Postdoctoral Fellowship Program 2024

FAQs

Please consult the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for answers to any queries you might have prior to preparing an application. If you have any questions that are not listed in the FAQ, please contact the Barrie Foundation. becas@fbarrie.org

Eligibility

1. Can I apply even though I have not finished my Ph.D. program?
Yes. You can apply before you complete your Ph.D. However, you must complete all requirements for a Ph.D. or an equivalent doctorate degree by the start of the program.
2. I will receive my Ph.D. next year. Am I still eligible to apply this fall?
You should expect to complete your Ph.D. on or before the start of the program. You will have to present evidence that you have completed all the requirements for the Ph.D. or an equivalent doctorate degree before the start of the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. Potential applicants who expect to complete their Ph.D. after the start of the program should apply the following year.
3. I received my Ph.D. over five years ago. Am I still eligible for to apply for this fellowship?
Yes. You are still eligible to apply if you are transitioning for a career in academia.
4. Can I apply if I have a M.D. or M.S. instead of a Ph.D.?
No. Only applicants who have obtained (or are in the process of obtaining) a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) from a recognized post-secondary institution in life sciences are eligible to apply.
5. Do I need to find an academic mentor to apply?
No. You should apply first to the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. However, we recommend including the names of faculty that you would be interested in working with on your application. To browse faculty and researchers, please visit LSUHSC-S website.
6. Is the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program limited to applicants of specific academic disciplines?
Yes. Only applicants in any of the following disciplines of study are eligible to apply:
  • Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Biotechnology
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Genetics
  • Microbiology / Molecular Biology
  • Medicine
  • Pharmacy
  • Biomedical Sciences
  • Veterinary Sciences
7. I am a Spanish citizen with Galician origin enrolled in an Ph.D. program at a foreign-based university abroad. Am I eligible to apply?
Yes. Applicants enrolled in Ph.D. programs at foreign-based universities abroad are eligible to apply.
8. Can I submit my application before I have received my TOEFL iBT score report?
Yes. You can send your application without providing your TOEFL iBT score report. However, you must submit proof that you have scheduled a test date.
9. My TOEFL iBT score is below the minimum English requirement, can I still apply?
Yes, you can apply. However, you will need to provide copy of your TOEFL iBT score report, with a minimum score of 100.
10. My TOEFL iBT score report is valid when application opens but expires before the start of the program. Should I submit a new TOEFL iBT score report?
TOEFL iBT scores are valid for two years. If your TOEFL iBT test is no longer valid you will need to submit new scores.
11. Can the English language requirement be waived if I have lived or studied in an English-speaking country?
Applicants whose native language is not English must take the TOEFL iBT test. You may request a TOEFL iBT waiver only if you have earned an undergraduate, master’s, or doctoral degree (or will receive the degree by June) in an English-speaking country or from an institution in which English is the language of instruction. Unofficial transcripts indicating language of instruction must be provided by your university to support your claim. Official letters, sent directly from the Registrar's Office, verifying that all subjects are taught in English are also acceptable.

