Funding Opportunities for Postdocs
Find funding for research, training, and publishing
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding Opportunities:
- Did you know that the NIH has a grant program that pays your student loans while you are doing research? Learn more about the program here: http://www.lrp.nih.gov/index.aspx
- The NIH NRSA F32 individual postdoctoral fellowship has three submission deadlines each year, generally occurring in the first parts of the months of April, August, and December. Information on the F32 fellowship can be found here: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-14-149.html
- Special note for Columbia Postdocs submitting an F32 fellowship application there is new required attachment necessary for submission, titled “additional educational information”. The F32 Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) states to include in this attachment “a description of the resources available to the applicant including the availability of such resources as might be associated with an Office of Postdoctoral Affairs.” The following text about the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA) can be included, in addition to information about the Postdoctoral program in which the applicant is enrolled (typically provided by the mentor or department chair):
“Columbia University established an Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA) in 2006, with a primary mission to serve the needs of the Columbia University postdoctoral community. OPA has annually coordinated an array of career development events for the Columbia postdoctoral community, including seminars and workshops focused on funding mechanisms, grantsmanship, networking skills, communication skills, career exploration and management, leadership, work-life balance, as well as full semester courses on grant writing and responsible conduct of research. Additional events for the current year include an individual development plan (IDP) seminar and workshop series and career panel networking events, as well as seminars and workshops on applying for faculty positions, how to conduct an effective chalk talk, scientific and medical writing, teaching, and Industry skill development. OPA also holds monthly research lunch hours as a venue for postdoctoral trainees to present their research and refine their scientific presentation skills. For individualized career support, OPA offers a career service to postdoctoral trainees through a dedicated career counselor who provides CV, resume and cover letter assistance, guidance on conducting job searches and mock interviews.”
- The NIH K99/R00 career development award is a career transition award that allows for postdocs to complete the last 1-2 years of mentored training and begin a faculty position with research funding. Please note that the eligibility period for the K99/R01 award has been changed from 5 years to 4 years of postdoctoral training. More information on the K99/RO1 award can be found here: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-14-042.html
- The NIH also has other career development awards besides the K99, some of which are geared towards postdocs. Information on the whole K series of awards can be found at: http://grants.nih.gov/training/careerdevelopmentawards.htm
National Science Foundation (NSF) Funding Opportunities:
The NSF has a number of fellowship opportunities for postdoctoral researchers. Many of the submission deadlines for these fellowships are in October, however one notable exception is the Earth Science Fellowship, with a submission deadline in July. A full listing of the various fellowship opportunities can be found here: https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/servlet/fastlane.pdoc.DisplayProgramType
Department of Defense (DOD):
The DOD has a number of funding areas, some of which may be open to postdoctoral submissions. Please look through the various funding opportunities if you are interested. They can be found here: https://cdmrp.health.mil/funding/
Other Government Agency Funding Opportunities:
A number of government agencies fund postdoctoral research projects including the Department of Energy (DOE), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of State (DOS) Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Learn more about a wide-range of funding opportunities that may be open to postdoctoral submissions here: https://www.fic.nih.gov/Funding/NonNIH?search=
Foundations:
- Numerous non-for profit foundations exist domestically and internationally that provide grant funding to research aligned with their specific interests.
- The Health Research Alliance is a consortium of over 50 different foundations that collectively sponsor over $1.5 Billion dollars in research annually. Each foundation within the group has their own funding mechanisms, many of which are open to postdoctoral submissions. For more information about funding opportunities, join the HRA’s listserv here
- The chronicle of philanthropy is an online resource dedicated to the non-profit sector. Their webpage can be found here: http://philanthropy.com/section/Home/172/ . You can create a free online account and then login to search through their list of available grant opportunities, some of which may be open to postdoctoral submissions.
- American Cancer Society
- American Society for Engineering Education
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
- F Kiosk: NIH Individual Fellowship Opportunities
- Ford Foundation Diversity Fellowship
- K Kiosk: NIH Career Development Awards
- The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Career Development Program
- The Life Sciences Research Foundation
- L'Oreal USA for Women in Science Program
- National Center for Environmental Research Fellowships
- NIH Funding Programs
- NSF: Find Funding
- NSF Postdoctoral Fellowships
- Zuckerman Scholars Program
- American Italian Cancer Foundation
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research
- DFG, German Research Foundation
- European Commission
- European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO)
- European Society for Immunodeficiencies (ESID)
- Gruss Lipper Foundation Fellowship for Israeli Scientists
- Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP)
- International Agency for Research on Cancer
- International Federation of University Women
- Japanese Science and Technology Program
- Jose Carreras Leukemia Foundation
- Martin Escudero Fellowship
- National Research Foundation (South Africa)
- Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research - Rubicon Program
- Pew Latin American Fellows Program in the Biomedical Sciences
- Ramon Areces Foundation
- Sweden-America Foundation
- Swedish Research Council
- Swedish Society for Medical Research
- American Association for Cancer Research
- American Institute for Cancer Research
- American Diabetes Association
- American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR)
- American Gastroenterological Association
- American Heart Association
- American Liver Foundation
- American Lung Association
- American Mathematical Society
- American Philosophical Society
- American Physiological Society
- American Society of Clinical Oncology
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Association
- Arthritis Foundation
- Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (formerly NARSAD)
- BrightFocus Foundation
- Brookdale Foundation
- Cancer Research Institute
- Children's Cancer Research Fund
- Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Fund for Medical Research
- Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
- Davis Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship Program in Eating Disorders Research
- Dermatology Foundation
- Dystonia Medical Research Foundation
- Epilepsy Foundation
- FRAXA Research Foundation
- Infectious Diseases Society of America
- International Rett Syndrome Foundation
- Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International
- Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
- Lalor Foundation
- Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
- Leukemia Research Foundation
- Life Sciences Research Foundation
- Lymphoma Research Foundation
- Muscular Dystrophy Association
- Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America
- National Ataxia Foundation
- National Kidney Foundation
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society
- Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation
- Parkinson's Disease Foundation
- Pathway to Independence (PI) Award (NIH K99/R00)
- Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation
- Prevent Cancer Foundation
- Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation
- Thrasher Research Fund
- Tourette Syndrome Association
- Helen Hay Whitney Foundation
- Worldwide Cancer Research
- American Association of University Women Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellowship
- Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies Fellowship
- ASEE-NSF Small Business Postdoctoral Research Diversity Fellowship
- Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Fellowships:
- Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Young Professional Fellowship
- Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Diversity Fellowship
- L’Oreal USA Postdoctoral Fellowship for Women in Science
- National Cancer Institute Transition Career Development Award to Promote Diversity (K22)
- National Institutes of Health
- Research Supplements to Promote Diversity
This is a supplement to an advisor’s existing grant. There is no application deadline since supplement proposals can be submitted at any time. - NHLBI K01 Mentored Career Development Award to Promote Faculty Diversity
- NINDS K01 Career Development Award to Promote Diversity in Neuroscience Research
- Research Supplements to Promote Diversity
- National Science Foundation:
- AGEP Postdoctoral Engineering Education Researchers
- Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology: Broadening Participation
- Earth Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowships (plans to broaden participation)
- Ocean Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
- Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences: Postdoctoral Research Fellowship: Broadening Participation
- New America Media Fellowship Program on Health & Environmental Health for Ethnic Media Journalism
- Point Foundation Scholarship (no age or advanced degree restriction)
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: New Connections Grants
- William T. Grant Foundation Scholars Minority Mentoring Supplement