[Neuropostdocs] RE: Travel Fellowships

[Paul Gold]

Christian -

In principle, this is an excellent idea.  Gene has mentioned that the
funding we get from the University is specifically targeted for graduate
training and therefore not applicable to postdocs.  There are two venues I
know of for travel fellowships via SFN.  One is through the chapters - I
think Central Illinois (us) is one of these but, if so, we never do anything
about it - that can receive applications and sponsor names through SFN.  The
other is C-WIN, formerly Women in Neuroscience.  If I am right about the
former, chapter fellowships, we should find out how it works and sponsor
postdocs.  The latter is not limited to women, but application includes an
essay (roughly) on the roles of women in science.  As I understand it, both
require an essay and submission of the abstract and c.v.  The announcements
coincide with the call for abstracts and the application date is at or soon
after abstract deadline dates.  I'm on the C-WIN committee so should get
details as they evolve.  

These travel awards are pretty competitive.  I think a total of about 30
postdocs across both groups, a low number for all of SFN.  

Perhaps others will have additional ideas about funding.  

Paul


------------------------------------------
Paul E. Gold, Ph.D.
Interim Director, Neuroscience Program
Professor, Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, and the Neuroscience
Program 
Editor, Neurobiology of Learning and Memory 
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
603 East Daniel Street
Champaign, Illinois 61820
Office: (217) 244-0673; Fax: (217) 244-5876
e-mail: pgold at uiuc.edu
http://www.life.uiuc.edu/neuroscience/faculty/profiles/gold.html

-----Original Message-----
From: Christian Beaulé [mailto:cbeaule at mac.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2005 7:36 PM
To: Paul Gold; Sam Beshers
Cc: Gene Robinson; Neuropostdocs UIUC
Subject: Travel Fellowships

Dr. Gold (Neuroscience Program Interim Director) Dr. Beshers (Neuroscience
Program Coordinator)

I would like to know if you would be interested in discussing the
possibility that the Neuroscience Program would offer travel fellowships for
the members of the NSP postdoctoral association. As I understand it, every
NSP graduate students is allowed a once a year travel fellowship when
attending a recognized scientific conference.

As you are well aware, many postdoctoral research associates are without
fellowships, or are with fellowships that do not provide a travel allowance.
The costs associated with the participation to a scientific conference
becomes the burden of the advisor and/or postdoctoral research associate. As
far as I know, postdoctoral research associates fall in the gray area
between graduate students and faculty with respect to departmental travel
allowances. Both the advisors and the postdoctoral research associates would
benefit from such travel fellowships.

I would greatly appreciate hearing your opinions on this topic.

Sincerely,

Christian Beaulé
Coordinator of NSP Postdoctoral Association



Christian Beaulé, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Researcher
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Cell and Structural
Biology
B107 Chemical and Life Sciences Laboratory MC-123
601 South Goodwin Avenue
Urbana, IL, 61801. USA
Work Phone: (217) 244-1842
Work Fax: (217) 333-4651
http://www.life.uiuc.edu/clockworks/
________________________________________________________
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