RCSA Fellows Initiative to Support Postdocs’ Transition to Faculty
Research Corporation for Science Advancement is accepting applications for the first cohort of participants in its RCSA Fellows initiative, a new effort to increase faculty diversity in the physical sciences in the United States and Canada through job search preparation and community building.
The initiative will support the academic career advancement of a group of postdoctoral scholars over a critical multi-year trajectory: as they are preparing to look for faculty positions, as they are actively interviewing, and during their first year as newly independent tenure-track faculty investigators.
“Everybody belongs in science, but connections, feedback and support can be critical to getting there,” said RCSA President & CEO Daniel Linzer. “This initiative aims to build a bridge between postdocs and their future as successful teacher scholars by demystifying the process and creating a community to help guide their way."
The initiative will welcome nominations of outstanding postdoctoral scientists who aspire to secure tenure-track faculty positions and who, based on exceptional records and potential in research and teaching, will advance science as they increase access and inclusion in their fields. Nominees must hold a Ph.D. in chemistry, physics, or astronomy or allied fields, currently be a postdoctoral scholar, and not currently hold a tenure-track faculty position.
The selection process will consider the quality and significance of the nominee’s scientific achievements, proposed research, and teaching plans that foster an inclusive teaching and learning environment and aspire to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and access goals in the sciences as a future faculty member.
Selected RCSA Fellows will receive professional development programming and support through the cohort community, in addition to funds for travel and associated expenses to attend mock interviews.
Applications must be initiated by a nominator – a Cottrell Scholar, Holland Awardee, Scialog Fellow or Facilitator from the physical sciences.
The initiative is also accepting applications from institutions wishing to host an RCSA Fellow for a mock interview. Nominations must be submitted by a Cottrell Scholar, Holland Awardee, or Scialog Fellow or Facilitator from the physical sciences.
The initiative will benefit host institutions by preparing them to conduct interviews in ways that reduce unconscious bias and strengthen their efforts to increase diversity in their planned tenure-track hiring. It will also give them an early look at strong candidates for upcoming positions. Funds are provided to the host institution to defray the costs of organizing an authentic, day-long mock interview and to contribute to their departmental-based funds that support a seminar series.
Applications from prospective RCSA Fellows and host institutions are both due by 11:59 pm Pacific time January 22, 2024. RCSA Fellows will be announced by March 1, 2024, and will convene for a conference in late spring 2024.
The RCSA Fellows initiative evolved from a successful Cottrell Scholar Collaborative project that RCSA funded in 2019. It will be led by Eileen M. Spain, a 1995 Cottrell Scholar who joined RCSA as Program Director in August 2023.
“Conducting a faculty job search can be daunting and mysterious, and the first year as a professor can be quite demanding, especially for underrepresented scientists who may experience barriers to inclusion,” said Spain.
“Drawing on the support and experience of RCSA’s community of scientists, we hope this initiative will help pave the way for RCSA Fellows to experience a seamless transition into academic tenure track positions, and to develop and thrive as innovative research scientists, teachers, and mentors.”
