RCSA Fellows

Be an RCSA Fellow

RCSA Fellows will access professional development programming and support through the cohort community, and receive a supportive, multi-year experience including preparation for a job search, including a mock interview experience; guidance throughout the job search process; and transition to a tenure-track faculty position with support to take on the many faculty responsibilities in addition to research. RCSA will provide funds to travel to the mock interview site; travel support to cover the costs of attending the annual cohort meeting; funds to support dependent care expenses during the mock interview and annual meeting; and additional professional development programming and one-on-one support.

It is expected that Fellows will access, engage, and fully participate in the programming and resources that RCSA will provide. The Fellows’ time commitment will be carefully considered so as not to impede their productivity and success in their current postdoctoral activities.

Eligibility

RCSA Fellow nominees must hold a Ph.D. in chemistry, physics, or astronomy, or allied fields, and currently be a postdoctoral scholar who does not hold a tenure-track faculty position.

Application

An application package is initiated by a Cottrell Scholar, Holland Awardee, Scialog Fellow, or Scialog Facilitator from the physical sciences as the Nominator, and consists of:

From the Nominator:

  • a confidential nomination letter

From the Nominee:

  • a cover letter regarding a career objective as an academic scientist, which may also address the background or lived experiences of the nominee that have shaped the nominee’s perspectives, academic and professional experiences, and career goals
  • a curriculum vitae, full length
  • 1–2-page statements that foreshadow the candidate’s faculty application materials for research plans and teaching plans

The nominator initiates the application process with a nomination letter. The nominee will then be notified to submit materials to complete the application package. All applications materials must be received through RCSA’s PRISM portal.

Deadline

Application materials are due by 11:59 pm Pacific time January 22, 2024.

Selection Criteria

Review of nomination packages 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.

RCSA Fellows will be announced by March 1, 2024, and will convene for a conference in late spring 2024.