SeaBridge Postdoctoral Fellowship Program Aims:
- Modernize the postdoctoral fellowship to provide comprehensive training, including career development, mentorship, networking, and biotech start-up coaching through integration with the LaunchPad
- Seed the Seattle scientific ecosystem with postdoctoral fellows that will integrate Seattle Hub for Synthetic Biology cell & genome programming technology into their research
- Establish a postdoc mentoring network to support postbaccalaureates in the PROPEL NW program
SeaBridge Fellowship Program Overview
Mentorship for Fellows
Primary Advisor/Mentor: Fellows have a primary PI and lab at host institution.
Seattle Hub for Synthetic Biology Mentor: Fellows will be matched with a Seattle Hub for Synthetic Biology Mentor within the first year of their funding. After identifying their Mentor, Fellows will meet with their Mentor twice per year (minimum of 3 meetings/2 years).
Mentorship Experience
Mentorship training: Fellows are required to participate in the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER) workshop.
PROPEL NW Mentor: Fellows are required to participate as mentors in the PROPEL NW postbaccalaureate training program for at least one year. Fellow and postbaccalaureate trainees do not need to be in the same lab to be paired. Fellows can continue mentorship after 1 year or mentor multiple postbaccalaureate trainees. If interested, SeaBridge Fellows can participate in curriculum development and implementation of workshops for the PROPEL NW program.
Coursework
- Fellows choose a track (Entrepreneurial or Discovery). Each track has required and elective activities.
- Coursework for both tracks for Year 1 and Year 2 can be viewed here. Additional courses, training, networking events, and funding opportunities are located on our course catalog.
- Fellows use Research and Professional Development funds to participate in required trainings and networking events.
Networking
Seattle Hub for Synthetic Biology Networking
- Fellows attend every Seattle Hub for Synthetic Biology All-Hands meetings
- Fellows will present research at this meeting at least once over the duration of their funding.
Seattle Networking
Fellows are encouraged to attend networking events hosted by the Northwest Postdoc Collective (Launching Fall 2025!)
Fellows are required to attend at least one local networking event per year.
A list of potential networking events can be viewed here.
LaunchPad Integration
SeaBridge Fellows will have the opportunity to gain start-up biotech experience by attending LaunchPad project planning meetings and contributing to projects, such as market research and pitch design.
Progress Reports & Feedback
Progress reports: Submit an annual progress report summarizing completed coursework and a synopsis of workshops and networking events that were attended.
Surveys: SeaBridge is committed to creating a postdoctoral training program that is effective. Therefore, the annual survey is required to ensure that we continue to improve the training experience and curricula!
Year 3 Extension
In Year 2 of the fellowship, SeaBridge Fellows may have the opportunity to apply for a third year of funding, depending on the status of their project and financial need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions? Click here to read through Frequently Asked Questions.