholarships may be offered in the following fields: biochemistry • bioengineering • bioinformatics • chemical and biomolecular engineering • biopsychology • biotechnology • chemistry • immunology • medical pharmacology • microbiology • molecular genetics • molecular medicine • molecular pharmacology • molecular, cell, and developmental biology • neurobiology • neuroscience • pathology • physiological psychology • physiological science • statistics • toxicology

The Amgen Scholars program is modeled on the grant-seeking process:

Students collaborate with potential mentors to define and develop a project
Applicants write research proposals for their projects
A faculty committee reviews the proposals and recommends awards
Students carry out the work over a 10-week period in the summer, mid-June to late August
At the conclusion of the program, they submit a technical paper and give an oral presentation at Seminar Day, a symposium modeled on a professional technical meeting

Eligibility Statement
Amgen Scholars must

Be sophomores (with at least 4 quarters or 3 semesters of college course work), juniors, or non-graduating seniors attending 4-year colleges or universities in the U.S., Puerto Rico, or other U.S. territories
Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2
Not be under any disciplinary sanction
Be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Have an interest in pursuing a Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D.

Students who have been an Amgen Scholar, at any U.S. site, are not eligible. Please consider applying through the Caltech SURF program.

Requirements
Upon receiving an Amgen Scholarship, students sign an agreement to fulfill the following requirements:

To conduct their research from June 18 - August 24, 2012
To devote full effort to conducting the Amgen Scholars project (Scholars are strongly discouraged from taking courses or holding a job)
To submit two progress reports signed by their mentors
To attend the mid-summer Amgen Scholars conference
To submit an abstract of their project
To submit a written technical report approved by the mentor
To give an oral presentation on one of the scheduled seminar day symposia
To attend weekly Amgen Scholar meetings
To fully participate in Amgen Scholar assessment efforts
To abide by Caltech's Honor Code

Compensation
Students receive a $5,500 stipend for the ten-week period. For information on payroll tax issues, please contact sfp@caltech.edu and we will forward your question to the Amgen Scholars payroll coordinator.

Stipend payments will be distributed in equal installments near the first business day in July and August.

Students will also receive a $1500 room and $1200 board allowance, and non-Caltech students will receive reimbursements for their travel to and from Pasadena.

Funding
Amgen Scholar stipends are funded from a generous grant from the Amgen Foundation. Mentors pay all research-related costs and provide space.

Amgen Scholar Summer Activities
To enrich the research experience, Amgen Scholars may participate in the following activities:

Amgen Scholars weekly lunch meetings to bring participants together for discussions, special programs, and to meet faculty
Weekly seminars by Caltech faculty—lunch is provided
A professional development series on developing a research career, graduate school admissions, and other topics of interest to future researchers
Social and cultural activities
Weekly small student-faculty dinners
Special field trips

Housing
Non-Caltech Amgen Scholars will live in Caltech housing during the ten-week summer period, and they can move into rooms on the first day of the summer program.

General Inquiries
amgenscholars@caltech.edu
626.395.2885

Call for Applications: Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates in Microbiology at the University of Iowa

The REU in Microbiology at The University of Iowa seeks to foster the careers of the next generation of microbiologists. We do this by providing an intensive 10-week research experience for bright and ambitious undergraduates who are considering a PhD in microbiology or an allied discipline. We hope that this experience will encourage students to pursue a career in basic science and give them the skills they need to succeed in that career path. The focus of the program is a hands-on research project conducted under the guidance of faculty and graduate student mentors. A range of research projects will be available, including basic mechanisms of bacterial and viral gene expression, virus structure and assembly, biofilm formation, microbial development, and prokaryotic cell biology. Students will also attend lectures to broaden their understanding of microbiology and educate them about graduate school and career options.

Participants conduct full-time, hands-on research in microbiology, microbial genetics, or molecular biology.

Enrichment activities include weekly seminars and workshops on graduate school and career opportunities. At the end of the summer, students write a research report and present their findings in a campus-wide poster session.

Program lasts for 10 weeks (May 21-July 27, 2012).

