Where can I do my work? Do I have to be in the United States?

You can do your work wherever you happen to be. There are only a few countries whose citizens are not easily fundable due to U.S. restrictions. Please contact us at fellows_program@eol.org if you are concerned.

How do I choose a mentor?

You should most likely choose someone you are already working or collaborating with. In some cases, you will be working to upload your mentor's data into our system or a partnering database. In other cases, you will be sharing results of your own research. In either case, your mentor should be able to supervise your work and review your information.

What if I do not need a mentor?

Then you are not a good candidate for our program. Keep in mind that you may always consider enlisting a scientist who is more experienced than you as a mentor.

Please note that a publication record is a good thing and will not disqualify you.

We are in the process of developing a "Distinguished Fellows" program for those who truly do not need mentors.

What does a mentor need to do?

Mentors must also be available for training, and commit to reviewing your work for accuracy. We also expect them to be EOL curators and help you connect with others in your scientific community.

What does matching funding mean?

Matching funding is some other means of support. The EOL Rubenstein Fellows program does not intend to provide full time support because our activities are only part of a well-rounded career. In a twelve-month period including the Fellows award, you should have at least half of your support from somewhere else.

Matching funding does not need to be research funding. It could be teaching, technical services or even unrelated work.

Matching funding can already be supporting you -- for example, you could propose to add the Fellows award to the end of an existing fellowship. Or you can become part time on your matching funding, to stretch it out longer, and devote part of your time to Fellows-funded activity. Your situation will depend on the nature of your matching funding and your proposed activities.

If you are applying for matching funding but do not have the award yet, you should 1) let the other source know that you are also applying for Fellows funding and would like to combine them -- it might help 2) let us know where you have applied. If you are selected for an EOL Fellows Award we will hold EOL funding for you at least six months until you can demonstrate that matching funding has also been awarded.

Who is responsible for health benefits while I am an EOL Fellow?

You'll need to cover benefits via your matching funds or out of your stipend/salary.

Do you support DNA sequencing (e.g. barcoding) and phylogenetic analysis?

No. But we encourage you to apply for matching funding that would enable you to do these activities.

Do you support work revising a taxonomic group?

The revisionary work itself is not fundable, but you may propose to construct or improve digital classifications based on already published work, for example in a LifeDesk. Also, we expect Fellows to also include activities that will add new content, such as images, maps, or descriptions, to EOL pages.

Do I have to be a taxonomist to be an EOL Rubenstein Fellow?

No! While many applicants are taxonomists, you may come from any field that has knowledge to share about biological diversity.

I want to spend my time contributing to another database, not EOL.

We encourage this, as long as that database is one of EOL's partners. Your database may be in discussions with us and not appear on this list -- you might contact us or them to inquire. They can always go to EOL's Content Partner Registry to get started.

Do my mentor and I have to be active curators of the EOL site in order to apply?

It will certainly help -- if you have not yet begun to participate someone else who has already demonstrated an understanding of and willingness to participate in EOL may be a better candidate. To apply to be a curator, see our Help Build EOL page