The Rockefeller University’s Exceptional Scholars Workshop seeks to increase diversity among faculty members, with a specific focus on individuals of racial, ethnic and/or disadvantaged backgrounds, and individuals with disabilities and other groups that are underrepresented in the life and biomedical sciences. This program provides a venue for mentorship and training of postdoctoral fellows from underrepresented groups to help these individuals excel during the faculty search and interview process. By participating in the Rockefeller University Exceptional Scholars program, each selected scholar will be paired with a faculty member for one-on-one mentorship for advice on the scholar’s seminar presentation, research statement, and subsequent faculty search. Scholars will be exposed to some elements that are part of most faculty job search processes. Participants will benefit from panel discussions and multiple opportunities to interact with Rockefeller University faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and students.

Program Objectives

• To promote a strong collaborative network between future young leaders, we will gather for a two-day campus visit at Rockefeller University with all expenses paid as well as a $500 honorarium.
• To help selected participants secure faculty positions where they can continue to lead, we will pair each with a Rockefeller faculty member who will provide one-on-one mentorship and guidance on the scholar’s research statement, seminar presentation, and subsequent faculty job application. We will also showcase an example chalk talk by a Rockefeller tenure-track faculty member and host panel discussions focused on guidance for navigating the faculty search process and achieving academic career success.
• The workshop will enable networking interactions between scholars and a broad cross-section of faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and students of diverse expertise and backgrounds.

Program Eligibility

The Exceptional Scholars Workshop strongly encourages applications from researchers who are underrepresented minorities and/or from disadvantaged backgrounds and who expect to enter the tenure-track faculty job market in the next 1-2 years with a focus on research in basic and/or translational life or biomedical sciences. Along with a CV and a 500-1000 word research statement, we are requesting a 5-minute pre-recorded informal video presentation of the applicant’s current research, as well as a 250-500 word personal statement describing how the applicant’s background and lived experiences will contribute to creating a more inclusive scientific community, including any adversity the applicant has had to overcome in their academic pursuits. Further details on how to apply for the Exceptional Scholars Workshop may be found here.