FAQ
Please note: The Dalton Fellowship program is currently on hiatus.
Q. What are the relevant dates/deadlines? For the 2019-2021 term: October 1, 2018: Stage 1 (initial nominations) due. November 26, 2018: Stage 2 (invited full applications, including all supporting letters) due. December 2018–February 2019: Dalton Fellowship awards are offered.
FACULTY FAQs
Q. I will be away and unable to submit my nomination letter by the nomination deadline. Can I submit it late?
No. All initial nominations must be received by the Stage 1 nomination deadline. All Stage 2 supporting letters must be received by the Stage 2 application deadline.
Q. Multiple students in my group would like to be nominated. May I submit more than one nomination?
Yes.
Q. I am a faculty member at the University of Washington. May I submit a nomination for this fellowship?
No.
Q. I am a potential faculty host for a Dalton Fellowship applicant. Where can I send my letter of support?
Potential faculty hosts should be included as a reference. The online system will then send an email inviting the faculty member to upload a letter of support into the candidate’s record.
NOMINEE FAQs
Q. Can I be nominated more than once?
Only one nomination is required for consideration in the current competition cycle. Once you are nominated, any subsequent nominations will be rejected. If you have multiple faculty members wishing to nominate you, ask them to instead serve as a reference.
There is only one competition per year. Should your application be unsuccessful, you may be nominated in another competition year provided you still meet all the eligibility criteria listed in the guidelines.
Q. I am already been working at the UW in my host’s laboratory, am I still eligible to be nominated?
No. If you are already at the UW or you will begin your postdoctoral appointment here prior to the time that an award is made, you are not eligible. The intent of the award is to bring new researchers to the University of Washington, so if you have already found your way here, you are not eligible.
Q. I am a foreign national, am I eligible?
Yes. Current students or postdocs in the US on an F-1 visa are likely to be eligible for F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) status; those eligible should obtain also the F-1 OPT STEM extension. Current students or postdocs in the US in the J-1 “student” category may be eligible for J-1 Academic Training (AT) status, though they should confirm this with their degree-sponsoring institution. Those currently outside of the US may be sponsored for the J-1 “scholar” category. We typically do not support H-1B sponsorship, particularly at the start of one’s UW appointment. Fellowship recipients will be assisted with the visa sponsorship process as needed for their appointment.
Q. Is it possible to have two UW host faculty members in two different departments?
Yes. The online application allows you to enter a host in up to two potential host departments. One of these must be the Department of Chemistry.
Q. Can my potential host support more than one candidate?
A potential host faculty member may support the applications of multiple candidates.
Q. The reference I registered will not be able to meet the submission deadline. Can the letter of recommendation be submitted after the deadline?
No. It is not possible to submit material after the deadline.
Q. Is it possible to change a reference?
Yes, applicants may change a reference (or the faculty host) up to the submission deadline.
Q. Can my nominator also submit a letter of reference?
The letter of nomination is already included in your file. While the nominator is not prohibited from also submitting a letter of recommendation, you may find more value in having your additional letters be provided by two other individuals.
Q. Can I submit my application before all of my references have uploaded their letters of support?
YES! Once you have completed your part of the application you can submit your file. Letters will be included as they arrive.
Q. Can I submit my application while still finishing my Ph.D. thesis?
Yes, but your Ph.D. must be conferred prior to the start of your employment as a Dalton Fellow.
Q. I do not have any publications. Am I eligible to apply?
Yes, you may still apply. If you do not have any publications, simply list “none” in the publications section of your CV.
Q. Can manuscripts in review or in prep be included on my list of publications?
Papers in submission or under review my be listed among your publications as long as their status is appropriately noted. Do not list papers in preparation.
Q. I took parental leave during my first postdoc, should I list this in my application? The reviewers might think I’m not serious about my research.
It is very important to list any breaks in the “research experience/other activities” section of the application so that the reviewers can take this into consideration when assessing productivity. The review committee will not be biased against applicants who have taken breaks to have and/or care for children.
Q. What criteria are used for selecting Dalton Fellowship awardees?
The Dalton Fellowship will be awarded to individuals of outstanding talent. Nominees should have a demonstrated record of significant research contributions and a commitment to pursuing basic research. Candidates are judged on their accomplishments and their potential.
The ability to describe one’s research in a way that can be understood and valued is critical in the competitive selection process. Successful applicants will have demonstrated that they have made significant intellectual contributions to the published work (the reference letters should elaborate on this) and have a clear goal for their proposed research. It is important to show a departure from the applicant’s previous research by proposing new ideas or methodologies. Proposing a new approach to a research problem which may make a major contribution to the research field is highly valued.
Q. Who reviews the applications?
All eligible applications will be evaluated by a committee of Chemistry faculty members.
Q. Do I need to select and contact the potential host department and faculty advisor prior to the nomination and application?
You are asked to name your potential host(s) in the first stage of the application. Should you be invited to submit a full application, you should contact your host(s) to ascertain their interest in hosting you should you be granted an award. You should not expect to be placed with a potential host with whom you have not communicated.
Q. Should the nomination come from my potential UW faculty host, or can it come from another institute? If both are acceptable, is one preferred by the committee?
As UW faculty members may not submit nominations, your potential UW faculty host should not submit your nomination. Beyond that, the nomination should be submitted by whomever can write a compelling letter for you. Others can be named as references in the application process to submit letters of support.
Q. I received my Ph.D. a few years ago, worked for industry for about a year, then started a postdoc position in Canada. Am I qualified for the fellowship? Does my postdoc period count as “substantial postdoctoral training”?
To be eligible, postdocs cannot have more than two years of postdoctoral experience from other institutions, nor have been employed as an assistant professor, associate professor, or professor. The further away you are from your Ph.D., the less competitive you may be.
Q. I’ve been a postdoc for 4.5 years already, am I eligible?
No.
Q. I have been working as an Assistant Professor for the past two years. Am I eligible?
No.
Q. I received my Ph.D. degree 6 years ago. Am I eligible to apply?
No.