Background: The Trans-Pacific Fellowships (TPF) is a new initiative between The University of Washington (UW) and The University of Queensland, Australia (UQ) that funds opportunities for study and research exchanges spanning the Pacific Ocean. The Fellowships aim to support high-achieving graduate degree candidates (MS, PhD) and Senior Fellows and Faculty to undertake study and research on an exchange basis between the two universities. The financial support provided by the Trans-Pacific Fellowships will encourage the development of permanent personal and institutional friendships, as well as the pooling of the universities’ expertise and resources to derive better teaching and research results.

The University of Washington expects to fund up to 5 Trans-Pacific Fellowships for 2012, with 1-3 per each category below.  There are three types of UQ Fellowship categories:

• TPF – Graduate Research Fellowships: Open to UW Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Master’s of Science (MS) candidates to work in a research group at The University of Queensland for a period of up to three months.
• TPF – Early Career Academic Fellowships: Open to UW early career faculty and staff  (Senior Fellows, Assistant Professors) to conduct research and/or lecture at The University of Queensland in academic and professional fields for a period of up to 6 months.
• TPF – Senior Academic Fellowships: Open to UW faculty to conduct research and/or lecture at The University of Queensland in academic and professional fields for a period of up to 6 months.

Eligibility Requirements

In addition to the eligibility and assessment criteria as outlined above, a number of priority areas will apply to UW applications under round 1 of the Trans-Pacific Fellowships program. Applications for TPF Graduate Research, Early Career Academic and Senior Academic Fellowships must demonstrate a clear alignment with one or more of the following priorities, based on areas of potential collaboration:

• Bio/nanotechnology
• Science education
• Imaging
• Population health
• Bioengineering
• Biofuels
• Public Health
• Aerospace
• Materials

By mutual agreement with the University of Queensland, other areas of research may also be considered.

Application Instructions

Please distribute this announcement and the attached application packet to potentially interested faculty. Applications are due to: Office of Research, Att: 2012 Trans-Pacific Fellowships, Box 351202, after December 1, 2011, for travel commencing no sooner than February 1, 2012.  Travel must begin by December 1, 2012.

For additional information please contact research@uw.edu.