POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS
There are three programs that help provide funding for Buck postdocs and their projects.
The Glenn Foundation for Medical Research partners with the Buck Institute to provide project-based Research Training Fellowships. Projects are chosen for funding by a Faculty steering committee. . Glenn Fellows work under the supervision of a faculty mentor and receive a stipend (based on NIH recommended levels), training, professional development, and mentorship during their appointment, which lasts for up to three years. All nationals all eligible for this opportunity.
The Buck Institute administers an NIH-sponsored T32 postdoctoral research training program in basic aging research and age-related disease. The program provides postdoctoral fellows with stipends to work in any of the laboratories at the Buck Institute, and selected laboratories at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Stanford University and the University of California in Berkeley. US citizens and permanent residents are edible for this opportunity.
The Wayne and Gladys Valley Foundation Fellowship is an innovative new career-development award that will support ‘rising star’ junior scientists at the Buck Institute in developing their own scientific research program, and preparing them to pursue independent careers in the aging research field. All nationals all eligible for this opportunity.
FELLOWSHIP DETAILS
Since its founding in 1965 the Glenn Foundation for Medical Research has supported basic research to better understand the biology that governs normal human aging and its related physiological decline, with the objective of developing interventions that will extend the healthy years of human life. The Buck Institute hosts a Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research with funding from the Foundation. This funding supports up to 8 postdoctoral fellowship projects with the objectives of training and preparing future leading researchers and in discovering the mechanisms of aging and its relationship to the chronic conditions of aging.
See The Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research page for more details.
The Glenn Foundation for Medical Research co-sponsors the Bay Area Aging Meeting (BAAM) and the Gordon Research Conference on the Biology of Aging.
Training in basic research on aging and age-related disease
The current and future increase in the aged population will require extensive research to understand the underlying mechanisms responsible for age-related diseases and aging. It is, therefore, important to train young scientists in modern research disciplines that will promote excellent basic and translational aging research that will enhance the development of novel therapeutics to improve health in the aging population. Understanding the molecular mechanisms responsible for aging and age-related diseases requires knowledge and experience in the design of optimum research strategies and state-of-the-art integrated and interdisciplinary research approaches. This training program provides postdoctoral researchers with advanced research training in modern disciplines, including functional genomics, epigenomics, proteomics, molecular biology, cell biology, bioenergetics, chemical screening, microanatomy and powerful cellular and animal models.
The training for postdoctoral researchers at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Stanford University and University of California, Berkeley provides unique faculty expertise.
Trainees will gain knowledge in basic aging mechanisms, and age-related diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, stroke, cancer, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, sarcopenia and others. Trainees will gain skills in critical thinking to evaluate new research findings. In addition, trainees will receive instruction in written and verbal skills to enrich their publications, grant proposals, and oral presentations. Ongoing seminar series, basic science and clinical lectures, well-organized journal clubs, and research meetings will provide up-to-date information and intellectual cross-fertilization.
Location
The primary home of the training program is the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, located in Novato, California. Postdoctoral trainees may work under the primary supervision of any Buck Institute faculty or selected faculty at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Stanford University, or the University of California in Berkeley (UCB). The research will be conducted at the location of the primary preceptor. Please see the list below for eligible preceptors and apply directly to the preceptor.
