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Maraganore Early Independence Fellows

 

At UMass Chan, where Nobel Laureates pioneered small RNA discoveries,
we empower the next generation of RNA giants. 


Launch your research as a Maraganore Fellow at the RNA Therapeutics Institute and be part of the RNA revolution.

  


UMass Chan Early Independence Fellows Program

Maraganore Early Independence Fellows & Chan Early Independence Fellows Track

The goal of the UMass Chan Early Independence Fellows Program is to recruit clusters of exceptionally talented junior scientists with the potential to become independent investigators at UMass Chan Medical School, and to provide them with career development, mentoring, and financial support to foster their scientific excellence and leadership.  In recognition of diversity as a driver of innovation and scientific impact, we are committed to building and sustaining an inclusive environment with talented individuals from all backgrounds, including backgrounds that are underrepresented in medicine and the biomedical sciences, who have demonstrated a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in line with our institutional goals (IMPACT 2025). Candidate evaluations will consider the unique scientific contributions of the candidate as well as leadership and resilience qualities the candidate brings to the program.  

Successful applicants will be brought on as a part of an interdisciplinary cohort. Fellows will join one of two tracks: The Maraganore Early Independence Fellows or the UMass Chan Early Independence Fellows. The Maraganore Early Independence Fellows Track will support one fellow who will develop an independent research program in the area of RNA biology or RNA therapeutics. The Chan Early Independence Fellows Track will support two fellows who will each develop an independent research program that broadly aligns with any area of excellence at UMass Chan. Read more››

Resources and Support

Academic appointment: Initial appointment will be at the level of Assistant Professor (non-tenure track). The Maraganore Fellow will be affiliated with the RNA Therapeutics Institute.

Financial support: The program will provide financial support for an initial period of three years, with the potential to extend to five years. Annual support of approximately $440,000 will be provided to each fellow. This includes salary, research support (personnel, equipment, supplies), and travel. An additional childcare supplement (up to $10,000) will be provided to fellows with dependent children. 

Career development support: Fellows' will be supported by a team of mentors comprising established research faculty that will monitor the fellows research progress and support their career development. One faculty member with closely aligned research expertise will serve as the primary mentor. At least one member of the mentoring team will be from outside the RTI. In addition, Fellows will participate in our Investigator Career Advancement Program (iCAP) that will empower their scientific and professional development, provide writing support, and facilitate their social and cultural integration into our larger UMass Chan scientific community.

Expectations: Fellows' will develop an independent research program, recruit and mentor post-doctoral associates, and co-mentor PhD students with tenured or tenure-track faculty. Fellows may apply for additional extramural support alone or in collaboration with tenure-track faculty. 

Environment:  With a strong culture of collegiality that transcends departmental and disciplinary boundaries, UMass Chan is an engaging community that embraces the exponential power of team science, transdisciplinary research, interaction and collaboration, and innovation. More on UMass Chan and Worcester, MA››

Informational Webinars:  Two informational webinars will be held to answer questions about either track. 

      • October 2, 2024 from 4–5 pm EDT      Watch››

      • October 24, 2024 from 2–3 pm EDT    Register››

 

Who can apply?

Individuals possessing a PhD, MD/PhD, or other doctoral degree, from a wide variety of backgrounds, including, but not restricted to, individuals from groups underrepresented in the biomedical research workforce at the faculty level, and who (at the time of application) are within 24 months post completion of their terminal degree are eligible to apply.

How can you apply?

Applications should be submitted through Academic Jobs Online.

Required application materials include:

  • A cover letter

  • A current CV including peer-reviewed publications. 

  • A two-page anonymized research plan (ARP) that summarizes prior research and describes the proposed research program. 

  • A one-page statement describing how the applicant’s lived experiences have informed their values, priorities, and career goals.

  • Three letters of reference

As an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, UMass Chan recognizes the added value of a diverse community and encourages applications from individuals with varied experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds.

Application and evaluation process:  Applications submitted by December 1, 2024 will be given primary consideration. However, applications will continue to be accepted until the positions are filled. Inquiries, but not application materials, may be directed to Dr. Angela Messmer-Blust at angela.messmerblust@umassmed.edu.

 

                          CLICK HERE TO APPLY   FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 


 

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In 2023, UMass Chan ranked 37th in the National Institutes of Health Blue Ridge rankings among all 144 United States medical schools. These rankings place our school 2nd in New England and 17 among all public medical schools in the U.S. UMass Chan also is routinely ranked by the magazine U.S. News & World Report in the top 10 percent of the nation’s medical schools and schools of osteopathic medicine, for its excellence in primary care education. UMass Chan has outstanding core facilities, including Bioinformatics, Advanced MRI, CryoEM, Electron Microscopy, Large Scale AAV Manufacturing, Tissue Repository, Deep Sequencing, Advanced Quantitative Imaging, Flow Cytometry, Transgenic animal modeling core, Biosafety Level 3 (BSL3) and Mass Spectrometry core facilities. Our research programs are central to the Massachusetts Life Sciences Initiative. UMass Chan Medical School is one of five campuses in the UMASS system and there are extensive inter-campus collaborations with the Amherst, Dartmouth, Lowell, and Boston campuses, and with our surrounding communities. Tour the UMass Chan Campus››

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The RTI was founded in 2009 and became an academic department in 2016, chaired by Phillip D. Zamore, PhD. The RTI is dedicated to leveraging the strong RNA biology and clinical research communities at UMass Chan to develop novel therapies for which RNA is the therapeutic target or modality. The RNA Therapeutics Institute faculty are recognized as scientific trailblazers, and include a Nobel Laureate, a Gairdner Prize recipient, the 2018 RNA Society early and mid-career award recipients, three National Academy of Sciences members, one National Academy of Medicine member, three Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors, and two Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators. Tour the RTI››

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UMass Chan is located in the heart of New England, in Worcester, MA, USA. The second largest city in New England, Worcester is rich in history and cultural diversity and provides a myriad of social, cultural and recreational amenities. Our region offers a broad range of excellent primary and secondary schools, as well as several highly regarded colleges including Clark University, The College of the Holy Cross, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The area boasts numerous restaurants, theater groups and concert venues, and a variety of affordable housing options from newly renovated condominiums to gracious Victorian homes. Worcester’s central location provides easy access to the major travel hubs of Boston and Providence, as well as a large variety of opportunities for outdoor activities including beaches, lakes, farms, and mountains. The newly constructed Polar Park is home to the Woo Sox, the minor league AAA partner to the Red Sox in Boston, supporting a revitalization of the city that has resulted in new jobs, breweries, restaurants, and rapid growth in real estate. Tour Worcester from above››

 

 

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