Pfizer Centennial Travel Award in Basic Science Tropical Disease Research

Who: Individuals with doctoral-level degrees who seek travel to laboratories in the tropics to pursue studies in molecular, cellular or immunological aspects of tropical infectious diseases

What: Financial support for a short-term research experience in the tropics

When: Application deadline - August 15, 2007

How: Submit the materials listed below

Background ASTMH celebrated the 100th anniversary of its parent society in 2003. In honor of this anniversary, ASTMH created a Centennial Travel Award, sponsored by an unrestricted grant to the American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene by the Pfizer Foundation. The purpose of the award is to facilitate international collaboration in basic science aspects of tropical infectious diseases and to provide interested physicians or scientists the opportunity to obtain hands-on field experience in, in combination with laboratory studies of, parasitic, bacterial or viral infectious diseases in endemic developing countries. The society feels that one way to stimulate interest in tropical infectious diseases and build international collaborations is to provide physicians or scientists an opportunity to work with these diseases in those parts of the world where the burden of disease is high. The award will be administered by the Centennial Travel Award committee, and will provide $3,000 to help defray travel costs and living expenses abroad. The Centennial Travel Award recipient will be required to prepare a report describing his or her experiences, with the potential to be invited to make a presentation at the society's annual meeting.

Eligibility Full-time post-doctoral fellows (Ph.D., M.D. degrees or the equivalent) with positions at North American institutions who study any tropical infectious disease in one or more of the following disciplines: immunology, genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, cell biology, entomology, or related areas. Co-mentors must be identified both at a North American institution and overseas mentor. A one-page research plan should be submitted. Applicants should be sponsored by an ASTMH member.

Selection Criteria Applicants will be selected based on academic credentials, recommendations, quality of proposal, feasibility of completing the project, potential for enhancing international collaborative possibilities, and demonstration of serious interest in continuing to pursue international research in tropical infectious diseases in the future.

Application Instructions Deadline for submission: August 15, 2007

Award will be announced at the annual meeting in November 2007. The project should be carried out between December 2007 and September 2008.

Applications should contain the following information. Send eight (8) copies of the application package. Applications that are not received in sets of eight will not be considered for funding.

1. Curriculum vitae containing education, training, work experience, prior research experience, any publications or abstracts, honors and awards. Be sure to include institutional affiliation, department and specialty if applicable, student status, mailing address, telephone and fax numbers and e-mail address.
   
   
2. A one-page research plan describing the scientific objectives of the project, expected outcomes, the relative roles of the North American and international co-mentors, and a brief consideration of how this experience will enhance international research collaborations.
   
   
3. Letters of recommendation from:

   The North American faculty co-mentor
   The overseas research co-mentor
   A current or former teacher or supervisor who can attest to your academic and/or research abilities and potential

Posted: February 22, 2008