The Grass Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit private foundation incorporated in Massachussetts to support research and education in neuroscience.

As part of its educational mission the Grass Foundation recognizes and supports efforts to use neuroscience as a way to unite thoughtful people across various socioeconomic and geographic barriers. To that end, the Foundation supports neuroscience outreach efforts that use various approaches to educate underserved populations across the country and around the globe.

Grass Fellowship Overview

Purpose:

Grass Fellowships at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA, support investigator-designed, independent research projects by scientists early in their career. Supported approaches include neurophysiology, biophysics, integrative neurobiology, neuroethology, neuroanatomy, neuropharmacology, systems neuroscience, cellular and developmental neurobiology, and computational approaches to neural systems. The Foundation also has a longstanding interest in epilepsy-related research.

Benefits:

Grass Fellowships provide research support including laboratory space, animals, equipment and supplies for one summer at the MBL. Additionally, the investigator, his/her spouse or legal domestic partner, and dependent children are provided housing, a daily meal allowance and round-trip travel to the MBL.

Fellows function as an intellectual and social group within the MBL scientific community while sharing space in the Grass Laboratory. In a weekly private seminar series, eminent investigators at the MBL discuss their work with the Fellows. In addition, a yearly Forbes Lecturer will spend a portion of the summer in the Grass Lab interacting with Fellows.

Eligibility:

Early investigators (late stage predoctoral trainees and beyond) are eligible to apply. This includes applicants with prior experience at MBL or with the Grass Foundation (MBL course alumni are encouraged to apply). Priority is given to applicants with a demonstrated commitment to pursuing a research career. International Fellows (i.e., not US citizens or resident aliens) must hold a valid visa (e.g. J-1, H-1B, F1 or F1-OPT) for the entire duration of the fellowship. Please contact us early in case you need to adjust your visa status! The Grass Foundation values diversity in all of its programs.

Duration:

The duration of the program is 14 weeks starting Memorial Day Monday;

Selection:

The Trustees of The Grass Foundation judge an applicant’s ability to organize and present pertinent information, the scientific merit of the proposed research, and evidence of an applicant’s ability to work independently. Approximately 10-12 Grass Fellowships are awarded annually. Most Fellows share space in the Grass Lab; some arrange to work in the space of another MBL investigator.

Deadline:

Applications for the summer program must be received by 5 December. Applicants must ensure that the completed application and letters of recommendation are submitted by the deadline. Decisions will be announced by the last week in January.

FAQ's

Eligibility

• When is the best time to do the fellowship?

• The fellowship targets promising new investigators that are at the “critical period”, when the possibility of becoming their own PI during the summer will help to develop the self-confidence and drive to pursue an independent research career. This “critical period” usually takes place during the late postdoctoral years but the program is also appropriate for advanced graduate students and new Assistant Professors.

• Can I apply for the fellowship before I obtain my graduate degree?

• Predoctoral researchers are eligible to apply however; applicants should not combine a Grass Fellowship with writing a Ph.D. thesis.

• Can I apply for the fellowship if I have already obtained a faculty position?

• Investigators at all early career stages are eligible to apply.

• Can I apply for a second Grass Fellowship?

• Former Fellows are welcome to apply.

• What is your policy regarding visas for foreign researchers?

• Applicants who are not US citizens or resident aliens must hold a valid J-1 or H-1B visa for the entire duration of the fellowship. Applicants should contact MBL for guidance and not rely on visa advice from their current institution. The fee to obtain a J-1 visa is reimbursed by the Grass Foundation. However, given that the The Grass Foundation is not the employer, no help in obtaining H1B visas can be offered.

• Is it possible to be a teaching assistant in an MBL course during part of the fellowship?

• The Grass Foundation encourages fellows to take full advantage of MBL’s scientific community as they conduct independent research. However, time-intensive activities, such as teaching in a course, is not feasible.

• I applied last year and was not awarded a Grass Fellowship. May I reapply a second time for next year's deadline?

• Absolutely- some reapplicants have been successful in the past! Reapplications must submit a completely new application; we cannot simply reactivate your old application.

• If I am selected as a Grass Fellow and my personal situation changes, can I defer my fellowship until the next summer?

• Due to the timely nature of research proposals, fellowships are non-deferrable. If you are selected but unable to accept the fellowship, you will have to reapply.

Application

• Are research projects studying marine organisms given preference?

• No, the Selection Committee gives preference to ALL research proposals appropriate to the facilities and organisms that can be accommodated at MBL. This list includes marine and freshwater species (e.g., fish, amphibians), invertebrates (e.g., insects, gastropods), and small vertebrates such as, but not limited to, mice or rats. If in doubt, check with us or the MBL.

• Is it possible to conduct one’s project in the laboratory of an investigator at the MBL rather than in the Grass Lab?

• Yes, this is absolutely possible. In this case, the fellow should include an additional (4th) letter of reference from the sponsoring investigator.

The MBL has a rich environment of summer investigators and year-round researchers in a most areas of the life-sciences. Formal and informal applications are strongly endorsed and encouraged by the Grass Foundation. Strengths at the MBL include deep sequencing, super resolution imaging, neuroscience and environmental studies.

