General Instructions

If you are considering applying for a predoctoral fellowship you should contact Dr. Gregory Falkin (greg.falkin@nyu.edu) and Ms. Vicki Zaleski (vicki.zaleski@nyu.edu) to be sure we currently have openings.

We review applications for fellowships on a rolling admissions basis. We usually award about three to five predoctoral each academic year with flexible start dates. We support graduate students from a variety of universities, not just NYU students, and our weekly training meetings are held on zoom.

For predoctoral fellowships, we generally only accept graduate students who will have completed their coursework by the time the candidate would start in the program. If you are not yet finished with coursework and are interested in applying you may send an e-mail explaining your situation and asking when the appropriate time to apply would be (please attach your CV).

All candidates should submit a letter of intent that provides concise answers to the questions that follow below, a CV, a writing sample, and a dissertation abstract (the abstract only applies to postdoctoral applicants). Each of these should be submitted separately as Word or pdf files labeled as follows: last name, document title [letter of intent, writing sample, CV] and date [for month, day and year in the format e.g., 093015]. Make sure the first page of your letter of intent has your name in the upper right hand corner, followed immediately below by the word PREDOC, then the date, then your phone number(s) and e-mail address each on separate lines (provide only one e-mail address).

Candidates should apply electronically (do not mail hardcopies) by submitting the above documents to Dr. Gregory Falkin (greg.falkin@nyu.edu) and copying Ms. Vicki Zaleski (vicki.zaleski@nyu.edu). Make sure when you send your application and all other correspondence pertaining to you application to Dr. Falkin you copy Ms. Zaleski.

If you are a graduate student at a university other than NYU you should inform your faculty advisor and your grant administrator that you are applying for a Federal T32 fellowship. You should request their approval. Later, if we award you a fellowship your administrator will have to provide NYU’s grant office with a budget for your fellowship.

 NIH Citizenship Requirement: You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident (green card) to be awarded a fellowship. If you do not meet this NIH requirement at the time you are planning to apply but you are confident you will have a green card by the time you would start in the BST program please send an e-mail to Dr. Falkin (copy Ms. Zaleski) explaining your situation and asking if it is acceptable to apply.

Please address the following questions in your letter of intent

(1) How did you hear about the BST program?

(2) Why are you interested in a predoctoral fellowship in the BST program?

(3) Have you completed your coursework?  Passed all your exams and advanced to candidacy?  If not, what requirements do you have left to meet? Be as specific as you can about when you will complete the various requirements.

(4) What is the (working) title of your dissertation?  Please give a one or two sentence abstract – no more. If you have not made a decision as to your dissertation topic, state that and let us know what topic(s) you are thinking of pursuing.

(5) Where do you stand as far as your dissertation goes?  Have you defended your proposal, are you writing it, collecting data, writing your last chapter?  Exactly how far along are you?

(6) If you are far enough along in your dissertation—you’ve written enough of your proposal or have put enough thought into it or have passed your proposal defense—provide a two paragraph summary that explains (1) the rationale and significance of the study, and (2) the methods you a using. Make this count: we are looking for your ability to write a cogent statement of your research. Don’t answer this question if you said you do not have a topic in question 2 above. If that is the case, give us an idea of the topic(s) you are considering, if any, and why.

(7) About when do you think you are likely to defend your dissertation?

(8) If you hope to work on any papers (in addition to your dissertation) in your first year as a predoc let us know what those are. Include names of co-authors, a title or working title, and whether the paper is in progress, under review (in which case include the journal name), or in the gestation phase.

(9) Generally, we encourage our predocs to work with PIs on NIDA grants to gain more experience and mentorship as well as publications—it is essential that you have a strong publication record to compete effectively for good jobs. Our fellowship program does not assign fellows to projects—that is something that is ultimately your decision, though we will make suggestions—but we encourage predocs to work with PIs, unless there are extenuating circumstances (e.g., you need to work full-time to finish your dissertation so you can graduate in May, or you already have a strong publication record).

Are you familiar with the NIDA research done at the NYU’s Center for Drug Use and HIV Research (CDUHR)? If not take some time to peruse the website descriptions of the researchers and their projects and publications at the following link: http://www.cduhr.org/browse-research/?type=Project#.V02p1tdZWJI

You may find it easier to begin by perusing the CDUHR brochure. If you see a project with a title of interest you should then read the more detailed description on their website.

Do you see any PIs you might be interested in collaborating with and/or any projects you might be interested in working on? Include one paragraph (no more) that begins by stating the name of a PI and/or a project you are interested in and then explains why you are interested in them. You are not making a commitment and it is possible you might not work on a CDUHR project. While we like to know what topics interest you, we will focus as much if not more on the rationale you provide (because it is not important at this time for you, or us, to know exactly what project you might work on). If you think there are extenuating circumstances such that there would not be an advantage or might actually be a disadvantage to your working on an CDUHR project, please tell us your thinking about this.

(10) Are you currently working? Indicate the number of hours per week. Are you committed to working or hoping to work during the upcoming Fall, Spring or Summer semesters? If so, about how many hours per week? If you will be teaching, what semesters, how many classes? What days of the week? About how much will you earn in the next year all together from outside work.

(11) Will you be getting any fellowships, stipends, etc. for the Fall, Spring or Summer semester? Will you be taking out any loans to pay your tuition, etc.? Please indicate the name and dollar amount.

(12) Do you have an internship (or externship) requirement to meet as part of your program? If so, have you met the requirement(s)? If not, what is the nature of the requirement and when do you plan to do the internship or externship?

(13) Please give us an estimate of your tuition and fees for the upcoming Fall, Spring and Summer semesters. We must have an estimate of this – not necessarily the exact amount – to consider you for an interview.

(14) Please provide contact information (e-mail address and phone number) for four references.

(15) Provide the name and contact information for your grant administrator.

(16) If there is anything else you would like to add, feel free to elaborate after answering the previous questions.

PLEASE BE CONCISE and COGENT – we will invite you for an interview to obtain more information if we feel it is warranted. Generally a two-page letter of intent is in the ballpark.