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     Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
     and
     U.S. Department of Energy
     
     Postdoctoral Fellowships in Computational Molecular Biology (Round II)
     
     The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy 
     believe that a nexus with exceptional scientific potential is emerging 
     between the powerful theoretical and practical tools of molecular 
     biology and the revolutionary power of modern computational 
     techniques. However, too few scientists possess the cross-disciplinary 
     skills in both molecular biology and computation that are needed to 
     further such advances. 
     
     The purpose of these fellowships is to catalyze career transitions 
     into computational molecular biology from physics, mathematics, 
     computer science, chemistry, and related fields. Ideal candidates will 
     have strong educational backgrounds in such fields and wish to bring 
     these backgrounds to bear upon computational molecular research 
     questions. In exceptional cases, we will also consider applications 
     from more traditional biological orientations in transition to 
     computational molecular biology. Applicants already firmly rooted in 
     computational molecular biology, or who are proposing to continue 
     pursuit of research undertaken for their Ph.D.s, may be more 
     appropriate candidates for other postdoctoral opportunities. 
     
     This postdoctoral program is designed to give computationally 
     sophisticated young scientists an intensive postdoctoral opportunity 
     in an appropriate molecular biology laboratory. We particularly wish 
     to encourage applications from those holding doctorates in 
     mathematics, physics, computer science, chemistry, or other relevant 
     fields who would like to develop the capacity to apply their 
     computational sophistication to the complex problems that increasingly 
     face molecular biology. 
     
     The focus of this program is upon those aspects of computational 
     molecular biology related to data and information resulting from the 
     study of human and other genomes. Computational molecular biology is 
     taken broadly to include the application of mathematics (continuous 
     and discrete), statistics, probability, and computer science to 
     fundamental problems of molecular biology. The goal is to foster 
     interactions between the mathematical and biological sciences and to 
     provide rigorous training for scientists in this new interdisciplinary 
     area. Of special interest are important problems in structural biology 
     and genome analysis, including analysis of protein and nucleic acid 
     sequence, protein and nucleic acid structure, genome structure and 
     maps, cross-species genome analysis, multi-genic traits, and 
     structure-function relationships where the structures are from 
     genomes, genes, or gene products. 
     
     Applications will be reviewed by:
     
     Fred E. Cohen, University of California, San Francisco     
     Philip P. Green, University of Washington
     Barry Honig, Columbia University
     Leroy E. Hood, University of Washington
     Michael S. Waterman, University of Southern California 
     
     
     Awards will support up to two years of research work in an appropriate 
     molecular biology department or laboratory in the U.S. or Canada 
     selected by the applicant. The principal selection criteria will be 
     the potential of the applicant and the proposed postdoctoral research 
     and training plan for furthering rigorous computational approaches to 
     analysis of important molecular biological problems, both theoretical 
     and empirical. The capabilities of the proposed laboratory and senior 
     scientist in computational molecular research, and support for the 
     postdoctoral research by the senior scientist (department chair or 
     laboratory director) will be an important  element considered in 
     selection. In addition, where possible, applicants are encouraged to 
     seek a secondary faculty sponsor from the mathematical/computer 
     sciences sector of the same campus.  Only one proposal per applicant 
     will be considered, and a senior scientist should endorse only one 
     applicant for this competition. 
     
     There are no formal application forms needed for this program. 
     
     Further details and application procedures are as follows: 
     
     Number, Starting Date and Grant Period: 
     
     Up to 10 fellowships will be granted during 1997, each with a total 
     budget of $100,000 (including indirect and overhead costs, which 
     together will be limited to 15% of direct costs). These funds are to 
     be spread over a grant period of two years ($50,000 per year). 
     Selections for this second round will be announced in July, 1997. 
     Funding may begin any time after September 1, 1997. 
     
     Stipend: 
     
     -$42,000 per year to Fellow, inclusive of benefits.
     -$ 1,500 per year in research expenses to be allocated at the          
     discretion of the Fellow.
     -Institutional overhead of up to 15% of direct costs.
     
     Eligibility: 
     
     Fellow - Applicants must be citizens or legal permanent residents of 
     the United States. Ph.D. earned within the past 5 years or expected by 
     December, 1997, in mathematics, physics, computer science, chemistry 
     or other relevant fields. (Initiation of postdoc requires completion 
     of Ph.D.) Applications to extend an existing postdoc cannot be 
     considered. 
     
