Faculty Mentors

Expectations for Faculty Mentors

President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship mentors are faculty at any rank (assistant, associate, or full) who are expected to:

  1. take an active role in helping the fellow plan and achieve their research goals,
  2. assist the fellow in establishing a visible presence in the division or department
  3. facilitate opportunities for the fellow to participate in national and international research meetings,
  4. encourage fellow to focus full-time on research and avoid other commitments such as teaching or outside employment,
  5. assist the fellow in seeking opportunities to present papers and attend conferences,
  6. attend the program professional development activities, such as the Diverse Trainee Fund Workshops.

The program encourages mentors to meet with their fellows at the beginning of the fellowship to discuss their working arrangements and consider appropriate long- and short-term goals for the term of the fellowship. The mentor should not expect to meet all of the fellow’s career development needs personally but should provide an overall framework to ensure that the fellow has access to a broad academic network to support their work.

Mentors may also play an important role in advising fellows about the academic job market and making connections to related departments at other institutions that may be interested in the fellow for a faculty appointment.

Host Departments

Host divisions / departments are encouraged to welcome the fellow in the department and make every effort to ensure that the fellow is included in communications about departmental colloquia, seminars and social events. Host departments / divisions are expected to provide the fellow with information about salary and benefits and administer the fellow’s research and professional travel funds. Host departments / divisions are expected to provide the fellow access to appropriate office space and routine administrative support such as telephone lines, departmental mail services, libraries and technical support.

Frequently Asked Questions: Finding a Mentor

President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship mentors are faculty at any rank (assistant, associate, or full) who are expected to (1) take an active role in helping the fellow plan and achieve their research goals, (2) assist the fellow in establishing a visible presence in the division or department (3) facilitate opportunities for the fellow to participate in national and international research meetings, (4) encourage fellow to focus full-time on research and avoid other commitments such as teaching or outside employment,  (5) assist the fellow in seeking opportunities to present papers and attend conferences, (6) attend the program professional development activities, such as the Diverse Trainee Fund Workshops and Fly.

The program encourages any faculty interested in applying to become a mentor to apply, regardless of faculty rank.

The program encourages applicants to select a mentor from those who have already applied to become a mentor, but the applicant may still reach out prospective mentors to gauge their interest of mentoring them. 

The program encourages applicants to select an active faculty member as their mentor. However, in some cases emeritus faculty who are still involved in their department / division and their research programs are excellent prospective mentors.  

Yes, faculty may serve as a mentor for more than one applicant for the President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, however we encourage a 1:1 to ratio.

The mentor's letter of support should address the following:

  • Applicant’s planned research
  • Expected coursework, if any;
  • Extent to which the applicant will participate in departmental and campus academic activity (e.g., seminar programs);
  • Extent of applicant’s anticipated participation at national/international research meetings;
  • Facilities and resources available to the fellow; and
  • Mentor’s involvement in mentoring for other programs designed to increase access and opportunity in high education

No.

  • Mentors are associate or full faculty members who have funding for a postdoc. Please look online at our current open funded post doc positions.
  • Applicants must apply to both the PPFP program and through the Fred Hutch job application portal. In rare cases, a post doc may find a mentor who does not have funding for a post doc. For this reason, being awarded the PPFP does not guarentee a post doc position. In this case, the post doc may work with that faculty mentor on seeking other possible funding opportunities, such as the Diverse Trainee Fund, and more.

Frequently Asked Questions: Application

The applicant will receive e-mail confirmation from the online application system each time a letter is uploaded to the application. The applicant can check on the status of their application, including the arrival of the mentor and reference letters, by using the username and password they created and returning to the application information page.

Frequently Asked Questions: Review and Selection

No, the program requires that fellows are in residence and establish a presence at the institution and division / department.

It is expected that departments and faculty mentors will make appropriate arrangements for space and other necessary resources.

Host departments are encouraged to welcome the fellow into the department and make every effort to ensure that the fellow is included in communications about departmental colloquia, seminars and social events. Host departments are expected to provide the fellow with information about salary and benefits and administer the fellow's research and professional travel funds. Host departments are expected to provide the fellow with appropriate office space and routine administrative support. In addition, President's Postdoctoral Fellows should be provided with opportunities for career development.