Autism Speaks Predoctoral Fellowship Program

Letter of intent (required) due: April 9, 2010 / Full application due: May 7, 2010

Autism Speaks seeks students interested in autism research to apply to the Dennis Weatherstone Predoctoral Fellowship Program. This is a great opportunity for graduate students who are interested in working directly with mentors who are leading scientists in autism research. The program also includes group interaction among fellows, and an annual meeting with the Weatherstone family and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. Fellows receive $28,000 per year for two years. A letter of intent is due April 9, 2010, and the full application is due May 7, 2010.

Applications addressing the following areas of research are particularly encouraged:

• Discovery of risk factors for autism, especially environmental factors and gene-environment interactions.
• Development of methods for very early detection of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) risk.Understanding the natural course of adult development in ASD, with emphasis on factors related to outcome, medical co-morbidities, and mortality.
• Identification of the molecular pathophysiology of ASD that can inform translational research for drug discovery or development of diagnostic methods.
• Development and evaluation of novel treatments that can address the core symptoms and associated medical conditions throughout the lifespan.
• Dissemination of empirically-validated screening, diagnostic and treatment approaches.

Eligible applicants will be an enrolled student in a program leading to a research doctorate such as a Ph.D. or Sc.D., or a combined degree such as an M.D./Ph.D. The selected pre-doctoral fellow must spend at least 80% of his/her professional time engaged exclusively in their Autism Speaks autism research related activities for the duration of the award, and cannot simultaneously hold another named fellowship award during the support period. International applications are encouraged.

Prior to application, predoctoral candidates must have identified a mentor for their fellowship. Mentors must have a Ph.D. and/or an M.D. or equivalent degree, and be a scientific investigator with an academic or research institutional appointment (tenured, tenure-track, or equivalent position). Note:  Only one predoctoral fellowship submission from either the fellow or the mentor per review cycle is allowed.

See all of this week’s Funding Alerts.