Participants receive a $5000 stipend plus a $530 food allowance.

Free housing is provided in the Mayflower dormitory.

Travel costs are paid by the program.

Social activities include an introductory picnic, excursions, and an end-of-summer banquet.

Eligibility
The program is intended for undergraduates who:

Have completed at least two years of college.
Will be returning for at least one year of undergraduate study before graduation.
Are majoring in a biological science.
Are interested in pursuing graduate school and a career in biological research.
Are United States citizens or permanent residents (hold a green card).
Have limited access to research opportunities at their home institution.
Prior research experience is NOT a requirement.

This program seeks to improve diversity in the biological sciences. Disabled students, minority students, and disadvantaged students (economically or first in family to attend college) are especially encouraged to apply.

Questions? Try our FAQ http://www.uiowa.edu/microbiology/reufaq.shtml

You can also send an email to us at undergrad-micro-info@uiowa.edu or call us at 319-335-7980.

How to Apply
Your complete application includes:

The online application. (Please note that the application must be completed in one sitting.)

A copy of your transcript, which can be uploaded to your online application. If you cannot upload an electronic copy, you may send your transcript via regular mail to the address below.

two letters of recommendation on official letterhead. Recommenders should address the applicant's intellectual abilities, level of motivation, ability to work with others, and career interests (e.g., research, teaching, medical school, etc.). Please ask your recommenders to send their letters via email to undergrad-micro-info@uiowa.edu. If this is not possible, they may be sent via regular mail to the address below.

Summer REU in Microbiology
Department of Microbiology
The University of Iowa
3-403 Bowen Science Building
Iowa City, IA 52242

The application deadline is February 15, 2012.

Call for Applications: National Science Foundation-Sponsored Research Experience for Undergraduates Summer Program in Prokaryotic Biology at the University of Georgia in Athens

Exciting projects will address diverse topics in Prokaryotic Biology. Please join our program and enjoy the first-rate UGA research and recreational facilities.Participants will each receive a $4,500 stipend in addition to a $500 food allowance for the summer. Housing and most travel costs will also be covered. Students will stay in air-conditioned dorms on campus.

The Microbiology Department of the University of Georgia in Athens (UGA) will provide an intensive, 9 week hands-on laboratory research program for 10 undergraduates this summer.

Funded by the National Science Foundation, the program (REU Site: Research in Prokaryotic Biology) will run from May 28 to July 27, 2012. Students from institutions with limited research opportunities in Microbiology, minorities, and deaf/hard-of-hearing students are strongly encouraged to apply. Accommodations and Support Services for Deaf/Hard of Hearing Participants.

REU participants will conduct independent projects with supervision. A wide variety of research topics will address the diverse functions of bacteria and archaea. State-of-the art techniques will be used in interdisciplinary approaches that combine knowledge from the fields of Genetics, Biochemistry, Physiology, Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology, and Ecology.

Participants will be able to take advantage of the excellent research and recreational facilities at UGA.

Participants must be undergraduates (cannot have graduated before the program begins) who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its possessions.

For full consideration, have all application materials submitted by February 22,2012.

Program information may be obtained from Monica Matheson
Ph#: (706) 542-2688
email: reumibo@uga.edu

Contact Info:
The NSF REU Program
Microbiology Department
The University of Georgia
527 Biological Sciences
Athens, GA 30602-2605

Call for International Association for Food Protection 2012 Award Nominations

The International Association for Food Protection welcomes your nominations for our 2012 Association Awards. Nominate your colleagues for one of the many prestigious awards. Students are also encouraged to apply for an IAFP Student Travel Scholarship. Nomination criteria is available online at: http://www.foodprotection.org/about-us/awards/.

The awards to be presented are as follows:

Black Pearl Award
Sponsored by Wilbur Feagan and F&H Food Equipment Company
Award Showcasing the Black Pearl. Presented in recognition of a company's outstanding achievement in corporate excellence in food safety and quality.

Fellow Award
Distinguished Plaque. Presented to Members who have contributed to IAFP and its Affiliates with distinction over an extended period of time.

