PRISM Basics:
PRISM is a recruitment mechanism intended to improve diversity among the postdoc population at Stanford. We welcome applicants with a wide variety of identities that are underrepresented within academia. Our foremost goals are to attract postdoc applicants who might not have otherwise considered Stanford for their postdoc who might thrive here, and to match those candidates to excellent faculty mentors.
PRISM offers the following components to faculty & prospective postdocs:
- targeted outreach and advertising to broaden the postdoc applicant pool,
- a central application process with applicant coaching,
- travel funding and logistical support will be managed by OPA Staff,
- 3-day visit as a cohort, including full-day interviews, access to current postdocs, & professional development,
- opportunties for follow-on funding/fellowships, and
- ongoing community-building activities for postdocs who come through PRISM...
How Do Faculty Engage With PRISM?
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Opt-In: Feature your group on our PRISM Faculty Mentor Page by filling out the info on the form connected to the "PRISM Faculty Opt-In" Button. This page will allow you to log-in via your SUNet in order to provide a 200-word summary of your lab/research.
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Evaluate Candidates: If you are selected by a candidate, you will be notified with their application for evaluation. If you would like to review the candidate pool, please let us know.
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Volunteer: Let us know if you are interested in scheduling a lunch, dinner, and/or zoom reception to meet with and mentor candidates.
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PRISM Faculty Guide: View the guide by clicking here OR scroll to the bottom of this page for a complete/step-by-step guide to a PDF of this document.
Selected By a PRISM Applicant? These are the PRISM "Next Steps":
- Review Applications: you will receive an email through our SmartSheet tracking system that will give you full access to the application for review (one email per applicant). You can also access your personal PRISM Applicant Dashboard here: https://bit.ly/PRISM-Dashboard *note: requires login to Smartsheet using your primary Stanford email address (SUNet ID)
- Screen and Nominate: you should conduct a pre-screening interview of any interesting applicants and nominate any applicants who warrant further discussion. Nominations can be made via the PRISM Dashboard linked above or the emailed application links. When you nominate an applicant, the system will request your availability for interview scheduling and interview preferences during the PRISM visit week. Nominations and interviews do not constitute any expectation for an offer; the intention is you would only render an offer after the full interview if it is the right fit for you, your group, and the candidate.
- Selection and Scheduling: you will be notified within a month whether they have been selected for inclusion in the cohort and travel funding. If they have been selected, you will work with the applicant to schedule all interviews during your assigned time blocks. The PRISM team will handle all travel logistcs and costs.
- Interview and Offer: you will interview the candidate during the PRISM visit; the recommended practice is to provide a full postdoc interview in line with your group's standard practices. After PRISM has concluded, you may elect to render an offer. Those discussions take place between the faculty and candidate directly.
- Notify PRISM: if you do render an offer, please let us know!
How to Apply for PRISM Follow-On Funding?
PRISM Baker Pilot Fellowships: 1-year, 50% postdoc fellowships will be available by application. Faculty will be able to apply for funding once they have completed the in-person PRISM interviews and have rendered an offer (contingent upon funding is acceptable). The application link for this fellowship can be made available to any interested faculty member after the PRISM visit has concluded.
Please Note: The PRISM Baker Fellowships are a pilot fellowship program for postdoctoral candidates that took part in a PRISM recruitment event from Cohorts 8, 9, 10, or 11. For a complete list of Fellowships at Stanford, you can view the webpage here.
Also, you can read more about the PRISM Baker Fellowships in the Stanford Report.