• Are there restrictions on the types of research animals and experimental techniques permitted at MBL?

• Yes. MBL does not have facilities to house large mammalian species. Isolated rooms for sensitive behavioral tests are extremely unlikely due to space limitations. MBL is not currently a Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) facility so pseudorabies virus work is NOT permitted; lentivirus work is permitted in cell culture only, NOT in whole animals.

The MBL has only a limited capacity to accommodate non-indigenous species. Remember that not all aquatic organisms are indigenous to New England waters! If in doubt, check with us or the MBL.

• Are there caveats to proposing a project on a different vertebrate species than my current research?

• Each selected fellow is responsible for writing his/her animal use protocol. Approval of protocols by the MBL Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee requires that each fellow obtain appropriate training before the start of the fellowship or in collaboration with a scientist at MBL during the fellowship.

• After I applied for the Grass Fellowship, I was informed that a paper I cited in my bibliography was accepted for publication. May I submit it to the Foundation?

• You can email it to us (gfp@grassfoundation.org), and we will update your application. Applicants will be notified of the Grass Foundation’s decision in mid-January so there is limited time in which to do so.

• I was wondering if there would be a problem if my reference letters arrive before my application.

• We receive most reference letters ahead of the application. We keep files on each applicant, and when the application gets processed, we attach their reference letters. The yearly deadline for receipt of applications and letters of recommendation is December 5.

• Regarding the research proposal, I am attempting to balance the importance of background material versus experimental detail. What are your guidelines?

• There are no rigid guidelines beyond what is in our instructions. You should choose a balance appropriate for your project and assume that neuroscientists who may not be specialists in your particular field will read applications. Applications will be judged on attributes including overall quality, the applicant’s ability to organize and present pertinent information, ability to develop a strong experimental plan, the feasibility of the project and likelihood of success.

Fellowship Details

• I understand that the fellowship is a 14-week commitment from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Is it possible to deviate from these fellowship dates to attend a scientific conference or go to a wedding, for example?

• Late arrivals, early departures or planned absences during the Grass Fellowship dates are strongly discouraged and exceptions due to personal obligations must be approved by the Grass Foundation. Please disclose any known deviations from the fellowship dates on your application (this is important for the evaluation process) or as soon as possible to the Grass Fellowship Program Director, if personal obligations originate after the selection process.

• How does the Grass Fellowship differ from the Grass Imaging Award at MBL?

• The Grass Fellowship differs substantially from the Imaging Award in terms of eligibility, duration and intended goal. Imaging Awards are restricted to faculty-level applicants only whereas the Grass Fellowship is open to all young investigators from advanced graduate students to new assistant professors. Imaging Awards support advanced neuroimaging research for 4 weeks only (in July) and applicants are encouraged to work in a collaborative manner within the lab of an MBL investigator. Grass Fellowships support a greater range of neuroscience experimental techniques for 14 weeks each summer and applicants typically work as independent investigators in the shared Grass Lab.

• What is life like in Woods Hole?

• Fellows are housed with their families or share housing with other Fellows in MBL summer cottages . Cottages are within biking distance to the lab and are accessible by MBL shuttle bus service. Alternatively, Fellows can choose to be housed in dorm rooms on campus. Fellows get together for a weekly group dinner, once a week, and have free time to enjoy the numerous beaches, bike paths, tennis courts, etc that are offered nearby. Please check out the links under “Additional information on Woods Hole” on the MBL website: http://hermes.mbl.edu/research/summer/accepted.html or visit www.woodshole.com

• Does the Grass Fellowship provide a stipend?

• Since the Grass Fellowship provides a rich intellectual environment and support for independent research, it does not offer a stipend during the fellowship learning experience. It does provide laboratory space, animals (purchase and per diem care), equipment (either through vendor loans or shipping costs from your home institution), a research budget of up to $2000 (for supplies) and a miscellaneous budget of $1500. Additionally, the fellow, their spouse or legal domestic partner, and dependent children are provided housing, a daily meal allowance and round-trip travel to MBL.

• Does Acceptance of the Fellowship incurr tax obligations?

• We cannot provide tax advise. However it is our understanding that according to the IRS, fellowships are potentially taxable independent of your citizenship or visa status. Refer to the IRS website, e.g http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/International-Taxpayers/Taxation-of-Nonresident-Aliens or contact a tax specialist if you have any further question.

• Does the Grass Fellowship provide childcare for dependents during the fellowship?

• No, however, there are numerous children’s programs available through MBL or in the Woods Hole area (http://hermes.mbl.edu/services/serv_childcare.html).

• Can we bring our pets?

• There are a limited number of pet-approved cottages at the MBL. There is a $250 per pet refundable deposit for those approved to have pets in their cottages and a limit of two pets per cottage. Pet deposits and travel costs for pets are not provided by the Grass Foundation. There is no guarantee that pets can be accommodated by the MBL. Finally, no pets are allowed in the laboratory space.

• If I have other questions, whom should I contact at the MBL?