Preceptors
Applicants should select a preceptor from the list below:
| Name | Affiliation | |||
| Andy Dillin | dillin@berkeley.edu | Professor, University of California at Berkeley | ||
| Anne Brunet | abrunet1@stanford.edu | Professor, Stanford University | ||
| Ashley Webb | AWebb@buckinstitute.org | Associate Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging | ||
| Birgit Schilling | bschilling@buckinstitute.org | Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging | ||
| Christopher Benz | cbenz@buckinstitute.org | Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging | ||
| Danica Chen | danicac@berkeley.edu | Professor, University of California at Berkeley | ||
| Daniel Winer | DWiner@buckinstitute.org | Associate Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging | ||
| David Schaffer | schaffer@berkeley.edu | Professor, University of California at Berkeley | ||
| David Furman | DFurman@buckinstitute.org | Associate Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging | ||
| Dirk Hockemeyer | hockemeyer@berkeley.edu | Associate Professor, University of California at Berkeley | ||
| Dr. Helen Blau | hblau2@stanford.edu | Professor, Stanford University | ||
| Elcin Unal | elcin@berkeley.edu | Associate Professor, University of California at Berkeley | ||
| Eric Verdin | EVerdin@buckinstitute.org | President and CEO, Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging | ||
| Francesca Duncan | FDuncan@buckinstitute.org | Associate Professor in Residence, Buck Institute for Research on Aging; Associate Professor, Northwestern University | ||
| George A. Brooks | gbrooks@berkeley.edu | Professor, University of California at Berkeley | ||
| Gordon Lithgow | glithgow@buckinstitute.org | Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging | ||
| Howard Chang | howchang@stanford.edu | Professor, Stanford University | ||
| Irina Conboy | iconboy@berkeley.edu | Professor, University of California at Berkeley | ||
| Jennifer Garrison | JGarrison@buckinstitute.org | Assistant Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging | ||
| John Newman | JNewman@buckinstitute.org | Associate Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging; Associate Professor of Medicine UCSF | ||
| Judith Frydman | jfrydman@stanford.edu | Professor, Stanford University | ||
| Judith Campisi | jcampisi@buckinstitute.org | Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging | ||
| Julie Andersen | jandersen@buckinstitute.org | Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging | ||
| Kai Zhou | KZhou@buckinstitute.org | Assistant Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging | ||
| Katrin Chua | kfchua@stanford.edu | Professor, Stanford University | ||
| Lisa Ellerby | lellerby@buckinstitute.org | Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging | ||
| Malene Hansen | MHansen@buckinstitute.org | Chief Scientific Officer & Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging | ||
| Pankaj Kapahi | pkapahi@buckinstitute.org | Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging | ||
| Pejmun Haghighi | PHaghighi@buckinstitute.org | Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging | ||
| Peter K. Jackson | pjackson@stanford.edu | Professor, Stanford University | ||
| Peter Sudmant | psudmant@berkeley.edu | Assistant Professor, University of Califronia at Berkeley | ||
| Polina Lishko | lishko@berkeley.edu | Associate Professor, University of California at Berkeley | ||
| Rachel Brem | RBrem@berkeley.edu | Associate Professor, University of California at Berkeley | ||
| Sidd Jaiswal | sjaiswal@stanford.edu | Assistant Professor, Stanford University | ||
| Simon Melov | smelov@buckinstitute.org | Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging | ||
| Steven Artandi | sartandi@stanford.edu | Professor, Stanford University | ||
| Tara Tracy | TTracy@buckinstitute.org | Assistant Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging | ||
| Ting-Ting Huang | tthuang@stanford.edu | Associate Professor, Stanford University | ||
| William Jagust | jagust@berkeley.edu | Professor, University of California at Berkeley | ||
How to Apply for a Postdoctoral Training slot
Eligible individuals (as required by NIH, trainees must be US citizens or permanent residents) wishing to apply for a position on this training grant should contact a preceptor on the list — send the preceptor a CV, cover letter, and a list of three references. Either the preceptor or the trainee may select a second preceptor for joint training. The primary preceptor will then submit an application to the Training Program.
Criteria for Acceptance
- Quality as determined by publications, awards and recommendations, commitment to a career in basic or translational aging and/or age-related disease research, and relevance of the training project to aging or age-related disease.
- Collaborative projects between one or more preceptors, particularly inter-institutional projects, will be given special consideration.
- Verification of US citizenship or permanent residence.