Honorary Life Membership Award
Plaque and Lifetime Membership in IAFP. Presented to Members for their devotion to the high ideals and objectives of IAFP and for their service to the Association.

Harry Haverland Citation Award
Sponsored by ConAgra Foods, Inc.
Plaque and $2,500 Honorarium. Presented to an individual for years of devotion to the ideals and objectives of IAFP.

Food Safety Innovation Award
Sponsored by Walmart
Plaque and $2,500 Honorarium. Presented to an individual or organization for creating a new idea, practice, or product that has had a positive impact on food safety, thus, improving public health, and the quality of life.

International Leadership Award
Sponsored by Cargill, Inc.
Plaque, $1,500 Honorarium and Reimbursement to attend IAFP 2012. Presented to an individual for dedication to the high ideals and objectives of IAFP and for promotion of the mission of the Association in countries outside of the United States and Canada.

GMA Food Safety Award
Sponsored by Grocery Manufacturers Association
Plaque and $3,000 Honorarium. This Award alternates between individuals and groups or organizations. In 2012, the award will be presented to a group or organization for a highly significant food safety development or in recognition of a long history of outstanding contributions to food safety research and education.

Frozen Food Foundation Freezing Research Award
Sponsored by the Frozen Food Foundation
Plaque and $2,000 Honorarium. Presented to an individual, group or organization for preeminence and outstanding contributions in research that impacts food safety attributes of freezing.

Maurice Weber Laboratorian Award
Sponsored by Weber Scientific
Plaque and $1,500 Honorarium. Presented to an individual for outstanding contributions in the laboratory, recognizing a commitment to the development of innovative and practical analytical approaches in support of food safety.

Larry Beuchat Young Researcher Award
Sponsored by bioMérieux, Inc.
Plaque and $2,000 Honorarium. Presented to a young researcher who has shown outstanding ability and professional promise in the early years of their career.

Sanitarian Award
Sponsored by Ecolab Inc.
Plaque and $1,500 Honorarium. Presented to an individual for outstanding service to the public, IAFP and the profession of the Sanitarian.

Elmer Marth Educator Award
Sponsored by Nelson-Jameson, Inc.
Plaque and $1,500 Honorarium. Presented to an individual for outstanding service to the public, IAFP and the arena of education in food safety and food protection.

Harold Barnum Industry Award
Sponsored by Roka Bioscience, Inc.
Plaque and $1,500 Honorarium. Presented to an individual for outstanding service to the public, IAFP and the food industry.

Travel Award for State or Local Health or State Agricultural Department Employees
Sponsored by the IAFP Foundation and a contribution by Marler Clark, LLP, PS to the Foundation
To provide travel funds for state or local health or state agricultural department employees (epidemiologists, food and molecular microbiologists, and environmental health specialists) working in the United States to attend the Annual Meeting of the International Association for Food Protection and to encourage participation in association activities.

Student Travel Scholarship
Sponsored by the IAFP Foundation
To provide travel funding for full-time students to attend the Annual Meeting (including symposia and technical sessions) of the International Association for Food Protection and to encourage developing scientists to participate in association activities. Scholarships will be awarded to students enrolled in a college or university food safety-related degree program.

Samuel J. Crumbine Consumer Protection Award
Presented annually for excellence and continual improvement in a comprehensive program of food protection at the local level.

You may make multiple nominations. All nominations must be received at the IAFP office by Tuesday, February 28, 2012. You do not have to be an IAFP Member to nominate a deserving professional or colleague. Student Members of the International Association for Food Protection are invited to submit their application for the Student Travel Scholarship award to attend the IAFP Annual Meeting.

Questions regarding award nominations submission should be directed to Susan Smith, at ssmith@foodprotection.org or call + 1 515.276.3344; + 1 800.369.6337.

