On this page: Eligibility | Reach out | Apply | Visit | Post-visit | Frequently-asked questions (FAQs)
Over 90% of postdoc jobs at R1 universities are funded from grants and contracts to faculty. How do you find out about them? By being a part of the network.
The Research Exchange supports postdocs and Ph.D. students who have advanced to candidacy in the fields of Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Computer Sciences, and Engineering with travel funds to visit and network at one of eight prestigious R1 partner universities. The Research Exchange has grown out of NSF-AGEP, which is dedicated to “increasing the number of underrepresented minorities obtaining graduate degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.” At present, we have hosted five Research Exchange trips, and sent 18 students and postdocs on trips to our partner universities .
Is there a faculty member you want to explore working with? Use the Research Exchange to make that connection.
“The really great thing about going on a research exchange was that I was able to stay longer than the typical postdoc interview visit. The ability to go out there and interact led to an offer to do a postdoc following the completion of my PhD. The offer came a year ahead of graduating, so it was great to not have to worry until the last minute about the future.”
—Loranzie Rogers, PhD Student, Psychology- Animal Behavior
Research Exchange to Harvard University, April 2022.
Eligibility
- Postdoctoral scholar or all-but-dissertation (“ABD”) Ph.D. student.
- Member of one of the following:
- College of Arts and Sciences: Applied Mathematics, Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics
- College of the Environment: Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, Atmospheric Sciences, Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean & Ecosystem Studies (CICOES), Earth & Space Sciences, Environmental & Forest Sciences, Friday Harbor Laboratories, Oceanography, Quantitative Ecology and Resource Management
- College of Engineering: Aeronautics and Astronautics, Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Computer Science & Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Human-centered Design & Engineering, Industrial & Systems Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
- Applied Physics Laboratory
- The Information School
- Is a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or “dreamer” under DACA
In particular, we seek to assist those who are broadly under-represented in their fields (on the basis of gender, race/ethnicity, sexuality, having a physical or mental disability, or something else entirely).
If you have questions regarding eligibility, please contact the UW Research University Alliance (RUA) Program Coordinator, Jazzmine Waugh, at ruacoordinator@uw.edu.
If you do not meet the eligibility criteria and wish to participate in an exchange, please contact your department and/or the relevant member of the leadership team to learn more about other potential travel opportunities.
Visit
What happens during a Research Exchange visit?
As a Ph.D. candidate:
- Work with your host faculty member and their lab, to exchange techniques, ideas, and information.
- Set up 1:1 meetings with faculty, postdocs or graduate students — find out what it’s like to be there.
- Give a lab meeting presentation or a “chalk talk.” Set up your visit so that you can show them how good you are.
- Attend networking mixers, meals and social events. Figure out what life is like at a new institution.
As a postdoc:
- Work with your host faculty member and their lab, to explore research and proposal writing collaborations.
- Set up 1:1 meetings with the associate dean and department chair/director — get to know the leadership.
- Give a departmental seminar. Set up your visit to maximize interactions with faculty.
- Attend networking mixers, meals and social events. Get a feeling for departmental culture.
Reach out
Planning a Research Exchange visit starts with finding a lab that fits your needs, run by a faculty member you can see yourself working with.
In addition to checking with your current faculty advisor and your emerging network, we suggest:
Step 1. Check out faculty in your field(s) of interest at RUA partner universities. Identify a first, second, and third choice for your faculty host. it is helpful to also figure out what term you would like to visit.
Note: Thinking about a visit to Georgia Tech? Please contact Jazzmine before applying, as their program is very limited in scope.
Step 2. Once you have a list of potential faculty you would like to visit, it’s time to apply!
Need help? Contact UW Research University Alliance (RUA) Program Coordinator, Jazzmine Waugh at ruacoordinator@uw.edu.
Apply
The deadlines are approximately monthly in October, January, April and July. Please apply to the UW RUA Research Exchange first so that we can assist in completing the programmatic application on the RUA site at UC Berkeley. The UW will fund approximately 15 senior Ph.D. students and postdocs on Research Exchange visits each year.
You will receive confirmation that your application was received within a week and a formal determination email within 30 days.
Need help? Contact UW Research University Alliance (RUA) Program Coordinator, Jazzmine Waugh at ruacoordinator@uw.edu.
Post-visit
Once you’re back at the UW, there are just a few more things you’ll need to do:
- Submit travel expenses for reimbursement within 30 days
- Complete a visit evaluation to receive your reimbursement
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Q: Can UW principal investigators reach out to PhD students and postdocs from other institutions to apply for a visit to UW?
Q: Are long-term funds for visiting postdocs available?
Q: Are there specific institutions that UW students and postdocs can visit?
Q: Do I need to identify a host lab before filling out an application?
Q: How will I know my application is received and accepted?
Q: I am not a member of one of the 26 listed UW schools/departments/institutes, can I still apply for an exchange?
Q: I do not identify as one of the underrepresented minority groups listed, but I am considered a minority in my field (e.g., a white woman in physics). Can I still apply for an exchange?
Q: I identify with multiple underrepresented groups, or a mix of groups, is there a way to specify that, and can I still apply?
Q: I do not identify as a minority, but I would still like to apply for an exchange. Is that possible?
Q: I just graduated with my PhD, but I was hired as a research scientist, can I still apply?
Q: Does my postdoc position cover my salary on my exchange?
Post-application
Q: Which university pays for my research exchange?
Q: Can some travel expenses be purchased directly by RUA, instead of through reimbursement?
Q: Is the duration of my exchange restricted?
Q: Are travel expenses restricted?
Post-trip
Q: How long do I have to submit my travel expenses after my trip?
Q: What else am I responsible for?
Q: Is it possible to go on a second exchange?
Can’t find what you’re looking for?
Email Jazzmine Waugh, UW Research University Alliance (RUA) Program Coordinator, at ruacoordinator@uw.edu.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. HRD-2015104 AM03. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
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