Terms and Conditions | Postdoctoral Scholars

Program requirements

  • Scholars are expected to participate fully in program activities, including the institute events to which they will be invited. Examples include events honoring award recipients, symposia and seminars, and donor events.
  • Faculty sponsors and co-sponsors are expected to serve on the review panel for the next two cycles of applications.
  • Scholars are expected to acknowledge the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute or the Knight Initiative for Brain Resilience as a source of support in all presentations and on all publications related to their work during the research fellowship period. Interdisciplinary Postdoctoral Scholars must  acknowledge the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute with the following: "[Scholar] is/was supported by the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute.” Brain Resilience Postdoctoral Scholars of the Knight Initiative must acknowledge the Knight Initiative for Brain Resilience in any publications, or orally in presentations, talks and media interactions, etc. with the following: "[Scholar] is/was supported by the Phil and Penny Knight Initiative for Brain Resilience at the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University."
  • Scholars are asked to complete an annual progress report to the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute Postdoctoral Scholars Committee in the spring of each year (one toward the end of their first year and the last one toward the end of the second year). Progress reports highlight the scholar’s research progress to date, as well as training progress and plans. Satisfactory completion of the first annual progress report is necessary to release the pledged funding for the second year of the award.

Salary/stipend support

  • Funded scholars will be awarded an annual stipend or salary of $79,335 plus fringe benefits.
  • The funding period for awarded scholars must begin between February 1 and June 1 after the award is conferred. The funding period is two full calendar years; funding is guaranteed for the first year and the second year of funding will be awarded following the satisfactory submission of a complete progress report at the end of the first year.
  • The award is intended to provide full support to the postdoctoral scholars. Postdoctoral scholars that receive support from another fellowship must contact Program Coordinator Zulema Garibo immediately for approval. In rare cases, contingent upon approval by the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute Executive Committee, the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute Postdoctoral Scholar Award may be used for supplemental support.
  • In accepting the award, the postdoctoral scholar’s home department is responsible for adhering to the funding requirements and guidelines. If guidelines are not met, the scholar may be asked to return all or part of the fellowship. Example violations include: overspending above the award amount, or falsified or misrepresented information that affects eligibility.
  • *Please note: If a scholar chooses to transition to a different laboratory, the fellowship will remain with them. The fellowship can accompany the scholar to the new lab, provided that the proposed project continues to align with the mission and objectives of the postdoctoral program.

Travel, research, and professional development funds

  • Scholars receive up to $3,500 per year in discretionary funds to offset scholar-related laboratory expenses or travel directly related to the research project.
  • Per Stanford policy, all computers and/or computing devices purchased through the travel, research, and professional development funds are property of Stanford University, and therefore, will need to be encrypted by Stanford IT in order to be in compliance with the university’s policies. At the end of the Scholar’s time at Stanford, should the Scholar wish to take the device(s) with them, they will have to independently submit a request for transfer of ownership and pay the associated fees to be able to legally own the device.
  • The Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute strongly encourages fellows to present their work when they attend scientific meetings.
  • Travel must have prior approval from the faculty sponsor.
  • Any use of discretionary funds requires pre-approval. See the Spending Procedures below.
  • All purchases and travel must be completed during the award period for the scholar.
  • Unspent funds remaining at the end of each year of the fellowship will revert to the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute.
  • Under special circumstances, rollover from the first to the second year of up to $2,000 of these funds may be approved at the discretion of the Training and Fellowships Program Coordinator. Please reach out to program coordinator Zulema Garibo at zgaribo@stanford.edu no later than three months before the end of the first year for further instructions on how to submit a rollover request. 

Leaves of absence

  • The award clock will be stopped during any leaves of absence, such as a period of medical or parental leave, and restart when the scholar returns to research.
  • All Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute scholars are eligible for up to six weeks of parental leave at full pay from the Interdisciplinary Scholars program. Refer to Research Policy Handbook 10.3.11 on applying for disability benefits for maternity leave. If the scholar is eligible for disability benefits, full pay will equal a combination of a supplement from the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute Postdoctoral Scholars program plus any benefits available from the disability carrier. Additionally, health benefits will continue to be paid by the program during a period of up to 12 weeks of medical or parental leave.

