2019 Presidential Scholars Application

The 2019 application cycle is now open

Columbia University is pleased to announce up to three interdisciplinary postdoctoral positions in the Presidential Scholars in Society and Neuroscience program for researchers who have earned the doctorate, or its equivalent, in:

  1. A humanities, arts, or social science discipline - such as psychology, psychiatry, public health, law, history, economics, literature, political science, philosophy, anthropology, sociology, journalism, music and the arts - and who have extensive acquaintance with, and critical understanding of, neuroscience research;

    OR

  2. Neuroscience or a related discipline in the natural sciences and who have extensive acquaintance with, and critical understanding of, another discipline in the arts, humanities, or social sciences.

These Scholars will join an innovative program, Presidential Scholars in Society and Neuroscience, which comprises up to a total of nine Scholars and a large group of mentors and affiliated faculty from the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.

Candidates must hold a doctoral-level degree (Ph.D., EdD, JD, MD, etc.) by July 1, 2019, and must have received this degree after July 1, 2014.

Review of applications will begin November 26, 2018, and will continue until the positions are filled. Only complete applications received by this date will be included in the first round of reviews. Applications received after the deadline will be included in the second round of reviews only if the Steering Committee is unable to select finalists from the initial pool of candidates. 

All applications must be submitted through Columbia University’s online Recruitment of Academic Personnel System (RAPS) and include:

  1. Cover letter
     
  2. Curriculum Vitae
     
  3. Ph.D. Dissertation Abstract (if applicable)
     
  4. Writing sample/s totaling up to 30 pages (articles or book chapter preferred). Submit your writing samples as a single PDF document. Do not exceed the page limit. 
     
  5. Proposal for an interdisciplinary research project (or projects) that build(s) on the applicant’s current disciplinary background and brings together an aspect of neuroscientific research with research in the arts, humanities, and/or social sciences (see below for more details).
     
  6. Work sample or portfolio (if applicable – for applicants with a background in the arts)
     
  7. Three letters of reference to be uploaded to Columbia University’s online Recruitment of Academic Personnel System (RAPS).

Please submit the Research Proposal as a single PDF document with a clear title. It should include the following:

  1. COVER PAGE
    • Include the title of proposal
    • Include an executive summary/ abstract of the project
    • List your proposed faculty mentors with their titles and affiliated schools.
       
      • Select at least one full-time faculty mentor from Columbia University or Barnard College from the arts, humanities, or social sciences
         
      • Select at least one full-time faculty mentor from Columbia University or Barnard College from the (neuro)sciences
         
      • Applicants are not required to contact their selected mentors prior to submitting their applications. 
         
  2. PROPOSAL NARRATIVE
    • Proposal narrative with timeline of research for the three years of the position (no more than 10 pages double-spaced in 12-point font)
       
    • The narrative must include a statement of interdisciplinarity, explaining how the project brings together neuroscience research and at least one other discipline in a novel way to advance understanding of mind, brain, and behavior.
       
  3. ITEMIZED PROJECTED BUDGET
     
  4. BUDGET NARRATIVE
     
  5. FIGURES OF TABLES
     
  6. BIBLIOGRAPHY AND/ OR REFERENCES CITED
     
  7. EXTERNAL FUNDING
    • Plan for securing external funding (if appropriate). A modest research allowance will be available, but will not fully cover the costs of most projects.

All applications must be submitted through Columbia University’s online Recruitment of Academic Personnel System (RAPS).