Q: When are letters of reccomendation due?

 

A: The committee will start to review applications right away after the December 18, 2023 deadline, however reference letters will be accepted until January 7, 2024 and will be included in the final review of your application. We encourage your reccomenders to submit their letters as soon as possible. 

 

Q: Who on the Columbia faculty are eligible as potential mentors for the Alan Kanzer Postdoctoral Fellowship at Columbia University?

 

A: Only Zuckerman Institute Principal Investigators are eligible to serve as potential mentors for the fellowship. Please visit the ZI website for a full listing.

 

Q: Am I eligible to apply if I am a currently a postdoc elsewhere and my PhD was conferred more than a year ago?

 

A: Yes, you are still eligible to apply, though it is a preference for applicants to have completed their PhD less than one year prior to their start date. 

 

Q: Is it required for me to be in contact and/or confirm my mentor(s) prior to submitting my application?

 

A: While we encourage you to connect with any potential mentors you would be interested in working with, it is not required. The review committee is aware that some mentors may not respond to inquiries prior to the submission of your application. 

 

Q: Do I have to know for certain the faculty that I am interested in working with before submitting my application?

 

A: While it is not necessary to have confirmed a faculty member to sponsor you, we do require you to identify potential faculty you would like to work with. Please see the question above regarding contacting faculty. 

 

Q: Is it required to have co-mentors?

 

A: No, it is not required, yet it is encouraged. You should still list multiple mentors you are interested in working with in your application to ensure that we can find the best fit based on your research interests

 

Q: Can I be co-mentored by one member of the Zuckerman Institute faculty and a faculty member from another department?

 

A: Opportunities of co-mentorship are intended to be with other Principal Investigators at Zuckerman Institute exclusively. 

 

Q: Who is eligible to apply to the program?

 

A: Applicants can be either US citizens or international individuals requiring VISA sponsorship. Applicants must have defended and deposited their final, corrected PhD thesis by December 31, 2024 and be able to enroll in the program by January 1, 2025. 

 

Q: Can you let me know if I am eligible for the program before I apply?

 

A: We cannot evaluate your candidacy prior to receiving your complete application. Should you apply, the application will be carefully considered by the faculty committee. Please review all of the requirements in the job description, along with the full instructions about how to apply successfully.

 

Q: Can Columbia PhD students and alumni apply? Can postdoctoral scholars already working at the Zuckerman Institute apply?

 

A: Current members of the Zuckerman Institute community (including Ph.D. students or those who already hold a postdoc position at the Institute) are not eligible to apply.

 

Q: Can I have additional letters of recommendation submitted on my behalf? Can they come from the same institution?

 

Please submit only three reference letters: one from your PhD advisor and the other two from whomever you think best. Your second and third letter can come from the same institution as that of your PhD advisor. 

 

Q: Is this a full-time position and is it only in-person work?

 

Yes, this is a full-time position performed in person at Columbia University in New York City.

 

Q: Can I get an extension and submit my application after the deadline?

 

To ensure fairness in the process, applicant materials must be received by the deadline to be considered. If you have any difficulties uploading your application materials, please contact us prior to the deadline at [email protected], so we can assist you.

 

Q: Will I be notified if I am not selected to receive a fellowship?

 

A: All applicants will be notified whether they are awarded a fellowship or not.

 

Q: What is the timeline of the application review and interview process?

 

A: While it is subject to change, we anticipate that applications will be reviewed through the end of January 2024 and we will be in touch with select candidates by early February. Finalist interviews will take place during early March. 

 

Q: Will I receive feedback on my application?

 

A: No, unfortunately, due to the volume of submissions, we cannot offer feedback on specific applications.

 

Q. May I apply to the program a second time if I am not successful at first?

 

A: Yes, you may apply as long as you continue to meet the eligibility criteria in effect at the time of application.

 

Q. I have thoroughly read the  Alan Kanzer Postdoctoral Fellowship at Columbia University web pages and these FAQs, and I still have a question, what should I do?

 

A: Further inquiries may be directed to [email protected].