About The Program

Introduction

The University of Michigan Biological Sciences Scholars Program (BSSP) is a strategic plan with dedicated funds to recruit outstanding scientists in key areas of life sciences investigation across multiple departments and schools. The goal of the program is to develop a new generation of leaders in biomedical research at the University of Michigan. Since its inception in 1998, this Program has led to the recruitment of outstanding young scholars in the areas of genetics, microbiology, immunology, virology, structural biology, pharmacology, biochemistry, molecular pharmacology, stem cell biology, cancer biology, physiology, cell and developmental biology, and the neurosciences.

Description Of Program

The Biological Sciences Scholars Program collaborates with individual departments to help support extremely competitive packages of institutional resources for establishing research laboratories for BSSP Scholars. The nomination process for the Biological Sciences Scholars Program is coordinated and overseen by an interdisciplinary research committee with representation from the College of Literature, Science & Arts, the School of Dentistry, the College of Pharmacy, and the Medical School.

Targeted Areas Of Research

The program seeks investigators with outstanding accomplishments and future promise in the following (but not limited to) key scientific areas:

• Biochemistry
• Bioinformatics / Computational Biology
• Cancer Biology
• Cell / Stem Cell Biology
• Chemistry
• Developmental Biology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Immunology
• Molecular Genetics
• Neurosciences
• Physiology
• Structural Biology

Qualifications

Appointees are expected to establish and maintain an outstanding research program to bring or develop substantial external research funding and to become leaders in departmental and program activities, including teaching at the medical, graduate, and/or undergraduate levels.

Candidates must have the following qualifications:

• Ph.D., M.D., or M.D./Ph.D. degrees
• A minimum of two years of postdoctoral experience (or equivalent)
• Evidence of superlative scientific accomplishment and scholarly promise

Primary college and department affiliation and rank are determined by the applicant’s qualifications and by relevance of the applicant's research program to departmental initiatives and focus. All faculty recruited through BSSP will be appointed at the assistant professor level.

Application Process

Application to the program is an electronic process. Please read "How to Apply" before going to the "Apply to the Program" links on the left-hand column. The following documents are required for consideration to the program:

• A brief cover letter
• NIH Biosketch
• Curriculum Vitae
• Research Plan (3 pages maximum)
• Three letters of support

BSSP Committee Roster