The Graduate School

John Merck Scholars Program in the Biology of Developmental Disabilities in Children

M E M O R A N D U M

Deadlines:  Notice of intent to submit the name of a nominee to the Graduate School, Friday, December 1 , 2006; Application to the Graduate School, Wednesday, December 6, 2006

The John Merck Fund's Scholars Program in the Biology of Developmental Disabilities in Children is intended to increase our understanding of the problem of combined mental disability and emotional disturbance in children. Three new Merck Scholars will be selected this year to receive $300,000 each over four years. 

UW-Madison has been invited to nominate up to two candidates (one neurobiologist and one cognitive scientist). Candidates must hold the academic rank of assistant professor and have been in an independent faculty position for no more than four years. Holding other fellowships concurrently with the Merck Scholars Award will require prior approval of the John Merck Fund.

Departments wishing to nominate a candidate should send an email message by December 6 to gsgrants@bascom.wisc.edu indicating the candidate's name, department, contact information, and whether the application will fit into the neurobiology or cognitive science category.  We request that any single department submit no more than one internal nomination for any limited competition.

Application forms and instructions can be downloaded from the John Merck Fund web site.

For the internal competition, please submit five (5) copies of the following to the Graduate School Dean's Office, Room 333 Bascom Hall, no later than 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 6, 2006:

• A letter of nomination from the chair that can be converted into a letter from the Dean (please indicate whether the candidate should be considered in the neurobiology or cognitive science category.)
• Completed cover sheet
• Bibliography
• Description of the proposed research program (not to exceed 5 pages in 11 point font)
• Description of how the work will improve the lives of mentally disabled children with emotional disturbances.
• A budget is not required for the internal competition.

Candidates selected by the Graduate School internal review committee will need to supply reprints, a proposed budget, and request letters of reference from three colleagues. The reference letters must be sent directly to Merck by the January 17, 2007 deadline.

If you have questions, please send an email message to gsgrants@bascom.wisc.edu or call Jane Sherwood, 263-7274 or Petra Schroder, 265-4868.

c: School/College Research Administrators, Associate Deans for Research