FAQs - Reference and Statement of Good Standing

Should the reference be from my current supervisor or the person I would like to oversee my proposed postdoc project?

Your reference should be from your current (i.e. PhD) main supervisor or PI recommending you for the Fellowship. References should be submitted online: [LINK], unless you are a PhD at the MRC, Sanger or Babraham Institutes. In this case, please contact fellowships.pda@cam.ac.uk.

Please stress to your supervisor the importance of meeting the deadline for applications. We cannot consider applications where any part is submitted after the deadline.

I have a main and secondary supervisor. Does it matter which one writes my reference?

The reference should be from your main supervisor or PI. Please stress to your supervisor the importance of meeting the deadline for applications. We cannot consider applications where any part is submitted after the deadline.

Who should write my Statement of Good Standing?

The Statement of Good Standing should come from a senior member of your department who has access to student/HR records and can check whether there are sanctions or disciplinary procedures on your record. Most Statements of Good Standing come from Heads of Department, Departmental Administrators, or their equivalents in partner institutes.

Statements of Good Standing should be submitted online: [LINK], unless you are a PhD at the MRC, Sanger or Babraham Institutes. In this case, please contact fellowships.pda@cam.ac.uk.

Please stress to the person writing your Statement the importance of meeting the deadline for applications. We cannot consider applications where any part is submitted after the deadline.

Can my Statement of Good Standing come from my College?

Your Statement of Good Standing must come from a senior administrator or academic within your department who has access to HR records. We cannot accept Statements of Good Standing from Colleges.

I am doing my PhD through a partner institute. Who needs to provide my Statement of Good Standing?

Please approach a senior administrative member of staff or your manager. The Statement needs to come from someone with access to your HR records.

How will I know when you have received my reference and Statement of Good Standing?

Once we have received your letter of interest and CV, we will inform you when we have received both your reference and Statement of Good Standing.

If we have not yet received either your reference or Statement of Good Standing and the deadline is approaching we will let you know, in time for you to follow up before self-nominations close.

What happens if my reference and/or Statement of Good Standing are received after the deadline?

All documentation must be received by the deadline. We cannot extend the deadline or consider late applications under any circumstances.