     Institution - Non-profit private or public institution of higher 
     education or research, located in the United States or Canada. 
     Applicant must make formal arrangements with a senior scientist (e.g. 
     laboratory director) at the institution where the postdoctoral 
     fellowship would be held before applying for the award. 
     
     Materials Needed for Application:
     
     From Applicant (8 copies, fully collated):
     
     Cover Page, including:
     
     - Applicant's name, address, telephone, fax and e-mail - Applicant's 
     current department and institution 
     - Title of proposed postdoctoral research project and institution at   
     which it would be conducted (including mail and email addresses and  
     telephone and fax numbers) 
     - Planned starting date of postdoctoral fellowship 
     - Applicant's Ph.D. granting institution and year of receipt (or date  
     realistically expected) 
     - Brief educational history indicating the year and institution of     
     graduate study and of any postdoctoral research
     - Laboratory, department and institution in which postdoctoral         
     fellowship would be held 
     - Name, address and telephone of senior scientist 
     - Names, addresses, telephone numbers, etc., of references
     
     Abstract of proposed research (not to exceed 300 words) 
     
     Proposed research/training plan describing scientific importance of 
     subject, with considerable specificity as to analytic methods and data 
     to be employed, and reason for choice of proposed sponsoring scientist 
     and institution (with a firm maximum of 1,500 words, including 
     selected citations). 
     
     If desired, copies of up to two reprints may be attached to each 
     collated copy of proposal. 
     
     Statement of applicant's reasons for interest in computational 
     molecular biology, current career goals, and potential role of 
     postdoctoral fellowship in attaining such goals (ca. 250 words). 
     
     A summary of the major findings of the applicant's dissertation 
     research (250 words). 
     
     Curriculum vitae including educational background, topic of doctoral 
     dissertation, positions held to date, scientific awards and grants 
     received citing source, duration and amount (direct costs),full 
     titles, and references of all publications. 
     
     Formal institutional endorsement of proposal may be included, but is 
     not required unless and until a formal award offer has been made. 
     
     A stamped, self-addressed postcard (if applicant desires) to confirm 
     that application materials have been received (allow at least 3 weeks 
     for processing; no telephone calls, please). 
     
     All applications should be final and complete; no substitutions or 
     additions. 
     
     From Sponsoring Senior Scientist (8 copies, fully collated): 
     
     Letter of agreement to host and supervise the research of postdoctoral 
     applicant, including any necessary institutional clearances, e.g. 
     animal experimentation, human subjects, recombinant DNA, etc.  Letter 
     must include qualitative comments concerning scientific merit of 
     proposed research and training plan. 
     
     Brief description (500 words) of current research, sources of funding, 
     relevance of applicant's proposed research, and personnel with whom 
     applicant would work. 
     
     Curriculum vitae including educational background, current and former 
     positions, scientific awards and grants received citing source, 
     duration and amount (direct costs), full titles and references of 
     publications related to computational molecular biology. 
     
     From References (8 copies): 
     
     The applicant must request reference letters from three scientists 
     (excluding sponsoring scientist) in relevant disciplines who are 
     knowledgeable about applicant's capabilities and previous research, 
     and to whom he/she has sent a copy of the research/training plan 
     proposed for the postdoctoral fellowship. If possible, one of these 
     three should have personal knowledge of the applicant's doctoral 
     research, and all must comment on the applicant's summary of the major 
     findings of his/her recent research. 
     
     Reference letters should include comments on overall ranking of 
     applicant, e.g. top 1% of Ph.D.s, top 10%, etc. It is the applicant's 
     responsibility to assure that reference letters (8 copies) are sent. 
     
     Deadline and Announcements: 
     
     The deadline for receipt of all application materials from applicant, 
     sponsoring scientist, and related reference letters is April 14, 1997 
     (firm). Announcements will be made by July, 1997. 
     
     Send Application To:
     
     Dr. Michael S. Teitelbaum
     Sloan/U.S. Department of Energy
     Joint Postdoctoral Fellowships 
     in Computational Molecular Biology
     c/o Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
     630 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2550
     New York, NY 10111-0242