Compiled by MIT Biological Engineering Communication Fellow Annelien Zweemer and Broad Communication Fellow Martin Stewart. Last updated February 2017.
This index of life sciences postdoc fellowships is extensive but not necessarily exhaustive. We prepared it with the aim of better supporting postdocs, given the usual difficulty of finding centralized postdoc resources.
CommKit guides to successful fellowship applications for postdocs are forthcoming.
Currently, the guide to Cover letters for a faculty position discusses many relevant strategies.
Click here to view or download the full index as a spreadsheet. (includes deadlines, eligibility restrictions, award size, and duration)
Below is an overview.
Program |
Area |
Website |
| AACR – Anna D. Barker Basic Cancer Research Fellowships | Cancer | http://www.aacr.org/FUNDING |
| AACR – Basic Cancer research | Cancer | http://www.aacr.org/FUNDING |
| AACR – Bayer HealthCare Fellowships | Cancer | http://www.aacr.org/FUNDING |
| AACR – Debbie’s Dream Foundation, Gastric Cancer Research Fellowship | Cancer: gastric | http://www.aacr.org/FUNDING |
| AACR – Genentech BioOncology Fellowship for Cancer Research on the HER Family Pathway | Cancer: HER pathway | http://www.aacr.org/FUNDING |
| AACR – John and Elizabeth Leonard Family Foundation Basic Cancer Research Fellowship | Cancer | http://www.aacr.org/FUNDING |
| AACR – Judah Folkman Fellowship for Angiogenesis Research | Cancer: angiogenesis | http://www.aacr.org/FUNDING |
| AACR – Never Too Young Coalition, Fellowships in Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Research | Cancer: colorectal | http://www.aacr.org/FUNDING |
| AACR – Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Pathway to Leadership Grants | Cancer: pancreatic | http://www.aacr.org/FUNDING |
| AACR – Takeda Oncology Fellowships | Cancer | http://www.aacr.org/FUNDING |
| Alex’s Lemonade Stand-Grants for Young Investigators | Cancer: pediatric | https://www.alexslemonade.org/grants/program-areas/early-career-research-programs |
| Alzheimer’s Association Research Fellowship (AARF) Program | Alzheimer | http://www.alz.org/research/alzheimers_grants/types_of_grants.asp |
| Alzheimer’s Association Research Fellowship to Promote Diversity (AARF-D) Program | Alzheimer | http://www.alz.org/research/alzheimers_grants/types_of_grants.asp |
| American Association of University Women awards (AAUW) | Various | http://www.aauw.org/what-we-do/educational-funding-and-awards/ |
| American Australian Association | Various | https://americanaustralian.site-ym.com/?page=AusUSFellowship |
| American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA) Basic Research Fellowship Program | Cancer: brain | http://www.abta.org/brain-tumor-research/research-grants/ |
| American Cancer Society | Cancer | https://www.cancer.org/research/we-fund-cancer-research/apply-research-grant/grant-types/postdoctoral-fellowships.html |
| American Diabetes Association Mentor-Based Postdoctoral Fellowship | Diabetes | http://professional.diabetes.org/meetings/core-program |
| American Epilepsy Society Postdoctoral Research fellowship | Epilepsy | https://www.aesnet.org/research/funding%20for%20junior%20investigators/Post-Doctoral%20Research%20Fellowships |
| American Italian Cancer Research Fellowship | Cancer | http://www.americanitaliancancer.org/research-fellowships.html |
| American Society for Mass Spectrometry – Postdoctoral Career Development Awards | Mass Spectrometry | http://www.asms.org/about/asms-awards/postdoctoral-career-development-awards |
| American Society for Mass Spectrometry – Research award | Mass Spectrometry | http://www.asms.org/about/asms-awards/research-awards |
| Bear Necessities/Pediatric Cancer Foundation | Cancer: pediatric | http://www.bearnecessities.org/bear-discoveries/ |
| Branco Weiss Science in Society | Various | http://www.society-in-science.org/application-materials.html |
