External Fellowships & Grants

To begin your search, consult the resources listed below to find opportunities that fit your research, your career stage, your gender, your country of origin, etc. In addition, you may be eligible for one of the more common external fellowships or grants for each career stage listed below. For the exact application deadline for a particular grant, refer to the fellowship or grant website.

Please note that if you plan to apply for an external fellowship or grant, you need to inform Anastasia Philippis in the 500 office 4 WEEKS BEFORE THE EXTERNAL DEADLINE.

All applications will need to be submitted to SPA for internal processing 5 DAYS BEFORE THE EXTERNAL DEADLINE.

Resources for Finding External Funding

• Common funding opportunities for each career stage (see below)
• Columbia PIVOT grants search engine
• Additional links:
  • NSF 101: Graduate and postdoctoral researcher funding opportunities
  • Johns Hopkins University monthly updated funding lists
  • Duke University database
  • Pathways to Science database

Common Funding Opportunities for Each Career Stage

UNDERGRADUATES

Sigma Xi  
Deadline: March, Oct
Eligibility: Undergraduate or Graduate students; US Citizenship and residence not required. International applications are welcome.
Length: one-time sum up to $1000

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
Deadline: mid-October
Eligibility: Undergraduate or Graduate students; US citizen, US national, or permanent residents; have completed no more than one academic year of full-time graduate study (or the equivalent); Graduate students are limited to only one application to the GRFP, submitted either in the first year or in the second year.
Funding: 3 years of financial support inclusive of an annual stipend of $37,000
Length: 5 years

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (DOE CGSF)
Deadline: Jan
Eligibility: Graduate students who are U.S. citizens, have *at least* THREE remaining years in your graduate degree program, and are pursuing research in alignment with one or more specific topics identified in the Department of Defense's Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs).
Funding: Fellowships cover the cost of tuition and annual $18,000 stipend for living expenses.
Length: Up to four years.

Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowships[MC1] 
Deadlines: Jan
Eligibility:

• U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and U.S. permanent residents (holders of a Permanent Resident Card); individuals granted deferred action status under the DACA; Indigenous individuals exercising rights associated with the Jay Treaty of 1794; individuals granted Temporary Protected Status; asylees; and refugees, regardless of race, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, or sexual orientation;
• Individuals with evidence of superior academic achievement (such as grade point average, class rank, honors, or other designations);
• Individuals committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level in the U.S.;
• Individuals enrolled in or planning to enroll in an eligible research-based (dissertation-required), program leading to a Ph.D. or Sc.D. degree at a non-proprietary (not for profit) U.S. institution of higher education no later than Fall 2023;
• Individuals who as of the 2023 fall semester require a minimum of three years of their program² to complete their Ph.D. or Sc.D. degree; and
• Individuals who have not earned a doctoral degree at any time, in any field.

These fellowships provide three years of support for individuals engaged in graduate study leading to a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) degree.
Funding: $27,000 for three years
Length: 3 years

Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowships
Deadlines: Jan
Eligibility:

• All U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and U.S. permanent residents (holders of a Permanent Resident Card); individuals granted deferred action status under the DACA; Indigenous individuals exercising rights associated with the Jay Treaty of 1794; individuals granted Temporary Protected Status; asylees; and refugees, regardless of race, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, or sexual orientation;
• Individuals with evidence of superior academic achievement (such as grade point average, class rank, honors, or other designations);
• Individuals committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level in the U.S.;
• Individuals enrolled in an eligible research-based (dissertation-required) program leading to a Ph.D. or Sc.D. degree at a non-proprietary (not for profit) U.S. institution of higher education who will complete the dissertation in a period of 9-12 months during the 2023-2024 academic year, but no later than Fall 2024;
• Individuals who, by December 8, 2022, have completed all departmental and institutional requirements for their degree, except for writing and defense of the dissertation; and
• Individuals who have not earned a doctoral degree at any time, in any field.