The International Association for Food Protection is a non-profit educational association of food protection professionals. The Association is dedicated to the education and service of its Members, specifically, as well as industry personnel. The Association provides Members with an information network and forum for professional improvement through its two scientific journals, Journal of Food Protection and Food Protection Trends, educational Annual Meeting, and interaction with other food safety professionals. Membership information can be obtained by calling + 1 800.369.6337; + 1 515.276.3344; fax: +1 515.276.8655, E-mail: info@foodprotection.org; or Web site: www.foodprotection.org.

About International Association for Food Protection

The International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) represents more than 3,400 food safety professionals committed to Advancing Food Safety Worldwide. The association includes educators, government officials, microbiologists, food industry executives and quality control professionals who are involved in all aspects of growing, storing, transporting, processing and preparing all types of foods. Working together, IAFP members, representing more than 70 countries, help the association achieve its mission through networking, educational programs, journals, career opportunities and numerous other resources.

For more information, contact:

International Association for Food Protection
6200 Aurora Avenue, Suite 200W
Des Moines, IA 50322-2864 USA
Phone: +1 515.276.3344; +1 800.369.6337
Fax: +1 515.276.8655
E-Mail: info@foodprotection.org

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program at the University of Texas Southwestern Graduate School

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program at the University of Texas Southwestern Graduate School is an intensive summer research training experience designed for college students who are preparing for careers in biomedical research. Fellows spend 10 weeks (beginning in early June and ending mid-August) pursuing individual research projects in the laboratories of UT Southwestern Graduate School faculty members.

Fellows gain experience in modern research techniques and plan and execute an experimental strategy to answer a scientific question. The program introduces students to the kinds of projects encountered during postgraduate research training, and fosters an understanding of the planning, discipline, and teamwork involved in the pursuit of answers to current questions in the biological sciences. At the end of the program, fellows present their research during a poster session.

In addition to laboratory research, fellows attend weekly seminars given by UT Southwestern faculty members. Informal discussions about careers in science and graduate training are also scheduled.

Approximately 75 fellows participate in the summer research program. Fellows are assigned to a laboratory and research project according to their previous training and research interests.

Research areas:

Biological Chemistry
Biomedical Engineering
Biophysics
Cancer Biology
Cell Biology
Chemistry
Developmental Biology
Genetics
Immunology
Integrative Biology
Mechanisms of Disease
Molecular Biology
Microbiology
Neuroscience
Pharmacology

Eligibility

Applicants must be enrolled in an undergraduate science degree program and have completed their sophomore year. Applicants must also be U.S. citizens or possess an F1 Visa.

Criteria used in selection of fellowship recipients include:

College grades
Relevant experience
Letters of recommendation from faculty who can assess the applicant's potential for advanced training and success in biological research

Physical science, mathematics, biomedical engineering and chemistry majors should consider the Quantitative and Physical Sciences Summer Undergraduate Fellowship (QP-SURF) program.

Stipend

The stipend for the 10-week program is $4,000. This support is taxable. Details on local living accommodations will be provided when fellows are notified of their acceptance. If a fellow requires housing, then the costs will be covered by the program; however, fellows are responsible for paying for their own travel expenses.

How to Apply

To apply for 2012 SURF, please complete the SURF 2012 Application. Also, please mail your official transcript from each college attended and two letters of recommendation. Materials should be mailed as a single packet or individually to: Vanessa Powell, SURF Administrator, UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-9004. The deadline is February 9, 2012.

Housing

Housing needs for SURF students are coordinated through the SURF office. SURF students requiring housing will stay in a local hotel and be transported to and from the UT Southwestern campus daily. SURF participants with family or friends in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area should plan to stay with them.

Contact

For additional information about the SURF Program, contact:

Nancy Street, PhD
SURF Director
Southwestern Graduate School
UT Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75390-9004
Phone: 214-633-1311
SURF@utsouthwestern.edu

Cubist-Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy Award

The American Society for Microbiology's premier award honoring outstanding accomplishment in antimicrobial research.

Eligibility:
The nominee must be actively engaged in research involving development of new agents, investigation of antimicrobial action or resistance to antimicrobial agents, and/or the pharmacology, toxicology or clinical use of those agents. The nominee must not have served on the ICAAC Program Committee within the past two years.

