The Graduate Office is now accepting nominations for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s 2022 Gilliam Fellowships for Advanced Study. The goals of the Gilliam program are to ensure that students from groups historically excluded from and underrepresented in science are prepared to assume leadership roles in science and science education, and to foster the development of a healthier, more inclusive academic scientific ecosystem by partnering with faculty and institutions committed to advancing diversity and inclusion in the sciences. The program provides awards to pairs of dissertation advisers and their graduate students. The adviser-student pairs must be studying scientific problems in biomedical sciences, life sciences, or biological questions in related disciplines. This includes basic research on a variety of biological systems and at all scales including at the molecular, cellular, organismal, and ecological levels. This initiative does not support social science research.
Caltech can nominate a total of three adviser-student pairs this year and the Graduate Dean will be responsible for submitting the nominations on behalf of the Institute. If you’d like to submit a nomination, please email the Graduate Studies Office ([email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>) the student's CV with a short summary that addresses the candidate’s promise as a scientific investigator, potential for leadership in the scientific community, aspiration for a career in academic, and a commitment to advance diversity and inclusion in science. Eligibility requirements are defined below. DEADLINES September 10, 2021, 5pm PST - the deadline for submitting a nomination to the Graduate Office September 16, 2021, 2pm EST - nominations are submitted to HHMI - most of this package will be prepared by the Graduate Office, but the nomination letter should include evidence that the thesis adviser has the interest, demonstrated ability, and commitment to (1) successfully develop the talents of graduate students, including those from populations historically excluded from and underrepresented in science; and (2) facilitate change to foster a more inclusive academic scientific environment December 9, 2021, 2pm EST - full application is due at HHMI, with parts completed by both the adviser and the student ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Prospective fellows must be (i) U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, undocumented childhood arrivals, or undocumented individuals who have been granted temporary permission to stay in the US (DACA), and (ii) from populations excluded from and underrepresented in science because of ethnicity, race, or disability status, or Alumni of the HHMI EXROP program, and (i) are in their second or third year of a PhD program, (ii) and/or have at least two full years of study remaining, and (iii) who have or will advance to candidacy by September 1, 2022. Eligibility information can be found in the 2022 Gilliam Program Announcement<https://www.hhmi.org/sites/default/files/2022-gilliam-program-announcement.pdf>. Students who are enrolled in or affiliated with a funded MD/PhD or other dual-degree program are not eligible (e.g., MSTP or institutionally funded program). The nomination document will be a key part of the material reviewed by the review panel. To better understand the institutions efforts to foster a more inclusive academic scientific ecosystem for all members, including scientists and trainees from populations historically excluded from and underrepresented in science, the complete nomination to HHMI will include the following: - How the student fits the eligibility requirements; - An explanation of how and why each adviser-student pair was selected for nomination; - Evidence that the adviser’s department is committed to advancing diversity and inclusion in science; - Evidence that the graduate program and/or department values career and professional development in the sciences; and - An explanation of how past Gilliam awards have impacted the quality of the graduate program and helped foster a more inclusive environment (if the institution has had Gilliam Fellows), or how the Gilliam award will help to improve the quality of the graduate program and create an inclusive environment (if the institution has not yet had a Fellow). As part of the application process, the nominator must certify to the best of their knowledge, that there is no formal complaint or finding of misconduct by any of the principals being nominated, applying, or to be awarded the grant. The nomination initiates the application process. Information about the application process can be found in the 2022 Gilliam Program Announcement<https://www.hhmi.org/sites/default/files/2022-gilliam-program-announcement.pdf>.
