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Postdoc Fellowships
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Article on Postdoc Fellowships
Postdoc fellowships are highly sought after by doctorate recipients serious about academic careers. Simply put, these fellowships provide monetary support to American as well as International PhD scholars so that they may undertake full-time research in their areas of expertise.
The Subjects and Sources of Funding
Postdoc fellowships are available in various subjects. Hundreds of post doctoral fellowships are awarded by American universities, private institutions and non-profit organizations every year in subjects ranging from medicine to political science and the natural sciences to the arts. While universities are always looking to improve their academic credentials and create a very useful pool of talent, other organizations use fellowships as a strategy to advance the knowledge base of their specific scientific field and encourage fresh talent and perspectives.
Common Factors
There are very few commonalities among the different American postdoc fellowships, since every organization and university department awarding fellowships has its own specific policy. However, one of the major common factors is that most fellowships are awarded to either fresh PhD recipients or those who haven’t yet been established in academic circles, although they may have research experience of 1-5 years. And importantly, fellowships invariably imply a full time commitment. Research fellows are not permitted to take on any other employment during the tenure.
Contributions by Post Doctoral Fellows
In addition to the above mentioned factors, post doctoral research fellows are expected to contribute to their university department. The terms and conditions of specific fellowships vary, but the fellows may be expected to take on some classes or contribute to the department environment in other ways. At any rate, they are expected to participate in the academic environment of the department.
The Differences
There isn’t much else that is common. For instance, the tenure of the fellowship depends upon the institution and its budget. Generally, fellowships range between 1-3 years. The eligibility criteria are also different. Some fellowships don’t welcome people without any experience, while others provide the perfect launch-pad for budding academic researchers.
The Amount
The amount of the fellowship also varies, depending on the budget and policy of the institution. For example, the Japan-U.S. relations program of Harvard University provides postdoc fellowship grants of $40,000 for 10 months of research in the social sciences. On the other hand, the annual stipend of the University of Pittsburgh is $45,000. Generally, annual stipends are in the $40,000-45,000 range.
The Need for Research
Naturally, a University only offers the position of a research fellow to those whose research field and perspective are consonant with the distinct academic bend and environment of the institution. While applying for a fellowship, scholars must do thorough research on the specific University and department they are opting for, and they must also find out all the terms of the fellowship, including what the institution offers after the fellowship is over.
Whatever your specific subject and area of expertise, chances are that there are several fellowship opportunities out there. So, there is no reason to begin by accepting a compromise on the tenure and terms that you are interested in. The key to finding the most suitable postdoc fellowships is thorough research.
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