President’s Postdoctoral Scholar Program

Applications for the 2023 cohort of scholars are now closed. 

Submission Deadlines

• Form of Intent: November 24, 2023, 11:59 PM
• Nomination Package: December 15, 2023, 11:59 PM

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS

• The PPSP award is for two years. Colleges will have to provide assurance that there is a commitment to fund the awardee for a full two years.
• The funding structure changed to make the PPSP and the rest of the funding units contributions the same each year.
• Though not a requirement, ideal faculty mentors are those who have some experience mentoring postdoctoral scholars and trainees. Co-mentors are encouraged for anyone who does not have much experience mentoring postdoctoral scholars and trainees. See the eligibility criteria section for more information. Co-mentors should be faculty at Ohio State University.
• The nominating faculty must have a conversation with their college liaison and discuss the funding plan before submitting the form of intent.

College Liaisons

• Arts and Sciences

Jared Port -Director of Research Services - port.4@osu.edu

• Business

Selin Malkoc – Professor - malkoc@fisher.edu

• Dentistry           

John Bartlett - Associate Dean for Research - bartlett.196@osu.edu

• Education and Human Ecology  

Kim Lightle - Director of Research and Administration -lightle.16@osu.edu

• Engineering

Leigh Zircher - Finance Manager, Research Administration - zircher.6@osu.edu

• Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences

Kayla Arnold - Graduate Education Program Manager - arnold.1065@osu.edu

• Law

Cinnamon Piñon Carlarne - Associate Dean for Faculty and Intellectual Life  -carlarne.1@osu.edu

• Medicine

Julie Tate - Director of Finance - tate.137@osu.edu

• Nursing

Mary E. Happ - Sr. Associate Dean for Research and Innovation - happ.3@osu.edu

• Optometry

Jeff Walline - Associae Dean for Research & Graduate Education - walline.1@osu.edu

• Pharmacy

Jessica Costic - Program Manager – Research & Graduate Education - costic.4@osu.edu

• Public Affairs

Jos C.N. Raadschelders - Associate Dean for Faculty - raadschelders.1@osu.edu

• Public Health

Rachel Lokai - Business Manager - lokai.10@osu.edu

• Social Work

Bridget Freisthler - Associate Dean for Research - freisthler.19@osu.edu

• Veterinary Medicine 

*Faculty mentors in CVM must cover PPSP Scholar expenses from their own funds

Step 1: Submit form of intent

The form of intent must be submitted by the faculty member. Please preview this file for more information on what is needed for this form.

Note:   

• Please make sure to discuss the funding plan with your college liaison before submitting the form of intent.
• Submitting the form of intent requires Ohio State University name.# to login.
• Forms of intent are due by November 25, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. (ET).

Step 2: Gather nomination materials

All submissions must include the following:

• Nominee’s curriculum vitae.
  Please make sure that the CV does not include personal information such as social security numbers, visa or passport numbers, pictures, summary of personal details such as nationality, date of birth, marital status, and number of dependents, or a list of hobbies and interests. These items may be common CVs from other countries but in the US these items are omitted to protect candidates from discrimination and to comply with data security protocols.
• Education and background statement written by the nominee.
  1-2 pages, single spaced with the following included:
  • Information about the applicant’s personal background and career trajectory.
  • List of career goals and an explanation of how this position will enhance the applicant’s career development.
  • Justification of the choice of career goals and selection of a sponsoring faculty member and Ohio State.
  • Discussion of the broader impacts of the proposed activities.
  • No templates for this statement will be provided.
• Diversity statement from the nominee.
  In 500 words, the nominee should describe how they will bring diversity to their future research and teaching efforts and help Ohio State, as well as their discipline, become more diverse and inclusive. No templates for this statement will be provided.
• Three letters of recommendation emphasizing the nominee’s potential as a scholar.
  Please send this form to your letter writers. Letters of recommendation should be sent directly to the faculty member nominating the candidate, as these letters must be submitted with the complete nomination package as a PDF file. Do not send them to the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs.
• Nomination letter from the faculty mentor/sponsor.
  Letter should describe the expected impact of the applicant on the sponsor’s scholarly program and the likely impact on scholarship in the discipline. No templates for this statement will be provided.
• Postdoctoral training track record.
  • Faculty in fields with a tradition of postdoctoral training: A table listing the last 10 postdoctoral scholars trained by the nominating faculty member and their training outcomes is required. If the faculty member has trained less than 10 individuals, list them all. If the faculty nominator does not have at least 5 previous mentees, we highly encourage the inclusion of a co-mentor, who has more expertise mentoring postdocs, but this is not required. Please use the Experience Mentoring Postdoctoral Trainees form to report the training record of both the mentor and co-mentor (separate forms for each faculty member need to be uploaded in a single PDF file).
  • Faculty in fields for which postdoctoral training is new: A table listing the last 10 doctoral/MFA scholars trained by the nominating faculty member and their training outcomes is required. If the faculty member has trained less than 10 individuals, list them all. If the faculty nominator does not have at least 5 previous mentees, we highly encourage the inclusion of a co-mentor, who has more expertise mentoring postdocs, but this is not required. Please use the Experience Mentoring Doctoral/MFA Trainees form to report of both the mentor and co-mentor (separate forms for each faculty member need to be uploaded in a single PDF file).
• If a co-mentor will be included, please submit:
  • A letter of support from the co-mentor.
  • The co-mentor must be a faculty member at Ohio State.
  • Postdoctoral or doctoral/MFA training record of the co-mentor using the Experience Mentoring Postdoctoral Trainees form. Please indicate in the form that this is for a co-mentor.
  • Evidence of formal mentoring training by a professional society, National Research Mentoring Network or similar entity needs to be provided for the nominating faculty. This training has to take place by the nomination deadline.
• Nominee’s individual development plan.
  Suggested resources: STEM fields(opens in new window) and/or Humanities and social science fields(opens in new window).
• Mentoring plan for the first year.
  The plan is based on the nominee’s individual development plan (a subsequent plan will be required when applying for year two of funding). Download Mentoring Plan: Year 1.
• Up to three examples of the nominee’s scholarly efforts.
  (publications, works of artistic expression, etc.)
• Additional items to be submitted for promotional purposes if the nominee is selected for the program.
  • Short bio of the nominee (300 words). Fill in the box (no file can be uploaded for this).
  • Headshot of the nominee.

