Career Development Program

The Giovanni Armenise-Harvard Foundation has funds to support the development of talented scientists and to contribute to the establishment of novel areas of research in biological sciences in Italy while furthering collaborative relationships between Italian scientists and Harvard Medical School (HMS).

The Career Development Award provides three to five years of support for newly independent scientists at an agreed host institute in Italy. It is intended to foster the development of outstanding scientists and enable them to expand their potential to make significant contributions to their field of research. At the same time, the Foundation hopes the Award will provide an incentive for Italian research institutes to strengthen their departments by providing a sufficiently attractive package to invite applications from the best possible candidates.

Please click here for a full list of previous recipients.

ELIGIBILITY AND GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS

Candidates must:

  Be young, emerging scientists with demonstrated productivity and the capacity to function as an independent investigator. Experience of working with or at HMS is an advantage but not essential.

  They should have a minimum of 3 years of postdoctoral research experience in basic biological sciences (of which at least two years should be abroad) and be no more than 10 years beyond their Ph.D.

  Be researchers not currently living in Italy who wish to enter the Italian research community.

  Have an agreement for development of a novel research area in a suitable host institution in Italy.

  Applications from candidates who have a pre-existing appointment at an Italian host institute will not be considered.

FUNDING

  Appointments are ratified by the Board of Trustees.  Award winners have one month to accept or decline the award and state categorically when they will be moving to Italy to take up the grant which must be within 12 months of notification of the award.

 

  The Award will initially be granted for three years, will be available from July 1 each year and will be distributed annually at a rate of $200,000 per year per scholar.

  Funds can cover salaries for the scholar (commensurate with position at the host institute), technicians, junior scientists, research supplies or administrative support required for the program. Recognizing that the salary levels, personal benefits, and faculty position are a matter of negotiation between the host institute and the recipient, the Foundation is happy that the award be used flexibly as an incentive to attract high caliber scientists. Funds can also cover specialized equipment not normally available at the host institute.

  The host institute must provide the facilities, equipment, and infrastructure necessary to carry out the proposed research. However, up to 25% of the funds can be used for administrative costs associated with the program in the host department.

  A candidate who is nominated for an Armenise-Harvard Career Development Grant may not hold this grant concurrently with another grant also designed to assist in establishing the scientist at a host institute in Italy to pursue the same line of research unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Changes in Status of Awardees

  If, after the Award recipient has moved to Italy and taken up the award, he/she receives a permanent position and/or salary from other sources additional to the Award, the Award recipient may use the preserved funding (i.e. no longer used for salary) to support the research program in other ways, provided that the goals of the research program are unchanged. The Foundation should be notified of the change in status.

  If, after the Award recipient has moved to Italy and taken up the award, the recipient should wish to move his/her research to a different host institute, it is possible to submit to the Scientific Advisory Board for consideration a new proposal clearly outlining the reasons for the move and providing a Letter of Intent from the new host institute.

  If the Award recipient wishes to change host institute before taking up the grant, the original grant may be forfeited and a new application may have to be made the following year.

 

EVALUATION AND REPORTING

Award recipients will be expected to provide an annual progress report, including a financial report and a brief summary of their research activity. 

To apply for a further two years of funding, a detailed description of all work accomplished and in progress as a result of the Giovanni Armenise-Harvard Foundation Award must be submitted in the third year.  A report from the host institute will also be required at this time.  If the two-year funding is granted, a final report from both the grant recipient and the host institute must be provided at the end of the fifth year.  Reports will describe publications, other support from research grants or contracts, honors and awards, professional activities, and other information helpful in evaluating the impact of the program on the scientific achievement of the individual.

Awardees will be invited to take part in thematically-relevant Armenise-Harvard Foundation Symposia during the whole term of the Career Development Award.

The Armenise-Harvard Foundation should be acknowledged in all publications emanating from the research carried out during the award period.
 

