Full proposals require three blind letters of recommendation from individuals who are familiar with the applicant’s qualifications.  The letters must be uploaded by the author of each letter to BWF’s grant application system.

A fourth letter, the Institutional Letter of support, should be written on behalf of the applicant’s institution by the chair, dean, division director, or another senior official who can best communicate the institution’s commitment to the applicant and the applicant’s fit within the institution’s plans and ambitions. This statement of the institution’s investment in and commitment to the applicant’s scientific, academic, and personal development is a critical part of a successful application for this career development award. The Institutional Letter of Support is NOT a blind/confidential letter and is the first document of the pdf file that is uploaded to the application.

Log in to BWF’s grant application system and proceed to the “Recommenders” page

1. Enter the name and email addresses of the recommenders. To send an individual request, remove the check from the “Send Email” boxes.  To send a group request, check all “Send Email” boxes.  It is highly recommended that you notify the recommender to expect the email.
2. Input the name of the person who will write the letter of recommendation in the “Name” field.  Insert the email address of the recommender in the “Email Address” field.
3. Check or uncheck the “Send Email” box according to group or individual email requests.
4. Click the SEND button. This button DOES NOT SEND the request. You must continue.
5. The grant application system will generate an email form containing a standard message. You can send this message as is or edit it to make it more personal.
6. Use the Subject field to add a subject line that will help your recommender recognize that the email is important, for example, Letter of Recommendation for <<Applicant’s name>>.
7. Press the “Send” button.
8. You will see a message in red type indicating the selected recommenders have been notified. If you do not see this message, your email has not been sent. Please contact Muno Sekhon at 919-991-5122.
9. Click “Next” to proceed to the Attachments Page.  Once the requested letter has been uploaded by the recommender, it will be listed as an uploaded file on the Attachments page.

Note:  the applicant will not have access to view the file.

Recommender Instructions for Uploading a Confidential Letter

You’ve received an email from an applicant submitting an application to Burroughs Wellcome Fund, requesting you to upload a confidential letter in support of his/her application for a grant.

The email contains the link to access BWF’s grant submission system where you will upload the letter.  The link is specific to the application and to you.

Recommendation letters are CONFIDENTIAL and must be uploaded to the application by the letter writer.  The applicant can view the status of the letter on the system – i.e., whether or not it has been successfully uploaded – but cannot view the contents of the letter.

To upload your confidential letter:

1. Complete the letter using any standard word processing software.  BWF requires the letter to be on official institutional letterhead, with a signature block.
2. Convert the completed document to a Portable Document Format (PDF) file.  BWF requires all application attachments be uploaded as PDF files.  (For help with the conversion, see the “Troubleshooting PDF Issues”.)
3. Save the PDF file on your system.
4. Return to the applicant’s email request and click the link provided in the email to access BWF’s grant submission system log-in screen.
5. Log in using the exact email address at which you received the request from the applicant.
6. Click the Browse button to search for and select the letter (PDF file) from your system.
7. Click the Upload button.  Once the document has been successfully uploaded, a link to the document will appear under “Uploaded Files” near the top of the screen.
8. To complete the process, click the Finished button and view the submission acknowledgment.
9. On the submission acknowledgment screen, click Logout in the menu to exit the system.

IMPORTANT: Retain the applicant’s email containing the link in the event you wish to replace the originally uploaded letter with a “revised” letter.

To replace the originally uploaded letter with a revised letter:

1. Retrieve the applicant’s initial email request and click the web link provided in the email to access the system’s log-in screen:
   • Using your email address, log in to access the screen displaying the link to the previously uploaded letter.
   • Click to check the box in the “Remove?” column in the same row as the link to the previously uploaded letter.
   • Click the Remove button.  Once successfully removed, the link will no longer be displayed on the screen.
   • You may now upload a new letter by following steps 1 through 9 above.
2. Alternatively, the Applicant can remove your name and email address they originally entered, then reenter your name and address information, and send you a new individualized email.

Troubleshooting Common Issues with the Recommendation Letters Process

Issue:  You never received the email sent by the applicant, after the initial contact.

1. Contact the applicant and ask him/her to try resending the email.  Verify that the applicant is using the correct email address.
2. Provide an alternate email address (Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail, etc.) to the applicant.  The email sent previously may be caught in your institution’s spam filter.

Issue:  You received an email containing the link, but cannot log in to upload the letter.

Note the error message you are receiving.  If the error message states: “Thank you for taking the time to respond to a request for a recommendation. However, you cannot provide input at this time. Please contact the applicant if you have any questions”:

1. Depending on the format of the email you received, the web link to use to access BWF’s system may be wrapping to another line.  You must copy and paste the entire link into the web browser.  The link is specific to the applicant and designated recommender.
2. You entered an incorrect email address.  The email address must EXACTLY match the one that was entered in the system by the applicant.  It should be the same email address where you received the initial email.
3. Your browser needs to be refreshed: You need to close all browsers and copy and paste links into a completely new browser.

Issue:  You are able to log into the site, but cannot upload the letter.

Confirm that you are uploading a PDF file.  If not, there will be a red error message at the top of the screen indicating “You are trying to upload a file with an unaccepted file type.  Please upload a file of one of the following types: PDF.”  You MUST convert the document to a PDF file prior to uploading.  BWF’s acceptable document format must is PDF.

If you need further assistance, see “Troubleshooting Letters of Recommendation”.