Postdoctoral Research Fellowships

University of California Alianza MX
Postdoctoral Research Fellowships 2025 Pilot Program

Deadline: March 31, 2025

The University of California Alianza MX (UC Alianza MX) is pleased to announce a pilot program to provide fellowship support for postdoctoral researchers at the University of California (UC).

The primary objectives of this program are to advance research collaboration between the UC and Mexico through the professional development of emerging scholars under UC supervision and/or by participating in a UC faculty-directed research project.

The pilot program will provide up to five (5) fellowships for recent recipients of doctoral or terminal degrees to complete specific research tasks while in residency at a host UC campus, department, institute, or laboratory. UC Hosts are expected to integrate fellows into the academic community by facilitating their participation in research, instruction, and contact with colleagues and students. Fellows may also be asked to participate in events or activities organized by UC Alianza MX during their residency.

Eligibility

The pilot program seeks applicants who have completed a doctoral or terminal degree at a Mexican institution of higher education or at the University of California, and whose work is directly relevant to US-Mexico research collaboration.

To be eligible for the postdoctoral fellowship, the individual applicant must receive their doctoral or terminal degree no later than July 1, 2025. Individuals are not eligible to apply if they have at least five years of previous postdoctoral research experience or if they hold a faculty position of associate professor or above.

Once selected for a fellowship award, the individual must complete the fellowship in residence at a UC campus and they must be hosted by a UC Faculty member or Researcher(s) (“UC Host”) during their entire residency, as defined below.

The UC Host must be an academic appointee in one of the following title groups: (1) Members of the Academic Senate, including emeriti; (2) Appointees in the Agronomist series, including emeriti; (3) Appointees at 50 percent or more of full time in the Adjunct Professor series, the Clinical Professor series, the Professional Research Series, or the Cooperative Extension Specialist or Advisor series.

Applicants proposing to engage in inter-disciplinary research are permitted to identify a second UC Host (Co-Host) and to divide their residency between two separate units on the same UC campus. Please note additional application requirements.

Conditions of Award

The postdoctoral fellowship supports a full-time, in-person residency at the UC Host campus beginning no earlier than September 1, 2025. Fellows must begin their residency within 90 days of their originally proposed start date unless specifically approved for an extension. Fellowships will have a total duration of 24 months from the start date, per the current UC-UAW Agreement for Postdoctoral Scholars, in effect through September 30, 2027.

As part of the fellowship, UC Alianza MX will provide funds to cover the fellow’s salary for 12 months at Level 0 in effect on the start date of the residency. The UC Host will be responsible for any additional financial support, including salary paid above Level 0 in the first 12 months of the fellow’s residency, salary paid at any level beyond the first 12 months of the residency, and all benefits coverage during the residency, as well as any adjustments to financial support that take effect after the start date. No funding is provided by UC Alianza MX for indirect costs in any form.

The UC Host must provide institutional support for the fellow to obtain the visa status required to complete their residency in person at a UC campus, and during the residency they must provide the fellow with access to appropriate research facilities, office space, equipment, and communications. All forms of financial and other support required for continuation of the residency beyond the 24-month fellowship period will be the responsibility of the UC Host.

A final narrative report of activities must be submitted by the fellow within 90 days of the conclusion of the fellowship period, and it must include acknowledgement by the UC Host that the fellow successfully completed the activities included in their research plan during the residency. Failure to submit the required report will render the fellow and/or UC Host ineligible for additional awards from UC Alianza MX.

The support of UC Alianza MX must be acknowledged in all proposals, publications, conference materials, exhibitions, or other research output during the residency. Copies of the above must be provided to UC Alianza MX upon request as the office of record for the fellowship program.

Application Requirements

Eligible candidates applying for the fellowship must submit their applications using this Google Form. The items required in a complete application are listed below. Applicants are responsible for securing all appropriate approvals and signatures prior to the submission of their application.

The following items are required as part of the online submission:

• Application form, including full name and contact information for both the applicant and the UC Host, as well as required supporting materials.
• Research plan (not to exceed three pages) summarizing the proposed research activities and the specific goals and objectives of the work to be completed during the residency. Applicants should address the significance of their proposed research within the discipline, the specifics and locale of the work to be performed, and the potential impact of the proposed research on the professional and academic development of the applicant. The plan should include a discussion of the methodology and relevant literature as well as interdisciplinary and international collaborative approaches. A fully original research project plan formulated by the applicant is not required but will be considered favorably in the application process.
• Research timeline (not to exceed one page) detailing the proposed start and end dates for the fellowship as well as specific research activities to be completed during that time. Applicants should address any organizational or logistical support required from the UC Host to complete these activities within this timeline. Information on application of the research toward specific objectives or continuation of the research beyond the residency is not required but will be considered favorably in the application process.
• Certification of degree (not to exceed one page) demonstrating completion of the doctoral or terminal degree. If the applicant has not yet completed their degree prior to the application deadline, they must submit a letter from their dissertation chair or thesis advisor indicating that the doctoral or terminal degree will be awarded by July 1, 2025. Upon receipt of the fellowship, they must also submit evidence of the successful completion of their doctoral or terminal degree to UC Alianza MX at least 30 days before start date of their residency.
• Curriculum vitae of applicant (not to exceed three pages), including educational achievements, academic positions and/or awards, publications, and works in progress.
• Curriculum vitae of UC Host (not to exceed three pages) including publications and research interests in the last five years and indication of ability to direct postdoctoral research.
• Letter of invitation from the UC Host (not to exceed two pages) authorizing the applicant to complete their residency at a specific UC campus, department, institute, or laboratory. It must provide evidence of the UC Host’s familiarity with the applicant’s research plan, indicate support for the proposed research activities, and discuss the potential benefit of the residency to both the fellow and UC Host. It must also include a commitment by the UC Host to comply with the award conditions outlined above, including the need to provide all funding support beyond the fellowship award from UC Alianza MX. The letter must be prepared on official letterhead and signed by the UC Host.
• Two letters of reference (not to exceed one page each) in English addressing the applicant’s research accomplishments and ability to undertake a postdoctoral research program. One letter should preferably be written by the applicant’s dissertation chair or thesis advisor. Letters should be addressed to UC Alianza MX and on official letterhead.
• If applicable, an official letter from the applicant’s home institution indicating that they hold a full-time appointment and will be released for the time requested. Must be on official letterhead.
• If applicable, official evidence that the applicant belongs to the Mexican National Researchers Registry (SNI) with their registration number.
• If applying for a residency with two UC Co-Hosts, the applicant must include the following modifications to their application:

• Research plan that includes a specific explanation for the relevance of interdisciplinary research between two areas of study.
• Two CVs for UC Co-Hosts, including information on any prior research collaboration or co-direction between them.
• Two letters of invitation from UC Co-Hosts, authorizing the applicant to complete their residency in both departments, institutes, or laboratories.
• Three letters of reference, including one preferably written by the applicant’s dissertation chair or thesis advisor.

Application Deadline

To be considered, complete proposals must be submitted via Google application form by Monday, March 31, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Late or incomplete proposals will not be considered, and proposals will not be accepted by e-mail.

UC Alianza MX provides no pre-review of applications, and reviewer comments will not be provided following the selection of fellowship recipients.

For additional information contact: 

Julio Sosa
Academic and Research Programs Officer
UC Alianza MX
Email: alianzamxresearch@ucr.edu

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