Cassen Post-Doctoral Fellowship Award
The Education and Research Foundation of the Society of Nuclear Medicine has established the Benedict Cassen Postdoctoral Fellowship award. The fellowship will be awarded to recent doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Ph.D. plus M.D.) recipients demonstrating an excellent academic record and exceptional research ability. Its purpose is to broaden recipients' basic exposure to nuclear medicine research at an institution different from that conferring the doctoral degree. The award, amounting to $25,000 per year, is for two years, contingent upon satisfactory performance the first year.
Applicants may obtain the Cassen Postdoctoral Fellowship proposal format guidelines and selection criteria from SNM at the address below. The deadline for receipt of complete application packages is November 15.
For further information, contact Susan C. Weiss, CNMT, The Education and Research Foundation for the Society of Nuclear Medicine, 6500 Appaloosa Ave. N., Forest Lake, MN 55025
Selection Criteria
1. Applicants must be recent doctoral degree (PhD or PhD+MD) recipients who have achieved an excellent academic record and demonstrated exceptional research ability.
2. The sponsoring institution must be different from that conferring the doctoral degree.
3. The research sponsored by this award should not be an extension of the applicant's doctoral research.
4. No more than five (5) years can have passed from the date the doctoral degree was granted to the starting date of the appointment. In exceptional circumstances and based on proper justification, the Board of Directors of the Education and Research Foundation may waive this requirement (e.g., for scientists proposing a major change in their career direction or a second career).
5. The period between the conferring of this award and the start date of the applicant?s appointment cannot exceed nine (9) months. Beyond that time, the award lapses, but the applicant may reapply.
6. The award is made to an individual through the sponsoring institution. Expenditure of award funds is limited to the candidate?s salary plus fringe benefits and under no circumstances will the award include any payment for institutional overhead charges. The sponsoring institution is expected to provide all other required support.
7. This award is intended to provide an opportunity to broaden the applicant?s basic science research experience and exposure to nuclear medicine research. Therefore, it is deemed improper to request Cassen Fellows to divert research efforts to work not directly associated with their own research, or to work that does not broaden their training or experience.
8. The foremost criterion for an applicant?s selection is the candidate?s record of achievement as evidenced undergraduate and graduate transcripts, lists of publications and letters of recommendation.
9. While any qualified candidate can be considered for research at a US/Canadian institution, for research proposed to be carried out at a non-US/Canadian institution, candidates must be US citizens.
10. The purpose of this award is to attract exceptional new scientific talent into nuclear medicine. Each applicant is required to provide the Cassen Postdoctoral Fellowship Committee with no more than a one page statement of his/her short-term and long-term plans and goals.
11. The award, amounting to $25,000 per year, is for two years, contingent upon satisfactory performance the first year.
12. Application deadline is November 15.
13. Awards will be granted only when outstanding candidates, as determined by the Cassen Postdoctoral Fellowship Committee, have applied.
Proposal Format
* A cover letter addressed to the Basic Scientist Committee from the sponsor, with approval signature of the appropriate Department Chairman, containing (in tabular form) the proposal?s basic data as follows:
1. The candidate?s name
2. The candidate?s Social Security Number
3. The candidate?s citizenship
4. The sponsor?s name and degree
5. Date of receipt of Ph.D. degree
6. Awarding institution
7. Graduate GPA
8. Undergraduate Institution
9. Undergraduate GPA
10. Proposed date of appointment
* A nominating letter from the sponsor only (one page limit)
* Optional internal references limited to a one-page total
* A typed one-page research proposal written by the candidate
* Three written external references covering graduate and postgraduate records and research experience
* Undergraduate and graduate transcripts (official only)
* Candidate's curriculum vitae, including list of publications
* Candidate's short-term and long-term plans and goals, limited to one page
* Optional addenda supporting candidate's nomination (limited to 3 pages)
Applications should be submitted to:
The Education and Research Foundation
c/o Sue Weiss, CNMT Executive Director
6500 Appaloosa Ave. N
Forest Lake, MN 55025
