Singapore Millennium Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship (SMF PDF)

SMF PDF are opened to all nationalities to come to Singapore to exchange and cross fertilise ideas, and jointly create opportunities for the development of new innovations.  The bond free scholarships are offered annually to outstanding graduate research scientists to support their full-time research efforts at a Singapore-based university or Research Institute.

The research themes are :

• Environmental Science, Renewable Resources & Water

• Engineering

• Physical and Materials Science

• Life Sciences

Past Awardees

Please click here to view the list of past awardees.

Terms and conditions

• Successful Singapore Millennium Postdoctoral Fellows will be awarded a Grant of S$6,000 per month for a tenure of 2 years.  This grant will be administered by NUS and may be subject to tax.  For Singaporeans/Permanent Residents, the grant quantum may also include CPF, and other components.

• The Award does not provide for any other costs like enrolment or course fees, settling-in allowances or any other expenses, which are to be borne by the awardees themselves from their monthly grants.

• A special travel allowance of up to S$2,000 may be provided by SMF to assist only international postdoctoral fellows to cover one-way economy air travel to Singapore, and not for those who are already located in Singapore. There will be no additional provision for freight charges, or for travel expenses of family members. All claims must be supported by the original official receipts and should be sent to SMF for processing.

Eligibility

Aspiring researchers of all nationalities with an excellent academic track record who intend to pursue a research career are welcomed to apply.   Prior research experience and publications in peer-reviewed international journals will be advantageous.  More details could be found at the SMF website

Shortlisting criteria and awarding process

Please refer to the SMF website at http://www.smf-scholar.org/.

Schedule of annual call and activities

The call is usually in October of each year.  The outcome would be made known in June of the following year. 

Date of current / next call

10 October 2009

Deadline for current / next call

29 January 2010.  Please check with your Faculty / School’s research office for their internal submission deadline so that the application could reach ODPRT by the deadline stated.

Application Procedure

• Please submit an online application via the SMF website.  Upon submission of the SMF online application form, a reference number will be generated and a URL Link will be sent to your e-mail address.  Please quote this reference number on all hard copies of your application package.  

• It is a condition of the scholarship that all successful applicants of the SMF PDF Scholarship be accepted by the University to conduct his/her research.  Interested applicants must complete the NUS application form when applying for the SMF scholarship.  The application package containing the documents listed below (in English and duly certified), must be sent to the respective Faculty/School at NUS that you intend to conduct your research for initial processing :

• NUS Application Form

• Copy of submitted online SMF PDF Scholarship application form

• Detailed Curriculum Vitae

• Certificates - Basic and post graduate qualifications including detailed transcripts of grades/scores. (check directly with the University/Research Institute on TOEFL/GRE/GMAT requirements)

• Proposed Plan of Research

• Abstract of previous research accomplishments (list titles and references of published works and works in process, patents, papers presented at conferences etc)

• Letter of support by hosting scientific advisor/supervisor based in Singapore

• CV of Advisor/Supervisor (each CV should not exceed 2 pages)

• Two reference letters (Letters should provide information on your mastery of fundamental knowledge in your field, skills in designing research experiments, laboratory skills and techniques acquired, growth during period observed, creativity, originality, self reliance and independence. Your referees should also indicate how long they have known and worked with you)

• For applicants currently doing research in Singapore, please submit a report on what you are working on, what you have done, what has been achieved and when do you expect the project to be completed. (No word limit, but entries should be succinct)

Review during term of Fellowship

The scientific advisor of each successful applicant who takes up the fellowship must submit a 12-monthly report on the awardee's research progress to the SMF Secretariat. This report should address the milestones achieved and the potential that the research has demonstrated vis-à-vis what was set out at the start of the project.  It should also include the scientific advisor's comment on his/her satisfaction with the awardee's progress and his/her formal support for the SMF to continue to support the research. The report must be submitted through the Head of Department, the Dean of the Faculty and ODPRT, NUS.  The SMF may appoint a Review Committee to evaluate the progress of these research efforts. 

Please click here for a softcopy of the progress report form.

Contact persons for more information

Ms Shasirekha	Tel : 65165274	Email : dprss@nus.edu.sg
Ms Mandy Ng	Tel : 65164824	Email : dprmyn@nus.edu.sg
Ms Donna Ho  (employment matters)	Tel : 65165355	Email : ohrhod@nus.edu.sg
SMF Secretariat	Tel : NA	Email : secretariat@smf-scholar.org