Applications will be open from Dec 5, 2022 to Feb 6, 2023. All application materials MUST be submitted by the deadline. Applications that remain incomplete or unsubmitted after the deadline will not be considered for acceptance to the program.

Applicants to the Summer Research Institute must apply to one of two categories of participants: 

Emerging:  Students (undergraduate and graduate), postdoctoral fellows, junior faculty (researchers across the sciences and humanities), early-career changemakers and professionals, and contemplative practitioners within five years of appointment or beginning work in the field.  

Please note: Emerging researchers who attend the SRI become eligible to apply for the Mind & Life Francisco J. Varela Research Grants. Emerging changemaker participants will be eligible for our new Contemplative Changemaking Grants. Other participants may be eligible for other Mind & Life grants.

Established: Researchers (across the sciences and humanities), contemplative teachers, and changemakers (professionals, policymakers, leaders, activists), and those interested in this topic, who have held faculty appointments or positions for more than five years. 

We welcome candidates of all races, ethnicities, classes, genders, ages, religions and spiritualities, physical abilities, sexual orientations, geographic locations, disciplines, and institutions to apply.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through the Mind & Life online application portal . Applications will be open from Monday, December 5, 2022 and close on Monday, Februrary 6, 2023. All materials MUST be submitted by the application deadline. Applications that remain incomplete or unsubmitted after the deadline will not be considered for acceptance to the program.

Required Application Materials:

A personal statement (not to exceed 500 words) that describes: 1) how the SRI is relevant to the applicant’s work, studies, and/or personal interests; 2) how the SRI will develop the applicant’s research and/or career goals; and 3) how the applicant is poised to contribute to the learning exchange at the SRI and the field in general. When writing your personal statement, please be sure to specifically address this year’s SRI theme (Trauma, Resilience, and Flourishing) and its relevance to your work and interests.

CV, resume, or NIH biosketch 

Optional Materials (encouraged but not required):

Poster presentations: Poster proposal to be considered for presentation at the SRI (instructions for how to submit a poster proposal can be found within the online application form)

For Emerging Applicants only: One letter of recommendation from a mentor or advisor or colleague (someone who knows you well enough to speak to qualities and experience as it relates to attending this program). The letter should articulate a compelling case for what the applicant will contribute or stand to gain by attending the SRI. 

SRI Application Criteria:

Applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:

  • Relevance: The relevance of the applicant’s research, work, and personal interests to this year’s SRI theme.
  • Development: How participation in this SRI will foster the applicant’s research and/or career goals.
  • Contribution: The applicant’s potential to: a) contribute to the learning exchange at the SRI; and  b) produce impactful outcomes in their respective field.

Please note:
Having a regular contemplative practice is not a requirement for acceptance to the Summer Research Institute.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
For more information

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