Note: These items will have to be submitted separately from the packet above, but in the same submission form. They will not be shared with reviewers.

Step 3: Submit nomination

• Nominations must be submitted by the faculty member.
• Materials must be submitted as PDF files.
• The link to submit nominations will be sent with the form of intent confirmation.
• Nominations must be received by December 16, 2022 at 5 p.m. (EDT).

For more information about the selection process, including information on evaluation criteria, see the section below.

Contact Us

Please reach out to the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at osupostdocs@osu.edu with any questions or concerns regrading the nomination process.

Funding

Awards will provide salary support, benefits (including health insurance) and $5,000 for research-related and travel expenses. Each award is for two years and the second year will be released upon demonstration of academic/research productivity and career development progression (as evidenced by successful implementation of a mentoring plan).

Awardees must be appointed as postdoctoral researchers with a minimum salary of $50,000 per year and a university A&P benefit rate.

EACH YEAR:

• The Office of the President will provide $41,600 to be used towards the salary and benefits and an additional $5,000 is provided to the PPSP scholar to support their research activities during the year.
• The sponsor college, hiring unit, and/or faculty mentor must guarantee to cover the remaining balance of the salary and benefits. With FY23 benefit rates for A&P staff (38%), and a minimum salary of $50,000, this amount that must be covered is $27,400.

Eligibility Criteria for Nominees

NOMINEES MUST:

• Have obtained a PhD or other appropriate terminal degree by the nomination deadline or later, from an accredited university before the start of postdoctoral training.
• Be able to begin their postdoctoral position no later than January 1, 2024.
• Complete an individual development plan (IDP). Suggested resources: STEM fields and/or Humanities and social science fields. Note, the IDP is necessary for the mentoring plan.
• Obtain sponsorship from an Ohio State tenure-track faculty member who is willing to serve as their primary mentor.
• Show evidence of superior academic achievement (such as research or creative expression outcomes, honors or other academic designation).
• Demonstrate a commitment to a career in research and creative expression (preference will be given to candidates who wish to pursue academic careers).

Note:

• Nominees who are currently working at Ohio State as postdoctoral scholars must have been hired after November 1, 2021.
• Ohio State graduate students are eligible but preference will be given to external candidates.

Eligibility Criteria for Nominating Faculty

Nominating faculty must:

• Be an Ohio State tenure-track faculty member.
• Nominate only one person.
• Not be the candidate’s PhD or terminal degree advisor.
• Submit a mentoring plan based on the candidate’s individual development plan (IDP).
• Attend an orientation session to learn more about the PPSP program and the review criteria for the year two renewal. Co-mentors must attend as well.
• Participate in next year’s PPSP review efforts.
• Note: Faculty members whose nominee received this award last year cannot nominate anyone this year.
• Additionally, nominating faculty members are strongly encouraged to meet the following criteria based off of the decision tree found below:
  • Faculty in fields with a tradition of postdoctoral training: Have experience training postdoctoral scholars. If the nominating faculty member does not have postdoctoral training experience, they are encouraged to pursue formal mentoring training from a professional society (e.g., National Research Mentoring Network or similar entity). Proof of pursuing and/or completing training should be submitted with the nomination package. Additionally, we strongly encourage prospective faculty mentors without five years of experience to include a co-mentor who has mentored at least five postdoctoral scholars previously.
  • Faculty in fields for which postdoctoral training is new: Have trained at least five doctoral/MFA students. They should provide a list of terminal degree mentees in the form provided for postdoctoral training experience. If the nominating faculty member does not have the required doctoral/MFA training experience, they are encouraged to have received formal mentoring training from an entity in their field or related discipline (e.g., formal training through the National Research Mentoring Network or similar entity) and to include a co-mentor who has the experience as outlined above who has mentored at least five doctoral/MFA students.
  • The role of the co-mentor is to be a resource for the postdoctoral scholar and their mentor. The co-mentor’s experience in mentoring scholars in their field qualifies them to advise on how to mentor the candidate towards independence, and to expand the postdoctoral scholar’s mentoring network. The co-mentor does not need to be involved in the research plan (although this is not forbidden).

Selection Process