This letter provides a glowing recommendation for Silvia Montano de Jiménez. It describes her role administering the PEW Scholars Program and Latin Fellows Program for many years, where she supported early career scientists through grant funding and management. The writer praises Silvia for being smart, hard working, dedicated, efficient, and personable in her interactions with scholars, fellows, and advisors. Due to a consolidation, the PEW programs are moving and Silvia is now looking for a new position. The writer expresses a strong hope that UCSF can retain Silvia's talents and contributions to the institution.

1. University of California
San Francisco
UCSF Physiology
August 27, 2008
Letter of reference for Silvia Montano de Jiménez, MPA
David J. Julius, Ph.D.
Professor and Chairman
UCSF Mission Bay Campus
th
600 16 Street I am extremely pleased to provide this letter in glowing support of Silvia Montano de
Box 2140, GH-N272E Jiménez. I have known Silvia for many years through my involvement with the PEW
San Francisco, CA 94143-2140
Scholars Program, first as an award recipient (1990-1994) and more recently as a member of
tel 415.476.0431 the Scientific Advisory Board (2007–present). The main goal of this organization is to
fax 415.502.8644
julius@cmp.ucsf.edu
provide early career support to promising young faculty engaged in biomedical research at
universities and other non-profit organizations throughout the United States. This entails (i)
soliciting applications from dozens of institutions, (ii) organizing these materials for multi-
stage review by members of the SAB, (iii) managing grants and funds awarded to
approximately 20 Scholars per year, and (iv) organizing and running an annual retreat for
Scholars, SAB members, and guests. In addition to the Scholars program, Silvia also serves
as administrative director for the PEW Latin Fellows Program, which provides grants to
young scientists from South and Central America who want to train in the US and then
return to their home country as academic scientists.
Basically, Silvia is loved and respected by all, especially the many Scholars and Fellows
with whom she has interacted over the years. She is smart, hard working, dedicated,
efficient, and extremely personable. Silvia must communicate with a large number of people
scattered all over the continent (including members of the parent PEW Trust organization in
Philadelphia). Despite logistical complexities and impending deadlines, she manages to
accomplish her goals with efficiency, respect, patience, and humor, regardless of whether
she is helping a young Scholar/Fellow or a member of the Scientific Advisory Board.
The PEW Scholars Program has for many years been administered by the UCSF Center for
the Health Professionals. The PEW Trust recently decided to consolidate their operation and
move this program back to their home base in Philadelphia. Because of this development,
Silvia is now looking for another position. In addition to her many professional talents and
accomplishments, Silvia has also been a loyal member of the UCSF community, and her
dedication and hard work have reflected so very well on our institution in the course of
innumerable interactions with scientists and administrators throughout the hemisphere. I
sincerely hope that we can find a way to retain someone of this caliber at UCSF before she
is snatched away by another Bay Area organization.
Sincerely,
David Julius
Morris Herzstein Professor of Molecular Biology and Medicine
Professor and Chair of Physiology