Natural Sciences Professoriate-Track Faculty Research Fellowship, 2019-2021(apply.interfolio.com/53007) 

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) invites applications for the Natural Sciences Professoriate-Track Faculty Research Fellowship.  The purpose of the Program is to support promising scholars interested in a potential tenure track faculty appointment at UMBC and who are committed to diversity and inclusiveness.  The Department welcomes applications from candidates with research and teaching interests in all areas of Chemistry or Biochemistry, and with diverse experiences, including candidates from industry, academia, or government laboratories.  We are particularly interested in receiving applications from individuals who are members of groups that historically have been underrepresented in the STEM professoriate.

UMBC is a national model for diversity and inclusive excellence in STEM through its Meyerhoff Scholars (http://meyerhoff.umbc.edu/) and Graduate Fellows programs (http://meyerhoffgrad.umbc.edu/), two of the most innovative and successful programs in promoting diversity and preparing students from underrepresented groups for careers in STEM. With many of the Meyerhoff scholars pursuing undergraduate and graduate studies in Chemistry and Biochemistry, our faculty play a leading role in mentoring and developing the next generation of diverse professional workforce in STEM.  The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is a premier research-intensive department with thriving graduate and undergraduate programs (http://chemistry.umbc.edu/). Our faculty are engaged in innovative research at the molecular level, which attracts major federal, state, and private funding.

The fellow will be appointed as a Professoriate-Track Research Fellow for a two-year term beginning July 1, 2019, with the ultimate goal of preparing candidates to be competitive for tenure-track academic faculty positions. The fellow will receive a starting stipend commensurate with experience, health benefits, $5,000 for conference travel and preparation of scholarly work, up to $5,000 in instrument services, up to $10,000 for supplies /consumables, lab space, office space with computer, library access, and other privileges at the university.  During the two-year term of appointment, most the fellow’s time will be devoted to pursuing research. In addition, the fellow will teach one course per year. Highly experienced research and teaching mentors will meet with the fellow regularly to provide guidance on developing a pedagogically sound teaching philosophy and plan, and improving the skills needed to pursue an academic research career at a research intensive university, including proposal and manuscript writing, and technical presentation skills. The fellow will also benefit from professional development opportunities across the campus.

Fields: Applications in any area of Chemistry or Biochemistry are welcome.

Eligibility: Candidates who will hold PhD degrees in Chemistry, Biochemistry, or related fields at the time of appointment are eligible to apply. Degrees must be conferred before the time of appointment.  Candidates with PhD degrees, with or without postdoctoral experience, are also eligible to apply.

Application Instructions: Applications must be submitted at http://apply.interfolio.com/53007

Deadline: Review of completed applications will begin on October 15, 2018 and continue until filled.  For best consideration, submit application materials by October 15, 2018.  Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
A complete submission will consist of:

1)      Cover Letter

2)      Curriculum Vitae

3)      Three Letters of Reference, which will be requested by the applicant and submitted by the referees through Interfolio

4)      Statement of Proposed Research Plan (3-6 pages)

5)      Personal Statement of your demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusive excellence in higher education (1-3 Pages)

6)      Teaching Statement (1-2 pages)

Inquiries about the program may be addressed to: Chemfellowshipsearch@umbc.edu

UMBC is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

Rachael Knoblauch has won a NSF Fellowship following a national competition. The program recruits high-potential, early-career scientists and engineers and supports their graduate research training in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. Launched in 1952 shortly after Congress established NSF, GRFP represents the nation's oldest continuous investment in the U.S. STEM workforce.

"To support U.S. leadership and innovation in science and engineering, we must recognize and nurture talent from all of our nation's communities," said Jim Lewis, NSF acting assistant director for Education and Human Resources. "I am pleased that again this year, the competition has selected talented students from all economic backgrounds and all demographic categories. In addition, NSF worked successfully to accommodate students from U.S. islands devastated by Hurricanes Maria and Irma, so that they could still compete for a fellowship." The new awardees were selected from more than 12,000 applicants and come from all 50 U.S. states, as well as the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. Honorable mention recognition went to 1,459 individuals. The group of 2,000 awardees is diverse, including 1,156 women, 461 individuals from underrepresented minority groups, 75 persons with disabilities, 27 veterans and 780 who have not yet enrolled in graduate school. These awardees did their undergraduate studies at more than 443 institutions, ranging from small undergraduate, minority-serving, tribal and community colleges, to large state or private universities and Ivy League institutions. Congratulations to Rachael!

About GRFP: GRFP is a critical program in NSF's overall strategy to develop a globally engaged workforce necessary to ensure the nation's leadership in advancing science and engineering research and innovation. Former NSF fellows make transformative breakthroughs in STEM, are leaders in their chosen careers, and have been honored as Nobel laureates. A hallmark of GRFP is its contribution to increasing the diversity of the STEM workforce, including geographic distribution, as well as the participation of women, underrepresented minorities, persons with disabilities and veterans.

Congratulations to Linda Wiratan, a 2018 recipient of a Goldwater Scholarship.Linda began her UMBC research career as a high school senior, working with mentors Marcin Ptaszek, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, and Nopondo Esemoto ’12, biochemistry and molecular biology, and a current Ph.D. student in chemistry. “She learned both theoretical concepts and experimental techniques quickly,” Ptaszek recalls. After only a few months, she was working independently in the Ptaszek lab. During her two years in the lab, she contributed significantly to two academic papers, one of which was featured on the cover of Inorganic Chemistry. Based on her rapid progress, Ptaszek says, “I am sure in just a few years she will be a world-leading researcher.”