FAQ
1. Can I apply to Propel if I do not have US citizenship or residency?
To be eligible for Propel, you must be a U.S citizen, U.S permanent resident, undocumented childhood arrival, or an undocumented individual who has been granted temporary permission to stay in the U.S. (DACA). For permanent residents, you must have your green card in hand within 6 months of the fellowship start date.
2. How do I find a postdoctoral mentor?
If you have not already identified a mentor, we recommend you start your search by finding faculty who share your research interests and contact them to share your interest in working with them. We encourage you to check out this Guidance for Finding Potential Mentors and the Propel Application Instructions for helpful general information about applying for postdoctoral training, through Propel or elsewhere.
3. Does my postdoctoral mentor have to be affiliated with the Stanford School of Medicine (SoM)?
Propel requires that you have an established relationship with a faculty mentor with a primary appointment in the SoM by the due date of the application. If your current/future postdoctoral mentor does not meet this requirement, you may set up a co-mentoring relationship with a SoM faculty member who can serve as your primary mentor.
4. Can I submit my Propel application if I have not identified a mentor?
You may submit Part 1 of the Propel Application, which is a form requesting biographical and demographic information, at any time, and we recommend that you do this as soon as possible if you are interested in Propel. However, Propel requires that you have an established relationship with a faculty mentor with a primary appointment in the Stanford School of Medicine (SoM) by the due date of Part 2 of the application.
5. I received my Ph.D. more than 24 months prior to the funding start date, am I still eligible for Propel?
To be eligible for Propel, you have obtained a Ph.D. and/or MD/Ph.D. (or equivalent) in the 24 months prior to the funding start (September 1 of the year you are applying) OR have no more than 24 total months of postdoctoral research experience at the time of the funding start unless, you have spent additional months in your Ph.D. lab post-conferral of your degree working on projects in progress.
6. What is the funding provided by Propel?
Propel provides an annual salary of at least $84K plus benefits for up to two years, with the second year contingent upon the scholar meeting program expectations during the first year.
7. What criteria are considered during the selection process for Propel?
For a broad overview of review criteria, please refer to the Candidate Review Criteria under the Apply tab.
8. What is the difference between PRISM and Propel?
The PRISM program was originally designed for, and primarily serves, late-stage graduate students who are in the exploration phase of the postdoc search, and who may not be considering Stanford for their postdoctoral training. The program provides coaching and professional development, access to current postdocs for mentoring, and some relationship-building with faculty, to enable the candidates to decide for themselves whether Stanford might be a good fit.
PRISM only provides funding for travel to the recruitment event, with associated logistical support. The PRISM visit also provides access to a cohort of other graduate students at a similar career stage. The PRISM program is not a postdoc position or fellowship; it is simply an enhanced recruitment mechanism. There is an associated pilot funding program, the PRISM Baker Fellowship, which provides faculty with a small amount of funds that are meant to serve as bridge funding.
Propel, on the other hand, is a funded postdoctoral program that is optimized for early-career postdocs who are already in residence working with a School of Medicine faculty mentor(s). Propel seeks to fund outstanding scientists, train future faculty leaders, create community and foster a culture of inclusion and belonging. It is not uncommon that a PRISM candidate might develop a relationship with a Stanford mentor and then decide to apply for the Propel program, though scholars come to Propel through a variety of avenues.
9. Can I ask my SoM postdoctoral mentor for a letter of reference?
You will be required to provide the names of two referees; one of your referees should be your thesis advisor. Please note that your letter of reference should not be from your current/future SoM postdoctoral mentor as we request a separate mentor form from them.
10. Why does Propel require a Mentor form?
As the mentor-mentee relationship is central to the mission of Propel, this form is meant to foster explicit conversation between the mentor and mentee to ensure that their expectations are aligned and the applicant’s research and career goals will be supported. This form must be filled out by the faculty mentor and may not be delegated to you.
