Cori Fellows Program

The Gerty and Carl Cori Independent Fellows program recognizes outstanding graduate student scientists by giving them the opportunity to transition directly from their graduate training to independent fellow positions where they have the freedom to pursue their own research agendas. Fellows design their own research programs and recruit one or more mentors from the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics (BMB) in the School of Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis. A generous stipend and research budget ensure the independence of the Fellow, with mentors acting as collaborators who provide laboratory space, access to equipment, and advice on both scientific directions and career development. We hope this program will help prepare the next generation of academic leaders.

Terms of appointment

• Fellows will be appointed for a maximum period of three years, with renewal on an annual basis. The anticipated starting date will be dependent on when the application is received (see below for submission dates).
• A stipend of $80,000 with annual increases.
• Benefits and resources in accordance with Washington University provisions for staff scientists.
• A research budget of $50,000 per year that can be used for supplies, reagents, core facilities, travel, etc.
• The department will also pay the salary of a research technician to work under the Cori Fellow
• A faculty mentor who will also act as a collaborator, and a mentoring committee for career support
• Possibility to write for small internal grants
• Departmental admin support for external grant submissions and managing lab budgets
• The possibility to continue in the department (upon mutual interest) at a suitable faculty appointment level

Eligibility
Preferred candidates for the Cori Independent Fellows Program are outstanding graduate students who are about to be awarded or who have been awarded their doctoral degree within the past year, and early postdoctoral scientists within their first two years post earning their graduate degree. Nevertheless, senior postdoctoral scientists are still eligible to apply. Current Washington University graduate students/postdoctoral candidates are also eligible to apply.

Application instructions
Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact potential mentors in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics to assess their interest in collaborating before submitting an application. Applications should be emailed to CoriResearchFellowship@biochem.wustl.edu, and must include:

• Current CV
• A one-page description of the applicant’s past research accomplishments (pdf format, 11 point font, 0.5 inch margins).
• A one-page research proposal, focusing on the high-level direction rather than the details of the experiments to be performed (pdf format, 11 point font, 0.5 inch margins).
• A brief letter of support from a faculty member in the BMB department is required. The candidate will need to reach out to a potential mentor prior to submitting the application to discuss their project, and how the mentor’s lab can play a role in the success of the proposed research.
• The names and email addresses of three references.

Applications will be reviewed quarterly, starting on December 1, 2023 (also April 1, 2024 and August 1, 2024). Selected applicants will be first interviewed virtually, followed by an invitation for an in person visit to present their past work and future research objectives and to meet with department faculty.

Washington University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to the recruitment of candidates traditionally underrepresented on university faculties. Individuals of any race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation are encouraged to apply, as are disabled individuals and veterans. The School of Medicine at Washington University is committed to finding solutions to global health problems, including ones that affect minority and disadvantaged populations.