CTBP Research - Visiting Scholar Opportunities

The Center for Theoretical Biological Physics offers many opportunities to those interested in participating in the various research efforts underway at the different partner locations. See below for linkages to a more detailed description of the various opportunities available.

High School Research/Training Opportunities

Becuase of the intensive, high-end research that is conducted by CTBP, we generally only place highly motivated high school junior and seniors who have completed courses (especially Advanced Placement) in Chemistry, Physics, Pre-Calculus, and/or Coputer Programming/Graphics Design (including Robotics).

Students who wish to pursue graduate research at the CTBP must first be admitted to a degree-granting partner program.  These include graduate programs at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) as well as programs at the University of California-San Diego (UCSD) in one of the following departments: Physics, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mathematics, Bioinformatics, or Neurosciences.  Interested students are encouraged to send a copy of their TSRI or UCSD application to CTBP with a statement as to why they want to pursue graduate research at the CTBP.  This will enable CTBP staff to monitor applications.

Interested students currently enrolled in either a TSRI or UCSD graduate program should apply directly to the CTBP by submitting the following electronic documents to ctbp@ucsd.edu:

Your Curriculum Vita should include:

• Contact information
  
• Ph.D. details (proposed/current advisor, research area)
  
• Prior degrees (degree, institution, department, etc.)
  
• Current and past positions, honors, accomplishments
  
• Publication list with the most relevant publications noted and listed first
  
• References (3-5) with appropriate contact information

In addition, applicants should submit a brief research proposal which includes a statement as to why CTBP is an appropriate source of support (direct participation in synergy projects, overlap between existing CTBP projects, etc.).  Please note that after an initial review, CTBP may request a copy of an applicant's graduate school transcript prior to making a final award decision.

Post-Doctoral Research Opportunities

• CTBP Classic Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship

  We accept applications for CTBP Classic Post-Doctoral Fellowship positions throughout the year. Applications for a CTBP Bruno H. Zimm Biological Physics Fellowship (see below) are only accepted every 18-24 months. All applications are reviewed twice; once by individual investigators (on an irregular basis) for positions in their researh groups and funded by their extramural research grants; and then pools of applicants are reviewed in January, June and September for CTBP-funded post-doctoral positions. Applying to CTBP does not preclude an applicant from applying for a post-doctoral position directly to a specific CTBP research faculty member, UCSD, or UCOP (Office of the President). CTBP highly recommends applications to multiple post-doctoral fellowship programs (see links below). Applications for a classic (as opposed to a CTBP Bruno H. Zimm Biological Physics) post-doctoral fellowship are accepted through our automated, online application web site. Standard online application forms and document (CV, publications, letters of reference, etc.) uploads are facilitated through this site. If you have questions, please send an email to ctbp@ucsd.edu. Note: Use a NETSCAPE browser for full functionality.

  Applications received by December 31 , June 1, and September 1, will receive full consideration for CTBP-funded Post-Poctoral positions amongst the pool of applicants for that reveiw cycle. There are three review cycles each year:
  

  • January - for all applications received September 2nd through December 31st of the previous year
  • June - for all applications received January 1st through May 31st
  • September - for all applictaions received June 1st through August 31st
  
  Typically, highly qualified applicants are contacted within 30 days (after the deadline date) for an on-site interview/mini-talk and/or a phone screening. We attempt to make a final decision on applicants within 60 days of the applictaion deadline for that cycle.
  POST-DOCTORAL FELLLOWSHIP OnLine APPLICATION

  The following application materials will be required (or strongly recommended) when applying.

  • Your Curriculum Vita should include:
    
    • Contact information
      
    • Ph.D. details (advisor, thesis title, anticipated/actual date)
      
    • Prior degrees (degree, institution, department, etc.)
      
    • Current and past positions, honors, accomplishments
      
    • Publication list with the most relevant publications noted and listed first
      
    • List of 3-5 references with appropriate contact information

  • Statement of Research Accomplishments (to date; 1-2 page summary)
  • Statement of "Why I Wish to Pursue Studies at CTBP" (1-2 page summary)
  • Letters of Recommendation (minimium of two must be submitted with your application to be considerd for a fellowship)
  • Optional Documents:
    • A specific research proposal and/or a statement of support from a CTBP member with whom they would like to work.
    • Recent research publications (a maximum of two will be accepted, PDF files only).
  Reference letters submitted on behalf of applicants should be sent as electronic documents to ctbp@ucsd.edu prior to the posted deadline (if unavailable for upload on the application page).

  If you have any questions or issues with your application, contact:
  Christopher M. Smith, PhD.
  Center for Theoretical Biological Physics
  University of California-San Diego
  9500 Gilman Drive, MC0374
  La Jolla, CA 92093
  (858) 534-8370

• CTBP Bruno H. Zimm Biological Physics Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship

  This CTBP fellowship program is specifically designed for recent doctoral graduates who have demonstrated exceptional research aptitude and are interested in pursing more independent, semi-autonomous research than is available in a traditional ("classic") postdoctoral position. Zimm fellows will be expected to pursue intensive research in any area of biological physics related to CTBP research synergies. Fellowship positions will be avaible every 18-36 months, beginning in late 2009. For additional information and fellowship availability, click HERE.

• UCOP Presidents Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

  The University of California Office of the President Postdoctoral Fellowship Program was established in 1984 to encourage outstanding women and minority Ph.D. recipients to pursue academic careers at the University of California. The current program offers postdoctoral research fellowships, faculty mentoring, and eligibility for a hiring incentive to qualified scholars in all fields whose research, teaching, and service will contribute to diversity and equal opportunity at the University of California. For additional information, click HERE.

The CTBP is actively recruiting senior investigators/faculty who are interested in visiting the CTBP for a 3-12 month period. CTBP has funding available for local expenses including housing. This opportunity is available to researchers who propose a project that fits into the general framework of the Center, including both research (working with one or more CTBP researchers) and educational (offering mini- courses at a variety of levels). Interested investigators should submit a brief research proposal and a curriculum vita electronically to ctbp@ucsd.edu. In their accompanying email, investigators should indicate their proposed dates for visiting the CTBP.