Contact

  • Should you have any questions regarding your appointment, including program operation, travel and research fund approval and other inquiries, please contact Zulema Garibo at zgaribo@stanford.edu, the Training and Fellowships Program Coordinator. 

Spending procedures 

Requesting Pre-Approval

Any use of your Wu Tsai Neurosciences Postdoctoral  Scholar Awards discretionary research funds (including both the Interdisciplinary and Brain Resilience tracks) REQUIRES pre-approval from the Training and Fellowships Program Coordinator Zulema Garibo. Any purchases or travel arrangements made prior to seeking institute approval may not be funded.

Travel/Research/Professional Development Fund requests must directly support the trainee’s research and/or professional development

Purchases

  • Before making any purchases, seek pre-approval from Zulema Garibo, Training & Fellowships Program Coordinator. Please submit your request via this Pre-Approval Request Google Form
  • Please allow for three business days to review your request.
  • After review, you will receive an email from the program coordinator to let you know you have been pre-approved and can proceed with your purchase.
  • If for any reason your request cannot be pre-approved, you will be informed via email.

COMPUTERS/LAPTOPS/ELECTRONIC DEVICES

  • Per Stanford policy, all computers and/or computing devices purchased through the NeuroTech Research/Travel/Professional Development funds are property of Stanford University, and therefore, will need to be encrypted by Stanford IT in order to be in compliance with the University’s policies. At the end of the trainee’s time at Stanford, should the trainee wish to take the device(s) with them, they will have to independently submit a request for transfer of ownership and pay the associated fees to be able to legally own the device.
  • iPads are generally not allowed unless trainees can clearly articulate why they are essential to their research. Please note that only one computing device is allowed per trainee (either one laptop or one iPad).

OTHER PURCHASES

Purchase requests must directly support the trainee’s research and/or professional development. The following items are NOT allowed: personal desk or chair, monitors, calculators, mouse/mouse pads, keyboards, notetakers, protection warranties, software subscriptions.

PURCHASE METHODS

You may use any of the following purchase methods; however, please note that SmartMart is preferred.

  1. Use Stanford’s SmartMart portal to purchase equipment. Your Department administrator can assist you with this if needed; please contact Zulema Garibo for your PTA (project-task-award account number, used to categorize expenditures by funding source).
  2. Use your department PCard. After the purchase is made, your department administrator can use your PTA to clear the transaction.
  3. Use cash or personal credit card and submit your receipt to your department administrator to process a reimbursement request. All reimbursements should be processed through your department. 

Travel

The Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute strongly encourages postdoctoral scholars to make oral and poster presentations at scientific meetings. You must have your PI's approval to attend the conference before you request institute approval. 

  • Before making any travel arrangements, seek pre-approval from Zulema Garibo, Training & Fellowships Program Coordinator. Please submit your request via this Pre-Approval Request Google Form
  • Please allow for three business days to review your request.
  • After review, you will receive an email from the program coordinator to let you know you have been pre-approved and can continue with your travel arrangements.
  • If for any reason we cannot pre-approve your request, you will be informed via email. 

*Stanford encourages postdocs to use Stanford Travel for their travel booking. Learn more about Stanford Travel here.

Reimbursement

For any travel and/or purchase reimbursements, please work directly with your department administrator to process any transactions. Your department is responsible for being the preparers and approvers on any reimbursement processed through Oracle Financial systems. Both you and your department administrator should have your unique PTA. If for any reason you don't have this information, please reach out to Zulema Garibo, the program coordinator. 

Contact

Should you have any questions regarding your finances, travel and purchase pre-approval and funds-use inquiries, please contact Zulema Garibo at zgaribo@stanford.edu, the Training & Fellowships Program Coordinator.