Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
This FAQ provides answers to common questions about the Gruber Foundation Fellowship.
1. What is the Gruber Foundation Fellowship?
2. Who is eligible to apply?
3. Should the formal PhD certificate be obtained by 1 October?
4. How is the 3-year eligibility period calculated?
5. What are the host institution requirements?
6. If my host institution is not highly known, am I still eligible to apply?
7. Can I apply if I am in my second or third postdoc?
8. Can I apply if my second postdoc is in the same country as my PhD but different from my first postdoc?
9. Can I apply if my second postdoc is in the same country as my first postdoc but under a different funding source?
10. Are there any nationality restrictions?
11. How is the fellowship grant distributed?
12. What should be included in the budget plan?
13. Can the grant be used to cover my salary?
14. Can the fellowship be used to extend my current postdoc?
15. Can the fellowship be combined with other grants or awards?
16. What is the time period over which the fellowship grant should be spent?
17. What information should the letter of postdoc appointment contain?
18. Is there a page limit for the proposed research plan?
19. The contract of the postdoctoral appointment from the host institution is late due to administrative reasons. Can I submit it after the application deadline?
20. The reference person is unable to upload the reference letter by the deadline due to personal reasons.
21. What are the key application deadlines?
22. Who can I contact for more information?
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1. What is the Gruber Foundation Fellowship?
The Gruber Foundation Fellowship is a prestigious program supported by the Gruber Foundation (GF) in collaboration with the International Astronomical Union (IAU). It aims to promote exceptional research in cosmology and other astronomical fields by supporting early-career astronomers during their postdoctoral appointments. The fellowship provides a research grant of US$75,000, typically divided among three recipients.
2. Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are early-career astronomers within 3 years of receiving their PhD who meet one of the following conditions:
- Final-year PhD students:
- Must have a confirmed contract offer for a postdoctoral position at the time of application.
- PhD must be successfully defended by the fellowship start date (no later than October 1 of the award year).
- The host institution must be in a different country from where the PhD was awarded.
- Current postdocs (within 3 years of PhD defense):
- Must have at least one year of confirmed appointment remaining from the fellowship start date.
- The host institution must be in a different country from the PhD or prior postdoc institution.
- Transitioning to a new postdoc:
- Must have a contract offer for the second postdoc at the time of application.
- The second postdoc must begin no later than 1 October of the award year.
- The new host institution must be in a different country from the current one.
- Other cases (e.g., third postdoc within 3 years of PhD):
- Eligible if a contract offer exists for a new postdoc starting by 1 October of the award year in a different country from the current one.
3. Should the formal PhD certificate be obtained by 1 October?
No. A successful PhD defense by the fellowship start date is sufficient; a formal certificate is not required by 1 October.
4. How is the 3-year eligibility period calculated?
The 3-year period is measured from the date of successful PhD defense to the application deadline. Officially documented career breaks (e.g., parental leave, medical leave, or mandatory military service) do not count toward this limit.
5. What are the host institution requirements?
The host institution must:
- Be a recognized center of excellence in the applicant’s field.
- Be located in a different country from:
- The PhD institution (for first postdocs).
- The previous postdoctoral institution (for second or subsequent postdocs).
- Provide basic salary and research facilities, as the grant focuses on research and travel expenses.
- Salary supplementation may be approved under exceptional circumstances (see Q13).
6. If my host institution is not highly known, am I still eligible to apply?
Yes. While the reputation of the host institution is considered, selection is based on multiple factors, including the applicant’s scientific achievements, research potential, and the strength of their proposed research.
7. Can I apply if I am in my second or third postdoc?
Yes, if you are within 3 years of your PhD and meet the eligibility criteria. Your new host institution must be in a different country from your previous one.
8. Can I apply if my second postdoc is in the same country as my PhD but different from my first postdoc?
Yes, as long as the second postdoc’s host country differs from the first postdoc’s location. For example, if your PhD was in Japan, your first postdoc in the USA, and your second postdoc in Japan, you are eligible because Japan differs from the USA.