| Burroughs Wellcome – Career Awards at the Scientific Interface (CASI) award | Biological Sciences | http://www.bwfund.org/grant-programs/interfaces-science/career-awards-scientific-interface |
| Burroughs Wellcome – Postdoctoral Enrichment Program | Biomedical research | http://www.bwfund.org/grant-programs/diversity-science/postdoctoral-enrichment-program |
| Cancer Research Institute – Irvington Postdoctoral Fellowship Program | Cancer: Immunology | http://www.cancerresearch.org/postdoc/apply |
| Charles A. King Trust Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program | Basic science | https://hria.org/tmf/king/ |
| Damon Runyon Fellowship Award | Cancer | https://www.damonrunyon.org/for-scientists/application-guidelines/fellowship |
| Damon Runyon-Sohn Pediatric Fellowship Award | Cancer: pediatric | https://www.damonrunyon.org/for-scientists/application-guidelines/sohn |
| Dod Breast Cancer Research Program – Breakthrough fellowship award | Cancer: breast | Search DoD for: W81XWH-16-BCRP- BREAKTHROUGH_FELLOWSHIP |
| DoD Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program – Horizon award | Cancer | Search DoD for: W81XWH-16-PRCRP-HA |
| EMBO fellowships – longterm | Life Sciences | http://www.embo.org/funding-awards/fellowships/long-term-fellowships |
| EMBO fellowships – shortterm | Life Sciences | http://www.embo.org/funding-awards/fellowships/short-term-fellowships |
| Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship | Various | http://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/fordfellowships/index.htm |
| Fulbright Postdoctoral Scholar Awards | STEM | http://www.cies.org/program/postdoc |
| Hanna H. Gray fellow program | Life Sciences | http://www.hhmi.org/programs/hanna-h-gray-fellows-program |
| Helen Hay Whitney | Biomedical research | http://hhwf.org/research-fellowship/ |
| Hope Funds for Cancer Research | Cancer | http://www.hope-funds.org/grants/eligibility-and-application/ |
| Human Frontier Science Program | Biology | http://www.hfsp.org/funding/postdoctoral-fellowships |
| Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Research Fund | Cancer | http://www.jccfund.org/fellowship-information |
| Leukemia & Lymphoma Society – Fellow | Cancer: blood cancer | http://www.lls.org/research/career-development-program |
| Leukemia & Lymphoma Society – Special Fellow | Cancer: blood cancer | http://www.lls.org/research/career-development-program |
| Life Sciences Research Foundation | Life Sciences | www.lsrf.org |
| Lymphoma Research Foundation | Cancer: lymphoma | http://www.lymphoma.org/site/pp.asp?c=bkLTKaOQLmK8E&b=8490967#JuniorResearchers |
| L’Oreal USA for Women in Science | STEM | http://www.lorealusa.com/csr-commitments/the-l’oréal-corporate-foundation/science/l’oréal-usa-for-women-in-science-program |
| Melanoma Research Foundation-Careeer Development Award | Cancer: melanoma | http://www.melanoma.org/research/research-grant-background |
| National Pancreas Foundation | Pancreatic disease | https://www.pancreasfoundation.org/research/grants-and-awards/ |
| NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00) | Life Sciences | https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-16-077.html |
| Prevent Cancer Foundation | Cancer: prevention | http://preventcancer.org/our-work/grants-fellowships/ |
| Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (Parent F32) | Life Sciences | https://researchtraining.nih.gov/programs/fellowships/F32 |
| Simons Collaboration on the Origins of Life Postdoctoral Fellowships | Life Sciences | https://www.simonsfoundation.org/funding/funding-opportunities/life-sciences/simons-collaboration-on-the-origins-of-life-2017-postdoctoral-fellowship/ |
| St. Baldrick’s Foundation – Fellow | Cancer: pediatric | https://www.stbaldricks.org/for-researchers |
| St. Baldrick’s Foundation – International Scholar | Cancer: pediatric | https://www.stbaldricks.org/for-researchers |
| Susan G. Koomen – Basic/Translational research | Cancer: breast | http://ww5.komen.org/ResearchGrants/FundingOpportunities.html |