JEDI Alumni Award

Scientists are assessed by the quality of their publications and amount of funding. This tangible productivity is essential to climb the career ladder and secure a leadership position, which gives job security and influence. With a world-renowned team and a proven approach, LSEF will help to achieve equity in science by supporting those who have been excluded from the scientific community.

The 2024 competition is currently closed. We will announce our next competition towards the end of 2024.

The JEDI alumni award is designed to promote career progression and retention for junior faculty from backgrounds that are underrepresented in STEM. Awardees work with an LSEF coach who agrees to participate in the program for a 1-2 year-long partnership opportunity. Coaches provide advice and feedback to help awardees submit 2-3 grant proposals or manuscripts.

Objectives:

JEDI Alumni awardees:

Improve skills and abilities to present your work and overcome barriers to career progression.
Receive individualized, extensive, and expert feedback and guidance on 2-3 grant proposals or manuscripts.
Benefit from valuable and ongoing advice and guidance from a coach on career development and the peer review process.
Expand your professional network.
Increase your influence and exposure.

LSEF Coaches:

Provide guidance and expertise to faculty, contributing to the retention of underrepresented minorities in STEM.
Hone coaching and mentorship skills.
Expand your professional network.
Contribute to the broader impacts of the scientific community.

Dr. Michelle Mendoza (2021 JEDI Awardee) was selected as the inaugural JEDI Alumni Awardee. Dr. Mendoza is an Assistant Professor at the Huntsman Cancer Institute and University of Utah. The Mendoza lab focuses on deciphering the intricate interplay between biochemical signals and physical forces driving cancer cell invasion, particularly in lung cancer. Michelle will be working one-on-one with LSEF volunteer Dr. Kristen Mueller.

Dr. Crystal Rogers (2021 JEDI awardee) was awarded a JEDI Alumni Award, in recognition of her service to the Life Science Editors Foundation. Dr. Rogers is an Associate Professor at the University of California, Davis. The Rogers lab explores early vertebrate embryo development, focusing on cell fate determination, adhesion dynamics, and the neural crest transition. Crystal will be working one-on-one with LSEF volunteer Dr. Angela Andersen.

Awardees and Coaches will:

Attend a kickoff orientation workshop.
Prepare 2-3 grant proposals or manuscripts to be submitted over 1-2 years. Note: The awardee prepares and submits the proposal/manuscript; coach provides mentorship/guidance/editing during process.
Communicate with each other at least monthly to receive feedback.
Create personalized “living” contracts outlining the expectations, type and frequency of support.
Coach will commit to no less than 2 hours/month and no more than 10 hours/month.
Awardee will commit to no less than 2 hours/month.
Prepare a video showcasing the awardee and their research for the LSEF website.
Coaches will meet quarterly to discuss progress, setbacks etc.

Who Is Eligible to Apply?

Former JEDI awardees who are at the Assistant or Associate professor stage of their career.

Awardee Selection

Awards are made annually in January. Number of Awardees is based on the number of available coaches. Applications will be assessed by a sub-committee of LSEF volunteers. Awardees will be notified in January.

JEDI Alumni Award Application

Deadline was January 10th, 2024. Awardees will be notified around January 25th, 2024.

JEDI Alumni Award Application

Full Name

Institute

Academic Position

Outline of 2-3 proposals or manuscripts you wish to develop, including a timeline for each project. (300 words/project)

Provide a brief summary of your career plans and how a JEDI Alumni Award would help you achieve these goals. (300 words)

When were you awarded a JEDI award and how did it help you? (150 words)

Upload a signed letter on institutional letterhead indicating your willingness to participate in all aspects of the program(pdf)

Maximum file size: 50MB

Upload Short Biosketch (pdf)

Maximum file size: 50MB

Please help us understand your obstacles by selecting all the obstacles you face (if you do not want to share the specific obstacles or yours aren’t listed, please select other)

Gender

Race and/or Ethnicity

Sexual Orientation

Disability or illness

Low socioeconomic background

Primary caregiver

From a Low or Low-Middle Income Country

Other

I agree to the Life Science Editors Foundation Terms of Service

If you are human, leave this field blank.

Award Oversight

An LSEF Volunteer Program Manager (outside the coaches) will be a point of contact. The program manager will:

regularly check-in with coaches and awardees.
conduct bi-annual surveys to monitor progress.
Help overcome potential pitfalls and devise alternatives .

We uniquely understand your science and how science is assessed during peer review. We help scientists generate highly competitive manuscripts and grant proposals, and advise them on how to effectively communicate with editors and reviewers.