9. Can I apply if my second postdoc is in the same country as my first postdoc but under a different funding source?
No. The host institutions for your postdoctoral positions must be in different countries, irrespective of funding sources.
10. Are there any nationality restrictions?
No. The fellowship is open to applicants of all nationalities. However, preference may be given to candidates from countries in difficult economic situations, though scientific merit remains the primary selection criterion.
11. How is the fellowship grant distributed?
The total grant (US$75,000) is typically divided among three recipients ($25,000 each), paid directly to the awardees. However, the selection committee may adjust the number of awardees based on the quality and nature of the applications.
12. What should be included in the budget plan?
Applicants are required to submit a budget plan that itemizes their proposed expenses, based on an expected grant of up to $25,000. However, the final award amount may vary depending on the number of selected recipients, as determined by the selection committee. The proposed budget should cover only the period for which the applicant has confirmed employment at the time of application.
- The fellowship grant can be used for the following research-related purposes:
- Travel expenses for research-related trips, including conferences, workshops, observing runs, and collaboration visits.
- Publication costs, such as open-access fees or other charges for scientific papers.
- Research-related expenses, including equipment, software, and materials necessary for the project.
- Other costs directly related to the research, provided they are justified in the budget plan.
Each item in the budget should be clearly described and justified, explaining its relevance to the proposed research.
13. Can the grant be used to cover my salary?
The grant does not typically cover salary, but up to 10% may supplement it with approval from the host institution and the IAU General Secretary, provided the host institution fully covers all other salary-related costs, such as pensions, health insurance, and other benefits relevant to the host country. If you include a salary supplement in your budget plan, please provide a detailed justification.
14. Can the fellowship be used to extend my current postdoc?
No. The fellowship cannot extend an existing postdoc beyond its confirmed duration. However, if you secure an extension or a new postdoc in a different country, the grant may be carried over, provided you submit official documentation by the application deadline.
15. Can the fellowship be combined with other grants or awards?
Yes, provided they do not conflict with eligibility criteria (e.g., host country requirements).
16. What is the time period over which the fellowship grant should be spent?
The grant should be used over one to two years, in alignment with the recipient’s confirmed postdoctoral appointment.
17. What information should the letter of postdoc appointment contain?
The letter or contract of postdoc appointment from the head (director) of the host institution should include the following details:
- Start and end dates of the postdoctoral appointment
- Official title of the appointed position
- Salary amount
- A brief description of the assigned duties
- A statement confirming that the host institution will provide the basic salary and fully cover all salary-related costs, such as pensions, health insurance, and other benefits relevant to the host country.
18. Is there a page limit for the proposed research plan?
Yes. The research proposal must not exceed five pages, including up to four figures (using Times New Roman 12-point font or equivalent). References may be included beyond the page limit.
19. The contract of the postdoctoral appointment from the host institution is late due to administrative reasons. Can I submit it after the application deadline?
The application deadline must be strictly observed. However, in exceptional cases where administrative delays at the host institution prevent timely submission of the postdoctoral appointment contract, late submissions may be considered on a case-by-case basis after review by the selection committee. Applicants should contact the IAU Secretariat in case they anticipate a delay. Please note that approval is not guaranteed, and every effort should be made to submit all required documents by the deadline.
20. The reference person is unable to upload the reference letter by the deadline due to personal reasons.
Reference letters are a critical component of the application and must be submitted by the deadline. However, if a reference person is unable to upload the letter on time due to unforeseen personal circumstances, the applicant should inform the IAU Secretariat. Late submissions may be considered on a case-by-case basis after the selection committee review. Applicants are advised to communicate with their referees well in advance to ensure timely submission.
21. What are the key application deadlines?
- 22 March: Application deadline (11:59 PM Paris Time, UTC+1).
- Early May: Selection approval by the IAU Executive Committee.
- Late May/Early June: Public announcement of awardees.
22. Who can I contact for more information?
For further inquiries, contact the IAU Secretariat or visit the IAU Gruber Fellowship page.