The William L. Brown Research Fellowship

Through the generosity of the Sehgal Foundation and other friends of the William L. Brown Center for Plant Genetic Resources (WLBC), fellowships are available for South Asian research professionals in plant biology who have an interest in the discovery, study, and conservation of useful plants.

The post-doctoral and pre-doctoral fellowships may range in duration from 6–24 months. Each fellow will work in close collaboration with a sponsoring staff member of the WLBC on a topic of mutual interest. Fellows will be expected to participate in ongoing research efforts of the Center even as they pursue their own scientific interests. Information about WLBC research staff and their activities may be found at:

http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/diversity/staff.htm.

Support for the fellowships will include a stipend, travel to and from the successful applicant’s home country, and support for research activities. The fellowship does not cover institutional overhead.

Activities that would be of special interest include:

• Taxonomy, ecology, and evaluation of conservation status of medicinal plants
• Ethnobotany and the study of traditional knowledge
• Ex-situ conservation of useful plants
• Community-based development and conservation
• GIS analysis and conservation planning
• Natural products discovery

Qualifications:

1. Applicants must have a Ph.D. from an accredited university, be actively enrolled in an accredited graduate program, or be actively employed by a research or conservation organization in an approved country.
2. Applicants must be from South Asia (India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, or Bhutan). Preference is given to candidates residing in their country of origin.

Applicants should first send a CV and a 1-2 page sketch of the proposed project to a member of the WLBC staff with whom the applicant might collaborate. If the idea for the project is accepted, the following must be submitted:

1. A cover letter explaining candidate’s interests and experience;
   
2. a 2-5 page research proposal, which should highlight relevance to current WLBC activities, location of the proposed work, and a preliminary work plan;
   
3. A detailed budget which identifies how funds will be spent;
   
4. A list of the kind of permits that will be needed and how they are to be obtained;
   
5. a Curriculum Vitae; and
   
6. three letters of recommendation from people most qualified to evaluate the applicant's abilities and promise.

Please send application to:

Bruce Ponman
Information Coordinator
William L. Brown Center for Plant Genetic Resources
Missouri Botanical Garden
P.O. Box 299
St. Louis, MO 63166-0299
bruce.ponman@mobot.org

Answers to FAQs regarding the William L. Brown Research Fellowship

1. Who can apply?
   
   Anyone with the requisite experience who is of South Asian origin (citizens of India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, or Bhutan).
   
   
2. What is the deadline for submission?
   
   There is no deadline. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and are considered as they come in.
   
   
3. How many people are granted the fellowship?
   
   The WLBC will support one Brown Fellow at a time. In some instances, a bit of overlap may occur, but in principle there is a single fellowship.
   
   
4. Where is the research project to be undertaken?
   
   In St. Louis or elsewhere, so long as the Fellow works in conjunction with a member of the WLBC staff.
   
   
5. Must the Fellow's research be conducted in St. Louis?
   
   Not necessarily. If, in order to effectively execute the proposal, it makes sense for the applicant to work elsewhere, he or she may do so. A fellow resident in St. Louis may also spend time in the field if the project calls for it.
   
   
6. What expenses is the fellowship intended to cover?
   
   The fellowship provides the recipient with travel money to and from the project site, a stipend to cover living expenses, and funds to take care of other incidental costs.
   
   
7. How much is the stipend?
   
   The amount of the stipend is commensurate with experience and will be pegged to the cost of living in the country where the project is to be undertaken.
   
   
8. Is it possible to supplement the fellowship with other grants?
   
   Yes. Fellows can apply for additional monies to defray the costs of travel, supplies, etc.