Award:
A cash prize of $10,000, a commemorative piece, and travel to ICAAC where the laureate delivers the Cubist-ICAAC Award Lecture.

Deadline: April 1.

Nominations:
Nominations will be considered without updating for three years. Self-nominations and more than one nomination per nominee will not be accepted. Only one nominating form and two supporting forms are accepted per nomination. The two supporters must be persons other than the nominator who are familiar with the nominee's qualifications and accomplishments. Only one of the three individuals involved in the nomination may be employed at the nominee's institution. The nominator and supporters must not share employers. Nominations must consist of the following:

Curriculum vitae, including a list of publications, emailed to awards@asmusa.org

ASM awards are granted at the discretion of award selection committees and may not be awarded every year.

American Academy of Microbiology Colloquium Fellowship

Beginning in 2011, the American Academy of Microbiology (Academy) will provide a one-year fellowship to a recent microbiology PhD recipient. The Academy is the honorific leadership group within the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), the world's oldest and largest life science organization. The mission of the Academy is to recognize scientists for outstanding contributions to microbiology and provide microbiological expertise in the service of science and the public. To this end, each year the Academy convenes three to four colloquia to address critical issues in microbiology. Colloquium reports are used by governmental agencies, industry, educators and the scientific and lay communities.

The field of microbiology is broad and microbiologists have much to contribute to solving societal challenges in health, food, energy and the environment. Communicating the excitement and potential benefits of advances in microbiology is critically important to attract the next generation of students into the field, to educate and inform the public and to justify continued investment in microbiology research. In addition to academic researchers and clinicians, the field of microbiology needs individuals who are skilled in science communication and public outreach. The goal of the AAM Colloquium fellowship is to provide an opportunity for a recent microbiology PhD graduate to develop these skills. The fellow will work closely with the Academy Director on the colloquium program, participating in the entire process from choosing appropriate topics through proposal development and fund-raising to writing colloquium reports to publicity and dissemination.

Applicants for the fellowship should have a broad interest in the field of microbiology and a willingness to learn about topics outside their own area of expertise. Exceptional writing skills are essential. The fellowship will provide salary and some benefits. The fellowship term is one year.

Applications are due March 1, 2012.

Responsibilities:

The fellow will work with the Director on the Academy Colloquium program:

developing novel colloquium ideas
working with volunteers to develop submitted colloquium ideas
identifying appropriate steering committee members and participants
identifying funding sources and drafting inquiries and/or grant proposals
attending colloquia and drafting session notes
drafting and editing colloquium reports
The fellow may also be asked to help with other Academy activities including the organization of General Meeting sessions, identification of candidates for Awards committees, monitoring the election to fellowship process and interfacing with other parts of the ASM.

Skills/qualifications:

Advanced degree in microbiology (PhD preferred)
Exceptional writing skills including the ability to write clearly and succinctly about complex scientific and technical topics for a general audience
Ability to assimilate and summarize information from the primary microbiology literature
Ability to follow, then quickly and accurately summarize group discussions
Ability to identify appropriate experts for colloquia, committees and other volunteer positions
Excellent people skills – experience working with expert volunteers would be a plus
Candidate must be prepared to travel; approximately 6 off-site meetings are anticipated during the one-year term of the fellowship.

How to Apply

Qualifications

Prospective fellows must be citizens of the United States, be members of ASM for at least one year and are expected to have completed their Ph.D. by the time the fellowship begins. Candidates are expected to show competence in some aspect of microbiology, have a broad background in science and technology, and have interest and some experience in applying scientific knowledge toward the solution of social problems. Candidates are expected to be excellent writers, articulate, literate, adaptable, interested in work on a range of microbiology issues, and able to work with a variety of people from diverse professional backgrounds.

Application

A complete application for the fellowship must include:

A letter from the candidate indicating a desire to apply and listing three references.

Three letters of references.