APPLICATION DEADLINE: July 15 each year

APPLICATIONS must be typed using a 12pt font.  Please put your name in the title of each document (e.g. MasonA CV.doc, MasonA Publications.doc, etc.) and the document title, date, and page number in the header or footer of each separate document.

PLEASE NOTE:  Applications must be submitted on-line between mid-April and July15.  Applicants should note that shortlisted candidates will be required to attend an interview in Italy on Friday, 6 November 2009.  The interview will be an informal dialogue about the candidate’s work and aspirations and will not take the form of a presentation.

PLEASE SUBMIT APPLICATIONS WITH CONTENTS IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER

1. Application Form: Complete all information requested.

2. Curriculum Vitae. CV must include university grades for all degrees.

3. List of Publications.

4. Description of Previous Research and where it was conducted (2 pages).

5. Narrative and Bibliography: Describe the proposed research in English in sufficient detail to enable the reviewing committees to appraise it. A level of detail typical of a Scientific American article is appropriate. Review committees will be asked to evaluate the quality of the candidate, the originality and feasibility of the proposed research and the overall contribution that the research could make to the specific area of science.

The narrative should not exceed 5 pages of double-spaced pages with one-inch margins (excluding bibliography). Type should be 12 pt. Include the following sections:

  Introduction: a brief summary of preliminary work or other background material.

  Objectives: a description of what is to be accomplished over three years including an explanation of why the candidate considers this is important for the advancement of this scientific area.

  Scope of Research: a summary of the design and methodologies to be applied.

  Host Institution: a short summary of the academic record of the proposed host institute and an explanation of why the project should be conducted in that particular host institute.

  Bibliography: list publications separately to 5-page narrative.

6. Budget: Provide a detailed budget outlining personnel, equipment, travel, supplies, meeting costs, overhead and taxes, if relevant.

7. Other Support: Document all other support, active and pending, indicating principal investigator, sponsor, title of project and award dates.

8. Three Letters of Reference These letters must be sent directly from the referee via e-mail to applicants@gahf.it by the July 15 deadline.  If the letter is printed on letterhead, signed and scanned, the e-mail is sufficient, otherwise, a signed paper copy should also be sent to Alexa Mason at the address below or can be faxed to +39 055 390 9064.

9. Letter of Intent From Host Institute This should confirm the institute’s full support and encouragement of independent scientific research in general and the applicant in particular. The Letter should be sent by the department head to applicants@gahf.it via e-mail by the July 15 deadline with a cc to the applicant.  Like the Letters of Reference, we need a signed copy on institute letterhead, either scanned and sent via email, or faxed to +39 055 390 9064 or mailed to Alexa Mason at the address below. The applicant should be fully in agreement with the contents of the Letter which should:

  Clearly state that the host institute offers the necessary facilities to allow the candidate to carry out his/her project and include a description of these facilities.

   Indicate why the department head wishes to have the applicant work in his/her department.

  Illustrate how this research, while remaining independent, complements the other work done in the host institute

  Confirm that the department is willing to take on the administrative responsibilities involved in accepting the grant.

  Confirm that the host institute and the applicant are in complete agreement as to the terms under which the applicant would take up a position at the host institute, including salary and benefits, position, ranking, and responsibilities.

  Indicate the agreed salary and employment grade level.

 

MAILING INSTRUCTIONS

On-line applications can be submitted between mid-April and July 15.  It will not be possible to submit an application later than July 15.

Letters of Recommendation and the Letter of Intent from the Host Institute must be submitted by e-mail to applicants@gahf.it by the July 15 deadline.  If the letters are printed on letterhead, signed and scanned, the e-mail is sufficient, otherwise, a signed paper copy should also be sent to Alexa Mason at the address below or can be faxed to +39 055 390 9064.

Alexa Mason
Giovanni Armenise – Harvard Foundation
Villa I Tatti
Via di Vincigliata 26
50135 Firenze, Italia

If you have any questions concerning this application, please contact:
Alexa Mason
Giovanni Armenise-Harvard Foundation
Tel: + 39 055 603 251

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