W.M. Keck Postdoctoral Fellow Commitments

1

The W.M. Keck Postdoctoral Fellow will not held a Keck Fellowship concurrently with other funding awards (e.g., fellowships, grants). If a Keck Fellow is awarded a second funding award, the Keck Fellow will need to select which funds they will use.

• If the Keck Fellow decides to continue receiving their Keck Fellowship funding, they will need to decline or defer the second award. Keck Fellowships can be declined but cannot be deferred.
• If the Keck Fellow decides to start receiving money from a new fellowship, it is acceptable to end a Keck Fellowship. If this is the case, the awardee is still considered a Keck Fellow and is expected to honor their other commitments as specified below.

2

The W.M. Keck Postdoctoral Fellow will acknowledge the support of the Fellowship in any publications associated with the Fellowship research even after the Fellowship tenure ends.

3

The W.M. Keck Postdoctoral Fellow will dedicate 10% of their time (about 4 hours per week) to their professional development.

4

The W.M. Keck Postdoctoral Fellow will spend their allotted research support funds on expenditures should that align with the fellow’s research objectives and contribute meaningfully to the advancement of their scholarly work.

Research support funds can be used for a variety of expenses directly related to the fellow’s research activities including, but not necessarily limited to:

• the purchase of specialized equipment, materials, and supplies necessary for conducting experiments or fieldwork
• costs associated with attending and presenting at academic conferences, such as registration fees, travel, and accommodations
• access to specialized databases, software licenses, or other digital tools that are essential for data analysis or research dissemination
• fees for publishing research findings in academic journals
• expenses related to collaborative research efforts, such as coordinating with external research partners or visiting other institutions for research purposes
• professional development activities that enhance the fellow’s research skills, such as workshops, courses, or certifications

5

The W.M. Keck Postdoctoral Fellow will prepare a 10-minute presentation of their research to be delivered during the W.M. Keck Postdoctoral Fellowship Seminar.

Note: For awardees in the 2025 cycle, this event will be held on February 19, 2026 (subject to change with notice).

6

The W.M. Keck Postdoctoral Fellow will write a brief report of their research and professional development progress and accomplishments as a Keck Postdoctoral Fellow (2 pages maximum). This report should be emailed to the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs no later than the date specified in the award notification.

Note: For awardees in the 2025 cycle, the report must be submitted no later than June 15, 2026.