Jane Engelberg Memorial Fellowship
The Jane Engelberg Memorial Fellowship (JEMF), established in 1991 as a highly prestigious award of the National Society of Genetic Counselors, Inc. (NSGC), is an ongoing tribute to Jane Engelberg, who graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1973 with a master's degree in human genetics. During her 15-year career as a genetic counselor in New York City-first at the National Genetics Foundation, and then at Beth Israel Medical Center and Long Island Jewish Medical Center-Jane developed expertise in counseling patients on issues related to hemophilia and prenatal diagnosis. In response to the special needs of Spanish-speaking clients, Jane became a bilingual genetic counselor. The human qualities of insight, compassion, and dedication that always will be associated with Jane and her contributions to the field resulted in part from the fact that Jane was under treatment for advanced Hodgkin's disease from 1969 until her death in 1988. Her physicians originally gave her little hope of living even long enough to obtain her master's degree. The JEMF is funded by the Engelberg Foundation, established in 1990 by Jane's husband, Alfred B. Engelberg. The Engelberg Foundation is a charitable trust that supports a wide range of activities in the fields of health care, science, and education.
Objectives
The objectives of the JEMF are to promote the professional development of individual counselors and to improve the practice of genetic counseling by providing support for scholarly investigation of any aspect of the profession. Such investigation is essential as the profession responds to changes in genetics, health care, and the ethical, legal, and social dimensions of genetic medicine. It is critical, therefore, that any proposed project hold the prospect of significant impact beyond the personal interests or work setting of the applicant.
Amount of the Award
The The JEMF will provide a $60,000 award for a one-year or two-year project to an individual genetic counselor (or more than one genetic counselor who will share the award). Funding will apply to the period commencing January 1 following the announcement of the award at the NSGC Annual Education Conference. Funding will be released to the awardee quarterly. The JEMF is under no obligation to make awards in any given year if the advisory group deems that no proposed projects meet the guidelines for funding.
Eligibility
The principal investigator of a JEMF proposal must be a genetic counselor who is a full member in good standing of the NSGC and is certified in genetic counseling by the American Board of Medical Genetics or the American Board of Genetic Counseling. Individuals who have been granted active-candidate status by the American Board of Genetic Counseling also are eligible to apply for the JEMF. Individuals who do not have active candidate status should contact the American Board of Genetic Counseling for instructions regarding the expedited review process. PIs and Co-PIs of awarded JEMF proposals are not eligible to apply again in future cycles. These requirements do not apply to co-investigators.
Previous JEMF Awardees
Information on previous JEMF awardees and JEMF funded project is available here.
JEMF Award Information
JEMF-Funded Educational Offerings
JEMF Advisory Group