Society of
General physiologists

Dr. Jessica Caldwell received her Ph.D. from The University of Manchester, where she researched the mechanisms of cardiac t-tubule formation and recovery in heart failure. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow at UC Davis, where she applies advanced whole-heart imaging techniques to investigate arrhythmias at the tissue level. As a recipient of the NIH K99/R00 Transition to Independence Award, Dr. Caldwell is establishing her independent research program centered on sex-dependent cyclic-AMP signaling pathways and their role in arrhythmogenesis in heart failure. Beyond the lab, Dr. Caldwell advocates for sustainable laboratory practices and is committed to creating a more inclusive and supportive research environment. Outside science, she enjoys surfing, skiing, gardening, and pole fitness. 

About the Excelsior Award

The SGP Excelsior Award identifies and promotes exceptional early career scientists from under-represented groups within the fields of physiology and biophysics who seek to become scientists and mentors. This award recognizes exceptional early career scientists aspiring to become independent scientists and mentors who bring a unique perspective to the fields of physiology and biophysics based on experiences that have shaped their identity or challenges they have overcome. We anticipate that recipients of this award will represent the future of our society and will make positive and impactful contributions to our field.

Presented each year at the SGP Annual Meeting, the award includes a travel stipend to attend the meeting and present a platform talk, two years of formal mentorship from a senior member of SGP, and a one-year SGP membership.

• The applicant must be in an early career stage: senior postdoctoral fellow (i.e. actively pursuing a transition into the next professional step), instructor, or non-tenure track assistant professor, and seeking a future career in science that involves mentoring the next generation of scientists.
  
  
• The applicant will bring a unique perspective because of lived experiences, resilience, and/or cultural fluency. Applicants are required to submit a brief personal statement detailing how their experiences align with SGP’s mission to promote excellence in the fields of physiology and biophysics.
  
  

• The selection process will be based on merit, with a committee reviewing the academic profiles and personal statements of all applicants. Priority will be given to applicants whose research (current or future) aligns with the topic of the SGP Annual Meeting, held every fall. 

 
  Application packets must include the following:

• Completed Excelsior Award application form. In addition to basic personal information, the applicant will need to provide the names and contact information for those who will write supporting letters (2). 

• Personal statement. This should be no more than 1000 words and should comment on the following:

a)    research and training background and the significance of the resulting publications

b)    additional scientific contributions that may not be apparent in the publication record

c)    career goals and future research objectives

d)    how your lived experiences bring a unique perspective to the field

• Curriculum Vitae or Biosketch