Application

1. Do I have to complete my application all at once?
You may work on it in multiple sessions, though you will need to save your work after you finish each section of the application by clicking on either the “Save” or “Next” button. Once you have submitted the application, you cannot work on it again.
2. Can I submit my application in Spanish?
The Selection Committee members come from Spain and the United States, and English is their common language. If an application is completed in any language other than English, we cannot guarantee that the content will be read and/or understood for its original meaning.
3. My passport is expired. Do I need to renew my passport before I submit my application?
Applicants are not required to hold a valid passport at the time of application. However, selected candidates will be required to have valid passports in order to participate in the Program. If you are offered an award and do not have a valid passport at the time of notification, you will need to expedite a new passport. Please note that passport application fees, including the cost of expediting a passport, are the responsibility of the applicant.
4. Do I need to submit official transcripts, or are unofficial transcripts acceptable?
You may upload an unofficial or downloaded transcript from your university portal or system. Official Transcripts will only be required if selected to the Program.
5. What if my university is unable to provide me with an English transcript?
Official transcripts not issued in English must be translated by the relevant issuing body of the original document or a professional certified translator. If your university is unable to provide you with an English transcript, you may translate the document yourself. If selected to the Program, you will need to provide, by March 28, 2022, a professional certified translation. Please submit both the original non-English transcript and the translation. Both documents must be uploaded to the same file on the application portal. Any non-English transcripts you upload to your application without a translation will be rejected.
6. How can I proof that I will complete the Doctoral degree by the start of the Program?
The Postdoctoral Fellowship Program can start within six months of the date of the award offer. In order to accept your application, you should present a formal statement of the Registrar’s Office, School, or other appropriate administrative unit stating the submission date of the final thesis / dissertation or the anticipated date of the final defense. Confirmation documentation must state that you will have obtained your Ph.D. degree by this date. A statement – on track – is not sufficient.
7. Do I have to write a project with the application?
No. You will only have to fill in the online application form and submit the required documentation.
8. My publication record is modest. Should I list all of the manuscripts in preparation that I anticipate publishing?
In general, manuscripts in preparation are not as impressive as published papers or papers in press. If you are still in graduate school, you will probably not be penalized if you have relatively few papers and lots of manuscripts in preparation. However, if you earned your Ph.D. several months ago, reviewers expect to see published papers, not manuscripts. You should make every effort to publish your graduate work as quickly as possible. If, despite your best efforts, there are circumstances beyond your control that have delayed publication of some or all of your graduate work, you should explain the situation in your application and also ask your references to address the issue. Publication updates are not accepted after submission.
9. Can I include a bibliography/reference list and, if so, where should I place this?
It is not a mandatory requirement that you include a reference list. If you choose to include this as part of your application, then it should be placed as part of the main text in your research experience – you can also upload this as an additional document. Publication updates are not accepted after submission.
10. Who can be a referee?
At least one of your referees should be an academic tutor who has good experience of your work at Doctoral level. You can also include references from employers or others who can speak to your general character and achievements.
11. Can I provide extra references?
Only two letters are required. The references must correspond to the referees reported in your application. Additional reference letters will be accepted.
12. What happens if the reference letters arrive after I submit my application?
Your application may be considered without references but remember that references play an important part in the selection process. Please note that reference letters can be submitted by the registered referees even after you have submitted your application.
13. What happens to my application if reference letters are missing?
Your application may be considered without references but remember that references play an important part in the selection process. Please note that reference letters can be submitted by the registered referees even after you have submitted your application.
14. Can I access the reference letters submitted by my referees?
No. reference letters, provided directly by the referees, are confidential and not accessible to candidates.
15. Can I make changes to my application form or add supporting documentation after submission?
No. It will not be possible to submit additional material of information once you have received confirmation that your application was successfully submitted, except for the Doctoral Certificate and the English Test Certificate.

Selection

1. When will I be informed of the outcome of the screening stage?
Please see our fellowship timetable for further details about when you should expect to receive an update on your application. Candidates will be notified via email, so we recommend that you check your junk or spam folders.
2. What documents do I need to take with me to the interview?
You will need to take your passport or national ID. In your invitation to interview, you will be told whether you need to bring additional documentation.
3. I am not able to attend an interview on the date or time provided. Can I be interviewed on a different date in the interview period?
You will need to contact the Barrie Foundation in this case, but please note that only in exceptional circumstances will an additional appointment be made available. Failure to attend the interview may result in your withdrawal from the competition.
4. Is there an option for my interview to be conducted via videoconferencing?
Applicants are required to attend in-person interviews at the Barrie Foundation headquarters in A Coruña. Only in exceptional circumstances are virtual interviews permitted. Such instances are considered on a case-by-case basis and a decision is made following consultation with LSUHSC-S.
5. What questions will be asked at the interview?
The interview will be an opportunity to discuss some of the information you provided in the application form. The panel will ask questions that will enable you to fully explain your career aspirations and how the Postdoctoral Program can facilitate these goals for you.
6. How will the interview be assessed?
The interview panel will ask a series of questions and your answers will be evaluated in accordance with a number of set criteria.
7. What is the success rate for this award?
The Postdoctoral Fellowship Program is highly competitive, with an approximately 3-5% award rate.
8. Will I be notified if I am not selected after my interview?
Yes. All candidates will be notified about the outcome of their interview. You can find out more information about when you will receive interview results by checking the Barrie Foundation’s website.
9. I have been conditionally selected for an award, what happens now?
You will be asked to provide additional information (e.g., copy of original English language test results, etc.) by a given deadline. Should you respond in a timely way with the requested information, the conditions will be removed, and you will be awarded the fellowship.
10. What does it mean if I’m a reserve candidate?
If you have been selected as a reserve candidate, it means that you may be able to take up an award should another applicant withdraw.
11. My application has been rejected. Can I receive feedback?
Individual feedback will be provided upon request to candidates shortlisted to interview only.
12. If I apply for the Postdoctoral Program this year and I am not offered a Fellowship can I reapply?
Only if you meet eligibility requirements for the active competition.

