Professional Development Awards
Postdoc Professional Development Awards
The Office of Postdoctoral Scholars for the School of Medicine offers professional development awards biannually on a competitive basis. The Postdoctoral Fellow Professional Development awards will be given in the fall and spring semesters in an amount not to exceed $500.00. Only postdocs in the School of Medicine and the School of Dentistry are eligible for these awards; other schools have their own awards. A postdoctoral fellow may receive only one award per academic year.
The application process includes filling out an online application and sending your CV. Every fall and spring, emails will go out to all postdocs with the directions and deadline. Any incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
Please don't hesitate to contact the Office of Postdoctoral Scholars (OPS) with any questions.
Michael Shipley Award for an Exceptional Postdoctoral Neuroscientist
In honor of Michael Shipley and his commitment to and success in neuroscience, the Michael Shipley Award for an Exceptional Postdoctoral Neuroscientist will be given to a postdoctoral fellow who has demonstrated excellence in neuroscience research. This is a cash award to help the recipient launch their career.
One of the world’s leading experts on the neural organization of the olfactory bulb, Dr. Shipley chaired the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology for twenty-five years. He was also the Donald E Wilson, MD, MACP Distinguished Professor, and the Founding Director of the UMSOM Program in Neuroscience. During his career, he published more than 185 peer-reviewed papers, invited reviews, and book chapters about neural networks and always exhibited probing curiosity and exquisite skills in generating critical and discerning questions. Not only did he have continual NIH funding for four decades, but he also mentored many junior scientists in the process of publishing and grant submission.
Nominee Eligibility Criteria
The postdoctoral fellow chosen to receive this award will have demonstrated a history of critical thinking and a passion for continued learning in neuroscience. The fellow will have a proven outstanding record of research performance, professional development, and an exceptional record of accomplishments, including publications, grants, and awards. The postdoctoral fellow must be within their fourth year or less of a postdoctoral fellowship at UMSOM.
Nomination Process
To be nominated for this award, a mentor must have known the postdoctoral fellow for at least one year in order to gauge her/his ability and achievements. The mentor must submit a nomination letter that details the nominee’s qualifications for the award and projections for future training and career. The nominee must submit a CV and a research summary including future directions (no more than two pages). Another supporting letter should be written by an additional faculty member or a collaborator. Emails will go out to postdocs and faculty members to announce the award and deadline.
Award Amount
Cash in the amount of $ 1,000.00
Award Conditions
This award is to be used for professional development activities such as attending a conference, training in specific methodology by working with an expert in the field, or some other activity directly related to research. After one year, the awardee will be expected to submit a brief statement of how the award was used to benefit their career.
J. Tyson Tildon Award for a Promising Neuroscientist and Community Servant
In memory of J. Tyson Tildon and his commitment both to neuroscience research and service to his community, the J. Tyson Tildon Award for a Promising Neuroscientist and Community Servant will be given periodically to a dynamic postdoctoral fellow who has demonstrated community service. This is a cash award to help the recipient launch her/his career.
Dr. Tildon was the founder and head of the Division of Pediatric Research and the first Associate Dean for Research for the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Dr. Tildon also served on boards for Baltimore City Public Schools, United Way of Maryland, Associated Black Charities, WYPR radio, the Civil Services Commission of Baltimore, the Maryland Academy of Sciences, the Enoch Pratt Free Library, and the American Red Cross.
Nominee Eligibility Criteria
The postdoctoral fellow chosen to receive this award will have demonstrated a history of critical thinking and a passion for continued learning in neuroscience. Additionally, the fellow will have a proven commitment to helping others in the scientific community or community at large, reflecting the spirit of Dr. Tildon’s dedication to the pursuit of research and exceptional service.
Nomination Process
To be nominated for this award, the mentor must have known the postdoctoral fellow for at least one year in order to gauge her/his character, ability, and commitment to service. The mentor must submit a nomination letter, the nominee’s CV, a brief personal statement written by the nominee (no more than one page), and 1-2 other supporting letters. At least one supporting letter must be from someone who can directly address the fellow’s service contributions. Emails will go out to postdocs and faculty members to announce the award and deadline.
Award Amount
Cash in the amount of $ 3,000.00-5,000.00.
Award Conditions
This award is to help the recipient launch her/his career. For example, it can be used by the recipient to travel to a conference to present her/his research and gain valuable networking, or to train in a specific methodology by working with in an expert in the field. After one year, the awardee will be expected to submit a brief statement of how the award was used to benefit her/his career.
Postdoctoral Fellow Excellence in Research Award
This award is intended to honor a postdoctoral fellow who shows an outstanding record of research performance, professional development, and exceptional record of accomplishments. The supporting letters should address the significance of the nominee's work in the context of the specific discipline and science in general.
Emails will go out when the call for nominations opens. There is no limit to the number of nominations that we will accept for this award.
The following items are required by the committee:
• A nomination letter from the mentor
• A letter of support from a faculty member
• A curriculum vitae
• An abstract of no more than 500 words summarizing the overall work and its significance in the field
Postdoctoral Fellow Excellence in Service Award
In recognition of the University’s commitment to our core values and community engagement, this award is intended to honor a postdoctoral fellow of outstanding character who demonstrates a consistent record of service and support to the School of Medicine or the community outside of the laboratory. The recipient of this award must show evidence of a good working relationship with peers and faculty and have earned the esteem of others.
Emails will go out when the call for nominations opens. There is no limit to the number of nominations that we will accept for this award.
The following items are required by the committee:
• Two letters from faculty members, postdoctoral fellows, staff members, graduate students, or representatives of a service organization highlighting why the postdoctoral fellow is being nominated for their service specifically
• A curriculum vitae highlighting the candidate’s service record
Postdoctoral Fellow Excellence in Mentorship Award
This award is intended to honor a postdoctoral fellow who shows an outstanding record of supportive mentorship in a laboratory during their time at the School of Medicine.
Emails will go out when the call for nominations opens. There is no limit to the number of nominations that we will accept for this award.
The following items are required by the committee:
• A nomination letter from a mentee of the candidate. Letters should include stories from mentees who value their postdoctoral fellows for their expertise, patience, availability, creativity, kindness, and the investments the postdoctoral fellows make in their commitment to training the next generation of researchers. Letters should describe the frequency of the interactions with mentees, the length of the relationships with mentees, and the importance of their impact on the mentee’s professional or educational success.
• An additional letter of support from a faculty member, postdoctoral fellow, graduate student, staff member, or additional mentee
• A curriculum vitae highlighting the candidate’s mentorship activity