Frequently Asked Questions
Program Information
Who are we & What do we do?
The Neurodegeneration Computational Fellows Program, based out of Howard University, aims to establish cohorts of bioinformaticians, biostatisticians, and computational biologists recruited from various institutions within the United States to broaden the pool of researchers analyzing health disparity research data at the socioeconomic, genetic, and molecular level in neurodegenerative diseases. In this two-year program, Fellows will be paired with experimentally focused labs to conduct research in computational biology, biostatistics, data analysis, machine learning, or bioinformatics related to neurodegenerative diseases.
What are the Fellow Benefits?
* Gain additional experience and training in computational biology research. * Enhance oral and written scientific communication skills. * The opportunity to publish research. * Valuable career path mentorship. * Weekly interactions within the scientific research community through weekly meetings, scientific and professional seminars. * Networking opportunities at larger-scale in-person events.
How much are Fellows paid?
* Fellows with Bachelor's Degrees will receive a base annual salary of $55,000 plus benefits. * Fellows with Master's Degrees will receive a base annual salary of $65,000 plus benefits.
Are health benefits included?
Yes, health benefits will be provided to all Fellows.
What are some of the things a Fellow would be doing?
** See the for more details on lab research activities. **
Fellows will serve as computational experts within their host labs. The roles and responsibilities of the Fellows will differ from lab to lab, but will likely include coordinating with experimental experts on project planning and design, leading computational analysis and computational workflow development, and mentoring lab personnel in aspects of computational analysis or computational biology.
What are the expectations for the Fellows?
* Attending a program orientation and bootcamp designed to provide a level starting point for Fellows with respect to computational biology and neurology. * Participating in scheduled computational biology training events. * Attending career exploration and mentorship sessions * Attending and presenting at an annual Computational Fellows Symposium.
What are the start and end dates of the program?
The 2025 cohort of the Program will begin in August 2025 and will end in August of 2027.
Can the Fellowship be extended?
This is a fixed-term Fellowship of two years. Upon completion of the Fellowship program, Fellows will be able to join an alumni network, but will not be permitted to apply for an additional Fellowship position. Several host labs have indicated the need for a permanent computational staff member, so there may be possibilities for Fellows to be hired on as permanent staff within their labs, at the discretion of the host PI.
How will Fellow-lab pairings be determined? Will Fellows have a say?
Fellows will indicate on their application which lab(s) they are interested in working with. Applicants who pass the initial selection process will then have the option to meet virtually with host lab PIs to gauge mutual interest and fit. If a host lab agrees to a particular applicant and vice versa, they will be matched.
Eligibility
Who should apply? What are the requirements?
If you meet the following criteria, and are enthusiastic about making a difference in neurodegenerative research you should apply!
Either of the following: * Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in computational biology, statistics, biostatistics, computer science, applied mathematics, or other quantitative fields. * Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Biology, Biochemistry, Neuroscience, or Biological Sciences-related with prior demonstrable research training in computational methods. * Programming experience in R, Python, or Matlab. * The ability and willingness to learn new programming or statistical languages as necessary. *Interest in neuroscience and neurological disease. * Ability to make a two-year commitment to work with a host lab.
Can I apply if I am not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States?
Currently, we are only accepting applicants who are citizens, permanent residents, or individuals with unrestricted authorization to work in the US. To determine eligibility for special immigration statuses (e.g. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), please contact us.
Can I apply if I have a Ph.D.?
Currently, we are only accepting applicants with Bachelor's or Master's degrees in the fields mentioned above. Applicants with PhDs in any of the relevant fields are not eligible to apply.
Application and Selection Information
How do I apply?
What is the application deadline?
Applications will be accepted until 11:59 Eastern Standard Time on 14 February, 2025.
What are the next steps after the initial application?
The selection committee will review applications in February, and contact applicants who have made it to the next round. At that point, applicants will have virtual meetings with the PIs of labs they have expressed an interest in.
Are recommendation letters needed?
Letters of recommendation are not required, but the applicant will need to provide contact information for two individuals who can attest to their computational skills and initiative.
Can I make changes to my application after it has been submitted?
If you would like to make changes to your application after it has been submitted, please contact us (information below) and we can arrange for a new submission. No changes can be made after the application deadline.
How are applications reviewed?
Applications will be reviewed by a committee of Computational Biology experts. Fellowships will be awarded based on merit, as determined by the eligibility criteria above as well as overall fit with host lab interests and working style.
How will I be notified if I am selected?
Applicants selected will be notified via the email address submitted during the application process.