We are pleased to announce the first annual Rising Stars Symposium at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. This one-day symposium is intended to recognize the accomplishments of outstanding postdoctoral trainees in the scientific workforce and to develop novel opportunities to increase the diversity of faculty at the Institute.

The date for the symposium is April 10, 2024.

The selected candidates will visit Salk and will be provided with opportunities to:

• Present their novel research in a symposium setting and interact with other trainees and colleagues who are at the forefront of their respective fields.
• Engage with and meet with Salk faculty one-on-one and over dinner and be paired with a Salk faculty member for mentorship following the symposium.
• Learn about the Institute, expose them to the ongoing developments at Salk, and inform them of upcoming faculty recruitment opportunities.

All costs associated with attending the symposium will be covered by the Salk Institute.

Eligibility This opportunity is open to current postdoctoral fellows who are at least 1-2 years from entering the job market. Trainees who identify as underrepresented according to the NIH  or consider themselves underrepresented in STEM are strongly encouraged to apply.

Application instructions, please submit the following required details below:

• CV/Resume
• Project abstract/description (250 words)
• Career goals (250 words)
• Diversity statement (250 words)
• Letter of support from their postdoctoral advisor (1 page)

Application The application deadline to be considered for the Rising Stars Symposium is November 17^th, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. PT.

Post-doctoral trainees are welcome to apply with or without a nomination. All applicants will be required to submit a 1-page letter of recommendation from their postdoctoral advisor by December 1^st, 2023. A link to upload the letter will be sent to the advisor’s email provided on this application form.

Nomination If you are a Principal Investigator and would like to nominate a post-doctoral trainee, please email  risingstars@salk.edu. Send us their name, contact information, and a brief statement (4-5 sentences) about their current work and potential as an independent investigator. Include details about how the trainee would benefit from the Rising Stars Symposium which is focused on developing opportunities and relationships with aims to increase diversity at the Salk Institute.

The Salk Institute is an internationally renowned research institution that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We seek bold and interactive leaders passionate about exploring new frontiers in science. Our collaborative community embraces diverse perspectives and unique life experiences, fostering innovation, and a sense of belonging. Together, we strive to improve the wellbeing of humanity through groundbreaking research.