Frequently Asked Questions
about the Distinguished Scientist Awards
q
Why does The Sontag Foundation fund brain tumor research?
a
q
Why is eligibility limited to the first few years of an individual's initial faculty appointment?
a
Through this award, The Sontag Foundation seeks to support early career scientists who show outstanding promise. With diverse career paths, that characterization is often difficult to define. We have chosen to define it narrowly with the belief that early funding will help launch or accelerate the awardee's independent research in the field of brain cancer.
q
I have held my first faculty appointment for just over three years. May I still apply?
a
For our 2008 Distinguished Scientist Award, eligible applicants should have received their initial faculty appointment no earlier than 3/1/05 and no later than 1/1/08.
q
My application was not funded last year, but I am still within the eligible timeframe; may I reapply?
a
No, if your application was not funded in a previous year, you may not reapply unless you have been invited to do so. This is true even if you are still within the three-year eligibility period.
q
What are you looking for in the "Statement of Personal and Career Goals"?
a
The Distinguished Scientist Award is probably best characterized as a career development award, as opposed to a research award. For this reason, The Sontag Foundation is very interested in learning more about you, the applicant. Your personal statement should share insights beyond information which can be gleaned from your CV and research proposal. Please use this portion of the application to provide deeper insights into your character and your career path, as well as your short-term and long-range goals. Do not just recap the information in your CV or limit your focus to the particular research project being proposed. Rather than give details about your research, focus on why your work is important-- for brain tumor patients, for science, and for humanity.
q
The research I will propose in this application is my first brain tumor project. May I apply without a background in neuro-oncology research?
a
Yes, we feel that there is great value in bringing other perspectives to bear on the complex questions relating to brain cancer.
q
Do I have to be a citizen of the United States to apply for this award?
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There is no citizenship requirement, but applicants must hold a faculty position at a non-profit academic or research institution [IRS classification as 501(c)(3) organization] within the United States or an equivalent organization in Canada.
q
Is this a peer-reviewed award?
a
Yes, the selection process incorporates review by a scientific advisory board appointed by the foundation. In addition to the scientific review, applications undergo a review by a lay committee; this committee of The Sontag Foundation looks closely at the individual applicant as opposed to the specific merits of the proposed research. The combined scores of these two review groups are utilized in the selection process.
q
May I change institutions during the course of this award?
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The Distinguished Scientist Award may follow an awardee to another institution, but The Sontag Foundation retains sole discretion to determine portability. Considerations include, in part, the grantee's plans to continue stated research project at another institution designated by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) entity and that institution's willingness to agree to the terms and conditions of the award.
q
Are awardees permitted to have other simultaneous funding?
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Yes. If seeking funds for a project that is already partially funded, the applicant must present a plan outlining how duplication of funding will be avoided.
q
What are my chances of receiving an award?
a
The Sontag Foundation anticipates presenting 3 awards in 2008. If 100 applications are received, you would have approximately a 1 in 33 chance of receiving an award. The number of eligible applications received in previous years has ranged from 21 to 64.
q
Will scores and comments be made available to applicant?
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No. Although we recognize that applicants desire to receive a scientific critique of their research proposal, it is beyond the scope of this foundation to be able to provide reviews.
q
How important are the reference letters?
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Critically important. Ask your references to provide different information than what is usually conveyed in a generic letter of recommendation. Without recapping your CV, your references should provide information which will indicate that you have the personal qualities, professional credentials and skill set necessary to excel in your chosen field.
q
What should the lay summary include?
a
The lay summary should give a brief description of your research proposal in easy to understand language without jargon specific to research or medicine. Do not give an overview of the problem or just repeat the opening paragraph of your proposal; explain the research and why it is important to brain tumor patients or society as a whole.
q
My faculty appointment will become effective soon after the application deadline. May I still apply?
a
No. Your first faculty appointment must be effective on or before 1/1/08. If the effective date of your appointment is after 1/1/08, you must wait and apply next year.
q
Does it matter if CV is submitted in lieu of Biographical sketch in standard NIH four-page short Form?
a
No, but CV submitted must not exceed four pages.
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Does it really matter who provides the letters of recommendation?
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Yes, we are looking for varied insights into you as an individual and your accomplishments at each stage of your career. One letter should be provided by your current department head or whoever serves as your supervisor. One letter should be provided by your postdoc mentor or someone else who knew you and your work during that period of your career. The last letter can be provided by whoever you feel would be able to share additional insights that would strengthen your application for this grant.
