Soft & Living Matter Exchanges (SLiM-Ex) Guidelines
SLiM-Ex Award Types
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Short Term Exchange Awards (Duration: 2 – 3 weeks, max $3k) to carry out research visits to other institutions for the purpose of continuing ongoing collaborations.
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Long Term Exchange Awards (Duration: 6 – 8 weeks, max $5k) to initiate new research with other institutions.
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Eligibility
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ICAM Junior and Senior Scientists from one Branch can apply for exchange with ICAM Branches
different from their own. Limited funding will be available for exchanges in which the
other group is not part of ICAM.
ICAM defines Junior Scientists as undergraduate or graduate students, or postdoctoral
researchers within five (5) years of getting their PhD. Junior Scientists may not hold a
university tenure track faculty position or be on the staff of a national or industrial
laboratory.
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The Application Process​
Applications will be reviewed by the steering committee on a quarterly basis until filled
each year. Processing an application typically takes a few weeks, longer if the original
submittal is incomplete. Applicants should also allow several months to obtain their
VISA, if applicable. The table below shows the deadlines, award times, and travel dates
for the coming year.
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Click here for the application schedule.
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Required Documents
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Applicants must furnish the documentation listed below.
Short Term Exchange Awards (Duration: 2 – 3 weeks)
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Applicant Curriculum Vitae (CV) – one page max
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Host Mentor Curriculum Vitae (CV) – two pages max
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One page proposal; must include budget. Please convert your budget to USD.
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Junior Awards only: One letter of recommendation from the Applicant’s Current Mentor, maximum of one page.
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Invitation letter from host - one page max
Long Term Exchange Awards (Duration: 6 – 8 weeks)
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Applicant Curriculum Vitae (CV) – one page max
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Host Mentor Curriculum Vitae (CV) – two pages max
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One page proposal; must include budget. Please convert your budget to USD.
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Junior Awards only: One letter of recommendation from the Applicant’s Current Mentor, maximum of one page.
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Invitation letter from host - one page max
Terms of the Award
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Junior Exchange Awards are travel awards for research collaborations, typically lasting
2 – 8 weeks. As such ICAM will reimburse the traveler for actual expenses incurred
such as airfare, meals and incidentals, and lodging. Reasonable and economy estimates of lodging and meals expenses should be used in the award application. Reimbursement is processed after the travel has ended. Please refer to the Reimbursement page for information on allowable costs and the reimbursement process. Travel should be carried out as close as possible to the original proposed dates and completed within 3 months of the original proposed dates. Delays beyond this time frame will require a complete re-application.
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Soft & Living Matter Exchange awards only support travel between two different
ICAM branches. ICAM to ICAM funding will only be allowed between two separate
ICAM branches and not within the same ICAM branch except in exceptional
circumstances. Travel within a branch must be funded by internal funds.
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Reporting and Outreach Responsibilities
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All reports and publications must be emailed to icamadmin-physics@ucdavis.edu.
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Write a brief (1-2 pages) report outlining the research and collaborative results of your travel exchange. Collaborations developed during or because of your visit should be detailed as this is the purpose of the award.
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Submit any publications (from pre-print to final) that resulted from this award.
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Acknowledge the Institute for Complex Adaptive Matter (ICAM) on all publications and presentations.
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Use the ICAM logo on publications and other documents when possible. (See the Acknowledgements/Grants page for logos.)
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Selection Committee
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Dan Beller, Johns Hopkins University
Xiaoming Mao, University of Michigan
Cristina Marchetti, UCSB
Tannie Liverpool, Bristol University
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