Reference letters should address: The reference's relationship to candidate; An evaluation of the technical accomplishments and relative standing of the candidate among his or her peers; The candidate's known interest and experience in applying his or her expertise to the solution of societal problems; The candidates ability to communicate and to interact productively with individuals and groups; An assessment of the candidate's maturity and judgmental ability; and An opinion about the candidate's professional future.

References should include individuals who can discuss not only the candidate's professional competence but also other aspects of his or her background interests which would make the applicant particularly qualified to serve as a Colloquium Fellow.

A statement from the candidate about his or her qualifications and career goals. The candidate's statement should not exceed 1,000 words. The statement should cover the following areas: Why the fellowship is desired; How the candidate is qualified for the Fellowship; and What outcome is hoped for relative to the candidate's career goals.

An updated C.V.
Applications, reference letters, and questions should be addressed to:

Colloquium Program Fellowship
American Academy of Microbiology
American Society for Microbiology
1752 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 942-9227
Fax: (202) 942-9353
Email: colloquia@asmusa.org

Applications due March 1, 2012.

Candidates selected for interviews must provide travel to and from Washington at their own expense. The candidate is responsible for soliciting the required references, providing the six guidelines for the reference response and seeing that the references are forwarded before the deadline.

Call for Applications: American Society for Microbiology Congressional Science Fellowship

The American Society for Microbiology invites its members to apply for a Congressional Science Fellowship. The deadline for application is February 24, 2012. The period of appointment extends for one year. The award will include a $60,000 stipend plus health care benefits. The American Society for Microbiology supports the ASM Congressional Science Fellowship with some funding provided by the Martin Frobisher Fund.

The program will select a postdoctoral to mid-career microbiologist to spend one year on the staff of an individual congressman, congressional committee, or with some other appropriate organizational unit of Congress. The purpose of the program is to make practical contributions to more effective use of scientific knowledge in government, to educate the scientific communities regarding public policy, and to broaden the perspective of both the scientific and governmental communities regarding the value of such science-government interaction.

The ASM Fellow will function as special legislative assistant within the congressional staff. The American Association for the Advancement of Science will arrange a carefully structured orientation program, guide the placement process, and coordinate weekly seminars throughout the year for the ASM Fellow, as well as other Congressional Fellows.

Qualifications

Prospective Fellows must be citizens of the United States, be members of ASM for at least one year and must have completed their Ph.D. by the time the fellowship begins in September. Candidates are expected to show competence in some aspect of microbiology, have a broad background in science and technology, and have interest and some experience in applying scientific knowledge toward the solution of social problems. Candidates are expected to be articulate, literate, adaptable, interested in work on a range of public policy problems, and able to work with a variety of people from diverse professional backgrounds.

Application

A Complete Application for the Fellowship must include:

1. A letter from the candidate indicating a desire to apply and listing three references.

2. Three letters of references. Reference letters should address: The reference's relationship to candidate; An evaluation of the technical accomplishments and relative standing of the candidate among his or her peers; The candidate's known interest and experience in applying his or her expertise to the solution of societal problems; The candidates ability to communicate and to interact productively with individuals and groups; An assessment of the candidate's maturity and judgmental ability; and An opinion about the candidate's professional future.

References should include individuals who can discuss not only the candidate's professional competence but also other aspects of his or her background interests which would make the applicant particularly qualified to serve as a Congressional Fellow.

3. A statement from the candidate about his or her qualifications and career goals. The candidate's statement should not exceed 1,000 words. The statement should cover the following areas: Why the fellowship is desired; How the candidate is qualified for the Fellowship; What issues and congressional situations interest the candidate; What role the candidate envisions as a Congressional Science Fellow; and What outcome is hoped for relative to the candidate's career goals.

4. An updated C.V.

Applications, reference letters, and questions should be addressed to:

Congressional Science Fellowship
Office of Public Affairs
American Society for Microbiology
1752 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 942-9209
FAX: (202) 942-9335
E-mail: Congressional Science Fellowship

Candidates selected for interviews must provide travel to and from Washington at their own expense. The candidate is responsible for soliciting the required references, providing the six guidelines for the reference response and seeing that the references are forwarded before the deadline.