Autism Speaks Postdoctoral Fellowship

Overview

Autism Speaks is dedicated to promoting solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the life span, for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. We do this through advocacy and support; increasing understanding and acceptance of autism spectrum disorder; and advancing research into causes and better interventions for autism spectrum disorder and related conditions. We empower people with autism and their families with resources, online tools and information covering the life span.
The goal of this program is to support well-qualified postdoctoral scientists pursuing training in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The program is open to applicants from public or private institutions doing preclinical or clinical research.
Competitive fellowship applications will feature research projects that focus on the following areas of high interest to the science mission at Autism Speaks:
• Epigenetics
• Pre-clinical intervention studies, including gene and RNA editing
• Immunology/inflammation
• Medical Comorbidities (particularly seizures and GI problems/microbiome) with an emphasis on interventions
• Biomarkers and objective measurement of autism and related domains
• Adult transition and lifespan development
• Challenging behavior
• Cognitively disabled/non- or minimally verbal
• Inclusion of individuals from low-resource communities

The candidate must hold an M.D., Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree and cannot have more than 5 years of postdoctoral experience at the commencement of the award. The selected postdoctoral fellow must spend at least 80 percent of his/her professional time engaged exclusively on the fellowship research activities for the duration of the award. The fellow may not simultaneously serve in an internship or residency, hold a tenure-track faculty appointment or hold another named fellowship award during the support period. Postdoctoral training in the laboratory where the applicant received his/her graduate degree will not be reviewed.
Candidates are allowed one resubmission of a previously denied Autism Speaks application (within two years).

Letter of Intent due on or before: February 27, 2019, 8:00 p.m. (U.S. Eastern Time)
Letter of Intent decisions: March 2019
Recommendations (see page 6) due on or before: April 17, 2019 by 8:00 pm (ET)
Application due on or before: April 23, 2019 by 8:00 pm (ET)
Peer review panels: Spring 2019
Notification: Summer 2019
Earliest Grant start date: early Fall 2019
Stipend:
0 yrs. experience - $48,500
1 yrs. experience  - $48,900
2 yrs. experience - $49,200
3 yrs. experience - $52,400
4 yrs. experience - $53,200
5 yrs. experience - $55,400
6 yrs. experience - $57,600
7 yrs. experience - $59,800