The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation supports emeritus faculty who maintain active research programs with undergraduates in the chemical sciences. The Senior Scientist Mentor Program provides an award of $20,000 over two years for undergraduate stipends and modest research support. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, May 18, 2016.

Eligibility

The Senior Scientist Mentor Program is open to all academic institutions in the states, districts, and territories of the United States of America that grant a bachelor’s degree or higher in the chemical sciences, including biochemistry, materials chemistry, and chemical engineering. Faculty with emeritus status on or before July 2016, and who maintain active research programs in the chemical sciences, may apply to the program. More than one application per department or institution is permitted.

Selection

Successful applicants are expected to be closely engaged in a mentoring relationship with undergraduate students. The evaluation will be based on both an assessment of the research proposed and the plans for undergraduate participation in the research. An applicant’s history of mentoring undergraduates is favorably viewed.

Budget

The Senior Scientist Mentor Program provides a $20,000 award over two years, intended mostly for undergraduate stipends. Modest research support is also allowed. Funds are normally expended over a period of three years after notification of an award. Charges associated with indirect costs or institutional overhead are not allowed. Faculty salary and any expenses associated with graduate students are not permitted. Foundation approval is required for significant budgetary changes. If the awardee leaves the institution, the transfer of the remaining funds requires prior foundation approval.

Application Procedure

All application materials and letters of support must be received at the foundation office by the deadline. Applications recommended for approval are presented to the foundation’s Board of Directors in time for award announcements by early November 2016.

Required Information

Application package: The original application should be formatted on 8 1/2 x 11-inch paper, using 12-point font size, and assembled as:

1. The online application form (here) In four or fewer pages total, applicants should describe the specific projects or project types in which the undergraduates will participate, ongoing research with undergraduates, and how they will interact with and mentor the undergraduates
2. A curriculum vitae (limited to five pages) that includes a list of up to 15 relevant publications in which contributions by undergraduate coauthors are clearly identified
3. A letter from an institutional representative highlighting the applicant’s achievements with undergraduates and confirming that the institutional facilities required for the proposed research are available

Generate all above materials as a single PDF document and email it to programs@dreyfus.org.

Letter of support: A letter of support must be sent directly to the foundation from a colleague, preferably from outside the institution, who is familiar with the applicant’s research, teaching, and experience in mentoring and advising undergraduates. Letters should be formatted on 8 1/2 x 11-inch letterhead, using 12-point font size, and be no more than three pages. The letter should not be received with the nomination package.

Letter of support must be generated as a single PDF document and emailed to programs@dreyfus.org.

Reports

The second payment of $10,000 will be sent upon request, after completion of the first year. The request should be accompanied or preceded by a financial report and a concise progress report from the award recipient.

A final report is due at the end of the second year. The final report should be concise, formatted on 8 1/2 x 11-inch paper, using 12-point font size, and contain the following sections:

1. Highlights of research accomplishments during the award period
2. Future plans for the undergraduate researcher(s)
3. Categorical financial report (click here for categories)
4. An optional statement of newsworthy stories concerning the student(s) and/or the mentor during the period of the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Senior Scientist Mentor Award

Generate the report as a single PDF document and email it to programs@dreyfus.org.

Additional Information

1. Publications and presentations describing work supported by the award should acknowledge the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Senior Scientist Mentor Program
2. The award recipient is designated a Camille and Henry Dreyfus Senior Scientist Mentor
3. Procedural questions may be directed to the Foundation office by telephone at 212.753.1760 or email at programs@dreyfus.org.