ASM News Vol 62, Num 10, October 1996, ASM Application Deadlines

The AWWA Research Foundation is a nonprofit corporation whose mission is to advance the science of water to improve the quality of life. A broad spectrum of water supply issues is addressed by the Foundation's research agenda: resources, treatment and operations, distribution and storage, water quality and analysis, toxicology, economics, and management. The foundation serves a planning and management function and awards contracts to other institutions such as water utilities, universities, and engineering firms.

Five additional solicited research projects for 1996 funding were selected by the AWWA Research Foundation Board of Trustees or by the AWWARF/EPA Microbial/Disinfection By-Products Council at its June meeting in Toronto, Ontario.

Contract awards for all solicited projects will be determined by an AWWARF project advisory committee appointed for each project. Proposal evaluations will be based on responsiveness to the RFP, scientific and technical merit, and qualification of the researchers.

The RFPs will be posted on the AWWARF homepage (http://www.awwarf.com) and may also be requested from the RFP Desk, AWWA Research Foundation, 6666 W. Quincy Ave., Denver, CO 80235-3098. RFPs for these projects will be issued September 1, 1996 and proposals must be postmarked by October 31, 1996.

RFPs

Cryptosporidium Viability Study with the United Kingdom Drinking Water Inspectorate (RFP 395). There are currently at least five methods for determining the viability of oocysts, including: mouse infection, in vitro excystation, cell culture, PCR, and dye inclusion/exclusion. The methods will be compared under strict quality assurance conditions so that meaningful comparisons can be made. $300,000.

"Emerging Waterborne Pathogens and Their Public Health Implications" (RFP 380). The top priority research project from this expert workshop will be released as an RFP on September 1.

Three projects were selected by the Microbial/Disinfection By-Products Council. This council is a cooperative effort with EPA and AWWARF to fund research on microbial and disinfection by-product issues. Project amounts represent the total of EPA and AWWARF funds available for researchers.

Design and Feasibility of Studies on Endemic Enteric Disease Associated with Microbes in Drinking Water (RFP 383). Utilize an expert workgroup having experience in epidemiology and water microbiology to define the epidemiological methods, protocols, and procedures that could be used in specified intervention or case studies, or with other epidemiological techniques, to provide definitive data on the endemic levels of disease from treated drinking water. $100,000.

Identification of Geographic Areas for Possible Epidemiological Studies (RFP 384). Identify communities which would present a range of exposures to brominated and chlorinated DBPs and for which individual exposures can be reasonable reconstructed. To reconstruct the individual exposure, three major components would need to be characterized by interviews and data collection. These components are water source, treatment, and distribution configuration. $200,000.

Feasibility Analysis and Design of Research to Evaluate Microbiological Constituents and Treatability in Source Waters (RFP 385). Determine the optimum approach and specific project design for developing monitoring requirements under the Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (ESWTR). Two approached are being considered: a large scale multifaceted project or separately funded but complimentary projects that would address the key issues. $300,000.

PRAT Program Postdoctoral Fellowships

The PRAT Program is a competitive postdoctoral fellowship program to pursue research in one of the laboratories of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is intended for individuals with backgrounds in the basic or clinical sciences who wish to obtain advanced experience in an area of pharmacology, or for those who are already pharmacologists to gain experience in new fields.

Research opportunities in pharmacology are broadly defined and can include, for example, molecular pharmacology, biochemistry, signal transduction mechanisms, drug metabolism, immunopharmacology, chemistry and drug design, endocrinology, cell biology, structural biology, neuroscience, gene therapy, or clinical pharmacology.

Applicants must have received a Ph.D. or a professional degree (M.D., D.D.S, D.O., D.V.M., or Pharm.D.) in a basic or clinical science within the last five years, and they must be citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. They may not be conducting postdoctoral research at the NIH or the FDA at the time of application.

Preceptors are scientists at the NIH or FDA who have an interest in training fellows through this program, and who have indicated their commitment through formal submission of their credentials. Applicants select a preceptor in advance; a list of eligible preceptors and descriptions of their research is available upon request from the PRAT Program.

The application process involves submission of the completed PRAT application form, which includes a brief research plan and short statement of relevance to pharmacology, the signed preceptor selection form, letters of recommendation, official graduate and undergraduate transcripts, and curricula vitae for both the applicant and the preceptor.

Most research facilities are located in a beautiful, campus-like setting in Bethesda, Maryland. Other research facilities are located in Baltimore, Maryland; Frederick, Maryland; and Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.

Appointments are made at competitive salary levels commensurate with other fellowship opportunities at the NIH. In addition, there is a monthly supplies allowance and an annual travel allowance. Fellows may participate in the AIDS Loan Repayment Program. Individuals with professional degrees are eligible to become commissioned officers in the Public Health Service.

Timetable: ! January, 1997, completed applications due; February - March 1997 review of applications; March - April 1997 notification of candidates; October 1997 PRAT Fellowships begin

PRAT Fellowships are two-year appointments beginning in October of each year; however, earlier start dates though other mechanisms may be negotiated individually by the fellow with the preceptor and the host laboratory

For further information, or for an application kit, contact: PRAT Program Assistant NIGMS, NIH, Room 2AS-43D 45 Center Drive Bethesda, MD 20892-6200; tel., (301) 594-3583; fax, (301) 480-2802; E-mail, PRAT@GM1.NIGMS.GOV

For more information, send email to Executivedirector@asmusa.org