• All questions should be directed to the Grass Fellowship Coordinator at the MBL, gfp@grassfoundation.org

Fellowship Benefits

• What is the total financial value of the fellowship?

• This is a hard question to answer since it varies considerably between fellows. A Fellow who is accompanied by spouse/domestic partner and travels from Australia to work on transgenic mice will incur a larger cost to the Foundation than a single Fellow traveling from Boston to work on Drosophila. But on average, the ‘value’ of the fellowship is in the range of ~$30K.

• How does this fellowship prepare me better for a career in science?

• One of the major benefits of the fellowship, besides enabling cutting-edge research, is the ability to build your own support network of peers and researchers in your field. Being at the MBL for an entire summer will introduce you to a wide variety of world-renowned researchers that come to the MBL to teach in the courses, to conduct their own summer research or who are resident year-round scientists at the MBL, for example in the Bell Center for Regenerative Biology and Tissue Engineering. These are people that will be able to collaborate with you, to write you letters of recommendation and support and to open your mind to the amazing world of science. See also: http://www.grassfoundation.org/fellow-testimonials.

• With grant funding being fickle, is it not an enormous luxury to spend 14 weeks in Woods Hole?

• It is an amazing privilege to be able to spend 14 weeks doing research with all costs paid! The fellowship represents a major source of funding for cutting edge research that might be difficult to conduct at one’s home institution, especially with other funding sources being scarce. So yes, if doing science is a luxury, then this fellowship supports that luxury!

• At my home institution I do not have access to X (e.g. a 2-photon microscope, a dynamic clamp system, fiddler crabs, a patterned illumination system, etc) and yet I need these resources for my research.

• Access to specialized equipment, model organisms and diverse intellectual colleagues is one of the major benefits of the Grass Fellowship. Many vendors are amazingly generous in providing fellows with a diverse array of loaner equipment. You can thus test out equipment that your lab might be considering buying and obtain preliminary data for the next grant.

• I am a grad student/pdoc and have never set up my own X (e.g electrophysiology rig). Will the Director of the Grass Lab help me with this task?

• Once awarded the fellowship; you will be treated as an independent investigator independent of your academic rank. While many people, including the Director and vendor representatives will be able to support you; you will be solely in charge of your own experimental set-up. Setting up your own equipment is a great learning experience and will let you become familiar with the details of the instrumentation. While it will initially slow you down a bit in data collection, you will have a much more appropriate understanding of the workings, possibilities and limitations of the instrumentation you use. And in contrast to when you start your own laboratory, there are experts around that are willing to help and troubleshoot. If something does not workout, you can also get feedback on alterative equipment.

• Do fellows generate enough data in a summer for a publication?

• Yes, this happens and of course depends on the scope of the project. More frequently, data gathered during the summer forms part of a publication or a grant application. See the fellows' projects and the self-reported publication site. (If you are a previous Fellow and have a publication arising from your Grass fellowship that is not on our list, please send the reference to execassist@grassfoundation.org).

• Why should I send my graduate student/postdoc to do a Grass fellowship for the summer?

• The MBL in general and the Grass Lab in particular offers a uniquely interactive, critical and lively intellectual environment. Your trainee will profit from being able to actively build their academic network beyond the home institution and your trainee will showcase your research program to the international community at the MBL.

Your trainee will gain valuable experience in being independent ranging from writing an animal protocol, to managing a budget, to setting up equipment and interacting with vendors, to explaining their research to an international audience of experts.

Your trainee will have access to animal species, e.g. marine species that might not be readily available at your home institution. Your trainee will be able to test new approaches and novel equipment with absolutely no risk to you. Mulitphoton and super-resolution microscopes, specialized electrophysiological equipment and deep sequencing facilities are all readily available.Frequently, vendors are agreeable to substantial discounts for equipment at the end of the summer.

The project proposal can be directly related to your next/current R01, or it can be related to the trainee’s own R01 by providing preliminary data. In either case, the fellowship will pay for the research to be conducted and thus provide a very tangible, financial benefit to you. All these opportunities will directly enhance the research program at the home institution. Thus from both the fellows as well as the home laboratories point of view, the Grass Fellowship constitutes a win-win opportunity! Obviously, your trainee will not be physically present in your own laboratory, but s/he is only a Skype call away!

• If I have other questions, whom should I contact at the MBL?

• All questions should be directed to the Grass Fellowship Coordinator at the MBL, gfp@grassfoundation.org

Neurosciences

Sponsor:The Grass Foundation

Deadline:5th December 2016

Early investigators (late stage predoctoral trainees and beyond) are eligible to apply. This includes applicants with prior experience at MBL or with the Grass Foundation (MBL course alumni are encouraged to apply). Priority is given to applicants with a demonstrated commitment to pursuing a research career. International Fellows (i.e., not US citizens or resident aliens) must hold a valid visa (e.g. J-1, H-1B, F1 or F1-OPT) for the entire duration of the fellowship. Please contact us early in case you need to adjust your visa status! The Grass Foundation values diversity in all of its programs.