The Machiah Foundation, a supporting foundation of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin & Sonoma Counties has initiated the Machiah Foundation/JCF Program to Support Life Sciences Fellowship Training in the United States for Citizens of the State of Israel Research Fellowship to support PhD and MD-level scientists seeking advanced basic research training in the life sciences in the United States. Emphasis is placed on the identification of important scientific questions that will be addressed using novel and innovative approaches. The program is focused on the support of studies aimed at the elucidation of fundamental biological mechanisms rather than on applied research. However, applications proposing basic research that addresses clinically-important questions are relevant to the aims of this program.

Fellowships will be awarded for a two-year period, with $55,000 USD paid annually, contingent on satisfactory progress.  Consideration may be given to a third year of stipend support under exceptional circumstances.  All Fellows must submit a scientific report, endorsed by the research mentor, describing the progress of their research after 11 months of support. Reports should be prepared following specific instructions that will be provided by the MF/JCF Fellowship Program. Support will be continued for a second year only upon approval of the reports.

The program has been established in recognition of political factors that limit opportunities for Israeli scientists to obtain funds to support further research training abroad.  Applicants are restricted to citizen residents of the State of Israel, with no limitations as to religion, ethnic background, or gender.  Applications will be evaluated by a scientific advisory committee for formal eligibility and conformity of the proposed research with the scientific objectives of the program.

The selection process is confidential and the results are final. No information will be provided about the ranking of applications, or the reasons for the Foundation’s decisions. The selection of candidates to receive fellowship awards will be made at the recommendation of a Scientific Advisory Board.

The number of Fellowship Awards granted may vary from year to year depending on the availability of funds. 

The 2008 application cycle is now closed.

Who is eligible to apply

• PhD and MD-level scientists who are citizen residents of the State of Israel wishing to pursue training at a nonprofit research institution in the United States. Applicants must agree to return to, and reside in, the State of Israel for not less than three years after completion of their training in the United States.
• Applications from qualified individuals will be accepted prior to the receipt of a doctoral degree. However, applicants must have been awarded a research doctorate degree (PhD), or other doctoral-level degree comparable to a PhD (for example, MD), have prior experience in experimental research prior to the initiation of fellowship support, and at least one first author or joint first author scientific paper published or in press in a peer reviewed international journal at the time the application is submitted. (Please note: in a joint first author papers, the equal contribution of the two first authors to the work must be clearly stated in the published article. Paper(s) must be written in English. Review papers and patent applications are not taken into account. Electronic copies of first author or joint first author papers must be provided when submitting the application form).
• Applicants with adequate language skills to carry out their proposed research at the host institution
• Applications will not be accepted from candidates who wish to work again with previous research supervisors, scientific collaborators, or scientists with whom they have already co-authored publications.
• Applications will not be accepted from candidates who have obtained a PhD degree in a North American or European country.
• Applications will not be accepted from candidates, who, at the beginning of the fellowship have already spent six or more months in US, Canada, or Europe as part of prior scientific work visits, research collaboration, methods training, etc.

Applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:

• The accomplishments and potential of the candidate relative to other candidates.
• The scientific originality and excellence of the research proposal.
• The potential of the fellowship award to enable excellent scientific training, based on the quality of the host laboratory and the host institution environment.
• Information given by the candidate regarding his/her motivation, goals and achievements.
• The three letters of recommendation required from previous mentors or other senior scientists able to evaluate the candidate’s qualifications.
• A letter from the proposed mentor indicating his/her assessment of the candidate and reasons for accepting candidate for further training.

Requirements:

• Three letters of recommendation are required from previous mentors or other senior scientist/colleagues able to evaluate the candidate’s qualifications. 
• A fourth letter is required from the proposed research mentor indicating his/her assessment of the candidate and reasons for accepting candidate for further training.
• The proposed mentor submit separately submit a letter indicating that s/he has read the fellowship application and confirming his/her willingness to serve as a mentor during the period of fellowship support.
• It is expected that the results of research funded by MF/JCF Fellowship program will be suitable for publication in internationally recognized scientific journals. An acknowledgement of support by Machiah Foundation/Jewish Community Federation Program must be included in any publication resulting from work carried out under the Fellowship, including posters presented at scientific meetings. A PDF file of each publication should be sent to the MF/JCF Fellowship Office.
• Assignment of intellectual property rights generated from research conducted under the Fellowship will be determined according to applicable patent laws and policies of the host institution; these policies shall be communicated to the MF/JCF prior to payment of research funds. The MF/JCF Fellowship Program will not become involved in any disputes that may arise over intellectual property rights in respect of research conducted under the Program.    
• At the completion of the Fellowship the host institution must provide a final financial report indicating how the funds received have been distributed. Publications reporting scientific work done with the support of the fellowship should include appropriate acknowledgement of support.