The Buck Institute marked its annual T32 Trainee Research Day on March 1, 2024. This training grant, led by Professors Lisa Ellerby and the late Judy Campisi, boasts a 25-year history. Since 1998, the Buck Institute has received the grant, aiding in the training of postdoctoral scientists nominated by mentors across 32 laboratories spanning the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, UC Berkeley, Stanford University, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
The Valley Foundation Fellowship is an innovative career-development award that will support ‘rising star’ junior scientists at the Buck Institute in developing their own scientific research program, and preparing them to pursue independent careers in the aging research field.
A Valley Foundation Fellowship Award is for two years and enables the following benefits to the awardee:
- Promotion to Research Scientist position upon award of a Valley Foundation Fellowship.
- Allocation of independent research budget: $20,000 per year in direct costs for innovative and impactful scientific research.
- Access to a mentoring committee that meets with the fellowship awardees twice a year assessing progress.
- Financial support to participate in leadership development, grant-writing (including navigating NIH and other funding opportunities), and lab-management training.
Next application deadline is projected to Spring 2025.
Eligibility
The applicant is required to hold a PhD, and to show excellent scientific merit, leadership qualities, and ambitions to secure an independent faculty position in the future, following the Valley Foundation Fellowship Award. Furthermore, the applicant is currently employed at the Buck Institute and is a:
Postdoctoral Researcher with at least three full years of postdoctoral experience at the time of application; or
Research Scientist or Staff Scientist, who is interested in a path to scientific independence.
Moreover, these additional criteria apply:
- The applicant is required to demonstrate a specific/novel impact to the field of aging research, and strong potential to become an independent researcher.
- The applicant should show a strong prior record of scientific productivity, and to exhibit strong potential for leadership qualities in respect to scientific impact, scientific networking, and mentorship capabilities.
- The applicant’s mentor is required to commit to support the candidate on their path to become an independent researcher by endorsing the promotion of the applicant to Research Scientist as part of receiving and implementing the Valley Foundation Fellowship Award. Final promotion decisions will follow institute procedure and will be made by CSO, VP of Academics, and a faculty from the Committee of Appointments and Promotions.
Application
The following documents need to be included as part of the application submission:
- Check list (provided as separate word document)
- NIH Biosketches from applicant and mentor/co-mentor(s)
- The application package, consisting of:
- Two-page Candidate Career Development Plan, including planned new scientific skills, vision for future scientific independence and impact, planned activities to develop career skills and mentoring capabilities, and relevance of the award for the future career. The candidate should highlight a clear path to scientific independence.
- Two-page Research Plan (allowing for one extra page of figures and references) demonstrating innovative aging research and/or research on age-related diseases. Impact to the field of aging research should be clearly stated.
- List of suggested members for a mentoring committee with short justification for these members and their anticipated contributions (e.g., mentoring, advice for new skill sets/technologies). Please consider one member to be represented from the Buck Institute leadership (e.g., CEO, CSO, VP Academic Affairs etc.) for additional insights into academic organizations and guidance.
- Short (maximum half a page) diversity statement from the candidate.
- List of reference letter writers including names, affiliation, position/title and email information.
- Two-page Commitment letter from the Mentor/Co-Mentor(s) highlighting prior productivity, scientific excellence, and leadership qualities of the candidate. The mentor letter needs to include a clear statement that upon successful funding of a candidate, the mentor will support internal promotion of the candidate to Research Scientist with the following salary distribution:
- For Postdoctoral Researchers who are promoted to Research Scientist the salary will be in accordance with the base salary of $80,000 plus fringe (obtained from the Valley Foundation).
- If the candidate already earns >$80,000 there will be a 5% merit increase on their current salary. In this case, the Valley Foundation will pay $80,000 plus fringe – the difference will be supported by the mentor (the latter should be stated in the mentor letter).
- Three to five reference letters
For any questions, please contact the chair of the Valley Foundation Fellowship Committee
(Dr. Birgit Schilling, email: bschilling@buckinstitute.org).
Next application deadline is projected to Spring 2025.
To be announced.
To be announced.