MEMORANDUM
TO: All University of
Minnesota Faculty
FROM: The University of Minnesota
Postdoctoral Association (PDA)
SUBJECT: Call for Nominations: Outstanding
Postdoctoral Scholar Award
DEADLINE: August 26, 2015
We seek your nominations for candidates for the
University of Minnesota Outstanding Postdoctoral Scholar Award. The award
recognizes extraordinary performance and achievement of postdoctoral scholars
at the University of Minnesota. All full-time, tenure-track or tenured faculty
with direct postdoctoral mentoring experience are eligible to submit
nominations. Up to two awards will be made: one for a junior postdoc (less
than 3 years), and one for a senior postdoc (more than 3 years). Each recipient will receive an honorarium of $400*
and will be recognized during Postdoctoral Appreciation Week in September 2015.
Eligibility
All postdoctoral fellows, postdoctoral associates
and research associates within five years of obtaining their PhDs who hold
appointments at the University for a minimum of six months but less than five years are eligible for nomination. The postdoctoral
nominee must have been mentored by the nominating faculty member (although it
is not necessary that the nominator be the nominee’s principal research
advisor), and must have a postdoctoral appointment at the University of Minnesota
through fall semester 2015 or beyond.
Selection Criteria
Although achievement can be defined in many ways,
the purpose of the Outstanding Postdoctoral Scholar Award is to recognize
outstanding contributions to research, scholarship and/or creative activities
on a national or
international level and to
acknowledge scholars who have actively pursued opportunities and resources to
enhance their intellectual and professional development. Award recipients will
be selected based on the criteria below, which exemplify the qualities and
practices of an outstanding postdoctoral scholar.
- Scholarly
Achievement, Fellowships/Grants: postdoc has sought out opportunities to
apply for fellowships, grants, and other awards. They have demonstrated the potential for
a successful career by securing either institutional funding (e.g. T32
fellowship) or external funding (NIH, etc.) to support their work.
- Scholarly
Achievement, Publications/Presentations: postdoc should have a strong
publishing record (e.g. authored or co-authored a book or publications in
leading academic journals recognized by scholars in their field.). If the postdoc is more junior, they
should have a record of presenting research at national and international
meetings. Competitive selection for oral presentations and posters are
considered more prestigious.
Preferably they would obtain travel awards or receive a presentation
award for their presentation.
- Growth: the
nominee should demonstrate evidence of strategic use of the postdoctoral
appointment for intellectual, technical and professional development. The
postdoc should seek opportunities to learn new techniques and seek
training to develop professional skills such as grant writing, lab
management, institutional review, committee work, teaching, mentoring and
leadership, networking or presentation skills.
- Service:
The postdoctoral scholar should exhibit leadership within their work/lab
group as well as service or leadership within the
department/institution. The postdoc should seek to to
build and engage in a significant intellectual community in order to
enhance the overall scholarly, intellectual, and creative development of
the postdoctoral community at the University of Minnesota and/or national
level such as involvement in a professional organization.
How to Nominate a Candidate
All full-time, tenure-track or tenured faculty
with direct postdoctoral mentoring experience are eligible to submit
nominations. To
nominate a scholar, submit a copy of the
nominee’s CV and a nomination letter of no more than 2 pages (single–spaced)
electronically as a Word or PDF file to pda@umn.edu. Faculty
mentors may nominate only one scholar; however, scholars may be nominated by
one or more faculty members. In the case of nominations by more than one
individual, a single letter of nomination may be submitted.
Your nomination letter should:
- Address
the characteristics of outstanding scholars described above. While you are
encouraged to keep your comments brief, make sure to provide appropriate
and relevant details about the scholar. The applicants will only be judged
on their experiences as a postdoctoral scholar.
- Include
the nominee’s contact information and your contact information (name,
campus address, email), as well as the contact information for any co-nominators.
In cases where there is more than one nominator, a primary contact should
be identified.
Please
direct questions to pda@umn.edu.
DEADLINE: August 26, 2015
*Honorarium will be subject to taxes and related deductions as the payment of
university funds must go through the employment system.
The PDA is supported by the
Graduate School
321 Johnston Hall 101 Pleasant Street SE Minneapolis, MN 5545
612-625-2809
gsdean@umn.edu