Postdoctoral Program

1. If my application is successful, when will the fellowship start?
The date on which an appointment would begin is negotiable on an individual basis but is expected to be within six (6) months of the date of the award offer.
2. How long is the Postdoctoral Appointment?
Fellows will normally be offered a 4-year Postdoctoral Research position at LSUHSC-S.
3. What is expected from the Postdoctoral fellow in terms of research activity?
The Postdoctoral fellow is expected to pursue his/her research interests under the supervision of the head of the hosting department or the project lead, and also work in close collaboration with the department’s ongoing projects.
4. How many different research areas are there?
A major emphasis of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology is research in the areas of immunology and host defense; molecular bacteriology, infectious disease pathogenesis; and molecular and tumor virology. To learn more about individual research labs, please visit LSUHSC-S website.
5. How can I figure out which faculty members I may want to work with?
We encourage all applicants to contact LSUHSC-S to obtain specific information on current research and available technical facilities and to speak with LSUHSC-S researchers working in their areas of interest. To browse faculty and researchers, please visit LSUHSC-S website.
6. Should I contact faculty members directly prior to submission of my application?
Contacting faculty prior to or during application is not required for applicants, however it is encouraged. Please feel free to contact faculty members with research that pertains to your own interests. We also recommend including the names of faculty that you would be interested in working with on your application. To browse faculty and researchers, please visit LSUHSC-S website. Not all faculty will respond to inquiries, but if you have a strong interest in a particular lab you should persist. Do your homework – be explicit about what in relation to their lab or research appeals to you and how that might align with your own research interests. Keep emails professional, friendly, and concise.
7. How are Postdoctoral fellows supported financially?
Postdoctoral fellows receive financial support in the form of a Research Stipend starting at $52,000, plus an annual living allowance of €12,000 for the duration of the fellowship. These funds are paid in equal monthly installments and can be used for relocation and moving costs, as well as for basic living expenses, and research costs. Funding is provided in one-year terms renewable for up to four years.
8. Do Postdoctoral fellows get vacation and sick leave?
Yes. Postdoctoral fellows receive 15 vacation days and 15 sick leave days per appointment year. Both vacation leave and sick leave are non-compensable upon separation. In other words, when your fellowship is done, you do not get a payout of unused leave.
9. Is health insurance provided?
Postdoctoral fellows will receive temporary health insurance to cover medical emergencies that may occur between the time of departure from their home country and the start date of the LSU Medical Coverage, which can take up to two (2) months. After entering the Program, you have access to the same choices for excellent and comprehensive health care as do faculty and staff.
10. How much does it cost to live in Shreveport? What is it like there?
Quality of life in Shreveport is high but cost of living is low. There are many interesting things to see and do in the area. For more information on LSUHSC-S and living in Shreveport, please consult this website designed for future potential graduate students at LSUHSC-S: https://www.lsuhs.edu/about/shreveport-bossier
11. Can I maintain my existing research grants or apply for new grants while participating in the program?
The award requires that fellows be fully involved in the research opportunity offered by LSUHSC-S and the Barrie Foundation. During the appointment, Postdoctoral fellows may not accept additional awards without the written consent of the Barrie Foundation nor provide services for compensation to a third party.