Reference & Faculty Host Information

Miller Reminiscences

"The Miller Professorship was transformative and disruptive... in a good way!! It expanded my horizons and challenged me to better communicate the essence of my work with others."

-- Richmond Sarpong,
Miller Professor 2017-2018
Professor, Department of Chemistry
UC Berkeley

Letters are required to be uploaded to the secure online application system. Only references and UCB faculty hosts entered by the applicant in their online application can receive the system-generated reference email containing further instructions for registering and uploading to the secure online application system.
The applicants are advised to inform their references and potential hosts to expect an email from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and to check spam filters/boxes if necessary. It is the applicant’s responsibility to verify the accuracy of the email addresses of their references and ability to complete and upload their letter by the October 10, 2024 deadline.
If you find that you wish to revise your letter, you may upload a new PDF which will overwrite the one uploaded previously. The deadline for final submission of reference letters is October 10, 2024, 11:59pm (-7 GMT). To create a fair application process for all, late materials are not accepted.
An automatic email notification will be sent to the reference or UCB faculty host and to the candidate after a PDF letter has been successfully uploaded to their online application file.(The candidate will not be able to see letters, it is a notification of upload only.) Email confirmations may take up to 24 hours during busy periods. Expect an auto-email from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and check your spam filter/folder, if necessary. Letters are not accepted outside of the secure online system or after deadline.
The application requires three References (other than the nominator) and a UCB Faculty Host. The Nominator should not be inputted as a reference in the application. The nomination letter is automatically included in the application file when completed and submitted in the system.
After References and UCB Faculty Hosts have successfully registered in the online application system, they may thereafter go directly to the Miller Fellowship login page for Returning Users found in the reference email or on the Miller Institute website at the Fellowship tab. (Past registration from previous years is not saved in the system. References and Faculty Hosts must register each year.)
For your convenience, the candidate’s name and pdf upload box will be listed for each applicant who has inputted you as a Reference or a potential UC Berkeley Faculty Host.
In addition to 3 references, applicants are required to choose a potential UC Berkeley Faculty Host(s) in each department listed in the application and request their support letter confirming their willingness and ability to host a Miller Institute Fellow should they be awarded. (*See additional UCB Faculty Host information below.)
The Miller Institute is the Sponsor and the Administrative Home Department for each Miller Fellow Postdoc who is hosted and mentored by a UC Berkeley academic Faculty Host in the facilities provided by the Host and Berkeley department(s).
UC Berkeley academic Faculty who are also the nominator of the applicant and agree to be their Faculty Host, should they be awarded, must still register in the online application system to upload their supplementary Faculty Host support letter containing additional information and answers to specific host/mentor questions requested by the Miller Institute Executive Committee. The four host/mentor questions are found in the online application system on the Reference/UCB Faculty Host upload page. Your original nomination letter will also be automatically added to the applicant’s online file when they complete and submit their application. (*See additional UCB Faculty Host information below.)

*Special Note to UC Berkeley Faculty Hosts:

Applicants are required to include a potential UC Berkeley Faculty Host(s) in their department(s) as a part of the application process. Only professors who have an active full- time appointment in a Berkeley academic campus department(s) are eligible for this role. (Emeritus, adjunct professors are not eligible.)

The support-reference letter from the UCB Faculty Host is requested by the Selection Committee to solicit additional information and answers to their questions about potentially hosting and mentoring Miller Fellows.
UC Berkeley academic Faculty who are the nominator of the applicant and also agree to be their Faculty Host, should they be awarded, must still register in the online application system as a reference and upload their supplementary Faculty Host support letter containing additional information and answers to specific host/mentor questions requested by the MIller Institute Executive Committee. (The four host/mentor questions are found in the online application system on the Reference/UCB Host Faculty upload page.) Your original nomination letter will also be automatically added to the applicant’s online file when they complete and submit their application.
It is the choice of each UC Berkeley Faculty as to how many applicants they agree to be potential hosts for. Approximately ten to twelve Fellowships are awarded each year from about 200 applications.
Application files are also usually reviewed by the potential UCB academic host department chairs.

Go to: https://miller.berkeley.edu/fellowship for more information about the Miller Institute Postdoc Research Fellowship on our website. On the "Fellowship" web page, choose "Members" in menu on left to view current (and past) Miller Institute Postdoc awardees.

Please note:

An applicant cannot hold a paid/unpaid appointment at UC Berkeley at the time of nomination or throughout the competition and award cycle (generally from mid-May and can continue into following March). A campus appointment begun before award notification could nullify the award.
Candidates, UCB Faculty Hosts, Department Chairs and Nominators will be notified by email of results between mid-December and end of February.

The Miller Institute expects the UCB Host Professor and Department to help Miller Fellows in the following ways:

Host Faculty agrees to be available to the Fellow, and to discuss research progress with them. Although Miller Fellows are granted more independence than other postdocs, they do benefit from your guidance and your role as a mentor.
Host Faculty agrees to support the general research related expenses of the Fellow.
Host Faculty & Department personnel shall anticipate the arrival of the Miller Fellow and have space and other facilities available, including animal care if appropriate.
Host shall introduce the Miller Fellow within the department to faculty, postdocs, students and administrative staff. Host shall provide necessary instructions for interactions with administrative persons who will handle business needs for the Fellow. (e.g., receipt of mail, photocopying, setting up computers, workstations and accounts, etc.)
Host Faculty and Department shall include the Miller Fellow in any departmental orientations or welcome events for other postdocs so that they can feel a part of the departmental community.
Host Faculty shall encourage the Fellow’s participation in their group meetings and events and encourage their participation in Miller Institute activities and events, including weekly luncheons every Tuesday.
Host Faculty will provide feedback to the Miller Institute about the Fellow and will discuss their feedback with the Fellow annually as part of the Fellow’s review process. Host Faculty are also encouraged to communicate with the Fellow and the Miller Institute if issues or concerns arise at any time.
Host Faculty should ensure that the Miller Fellow is included on departmental rosters, picture boards for postdocs, and emergency procedure lists. As part of emergency & business resumption plans, be sure to include Miller Fellows in local department plans.
Host Faculty are required to inform the Miller Institute of the physical work location of the Fellow. Should the Fellow need an accommodation for their workspace, the Host Faculty agrees to work with campus, the Institute and the Fellow on an appropriate accommodation.
Host must ensure that the Miller Fellow receives appropriate and required safety training.
If a sabbatical or other obligation is planned that may impact the ability to host the Fellow, Host shall discuss this with the Miller Fellow in advance and suggest an appropriate alternate Host during absence. Host will also communicate this to the Miller Institute in advance.

The Miller Institute will email the Host Professor to request a chartstring, the email address and name of the dept.’s financial admin contact for the $1,000 per year departmental administrative support funds provided by us. These funds are to cover indirect costs and may include computing costs, photocopying and mail charges, etc.