Dissertation awards are intended to support Fellows who will be spending the majority of their time writing and defending the dissertation during the fellowship year.
Funding: $28,000
Length: 1 year

Sigma Xi 
Deadline: March, Oct
Eligibility: Undergraduate or Graduate students; US Citizenship and residence not required. International applications are welcome.
Funding/Length: one-time sum up to $1000

NIH F99/K00: Individual Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award
Deadline: New applications: Feb 12, June 12, Oct 12
                Renewal, resubmission, or revision: March 12, July 12, Nov 12
Eligibility: PhD students in year 3 or 4 of doctoral studies at US institutions 
Funding: Find 2023 funding levels here.
Length: Individuals may receive up to 6 years combined support for both phases, which includes up to 2 years in the F99 fellowship phase and up to 4 years in the K00 career development phase

NIH National Research Service Award Pre-Doctoral Fellowships (NRSA F31) '20
Deadlines: April 8, August 8, Dec 8
Eligibility: Predoctoral individuals with supervised research training in specified health and health-related areas leading toward the research degree. All F31 recipients must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents at the time of award. 
Funding: Find 2023 funding levels here.
Length: Up to 5 years

NIH Diversity Supplements (PA-21-071)
Deadline: May
Eligibility: A PI can apply to support a high school student, undergraduate, graduate student or postdoctoral researcher who will enhance diversity. This grant is awarded as a supplement to existing NIH-supported projects and the research proposed must be within the original scope of the project. The parent award must be active and the research proposed in the supplement must be accomplished within the competitive segment.
Funding: Up to $90,000, plus fringe benefits.
Length: Up to five years.

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
Deadline: mid-Oct
Eligibility: Undergraduate or Graduate students; US citizen, US national, or permanent residents; have completed no more than one academic year of full-time graduate study (or the equivalent); Graduate students are limited to only one application to the GRFP, submitted either in the first year or in the second year.
Funding: 3 years of financial support inclusive of an annual stipend of $37,000, plus a “top-off” from GSAS.
Length: 5 years

Fulbright Study/Research Awards
Deadline: Oct
Eligibility: US citizens with a Bachelor’s degree, written and spoken proficiency in host country language. Applicants for study/research awards design their own projects and will typically work with advisers at foreign universities or other institutes of higher education. The study/research awards are available in approximately 140 countries.
Length: One academic year

Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans
Deadline: Oct
Eligibility: First or second year Ph.D.; Age 30 or younger at the time of application; Immigrant or child of immigrants; U.S. citizen/permanent resident, DACA, asylee, refugee.
Funding: up to $90,000 in financial support toward their graduate education. The award is divided into tuition support ($40,000) and stipend support ($50,000).
Length: 2 academic years

Hertz Foundation
Deadline: Oct
Eligibility: Doctoral students in the physical, biological and engineering sciences.
Length: Up to 5 years 

National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship (NDSEG)
Deadline: Oct
Eligibility: PhD students who are U.S. citizens, U.S. Dual citizens or U.S. National (permanent residents are not eligible) who have at *least* THREE remaining years in their graduate degree program and are pursuing research in alignment with one or more specific topics identified in the Department of Defense's Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs).
Funding: Full tuition and all mandatory fees; a monthly stipend ($38,400 annually); a $5,000 travel budget over the Fellow’s tenure for professional development; and up to $1,200 a year in health insurance.
Length: 3 years

American Association of University Women American Fellowships
(Multiple)
Deadlines for Dissertation, Postdoctoral and Publication Fellowships: Nov and Dec
Eligibility: Women scholars, including people who identify as women, who are PhD students or postdoctoral researchers, U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and who are completing dissertations or preparing research for publication.
Funding: $8,000-$50,000
Length: 1 year

Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fellowship
Deadline: Fellowship applications are distributed to designated universities in October, applications are due in January
Eligibility: Graduate students who are United States citizens attending an accredited and designated institution of higher education within the United States. Supports students of financial need with outstanding character and ability who hold promise for achievement and distinction in the humanities, social sciences, or natural sciences. Funding: The cost of tuition and an annual $18,000 stipend for living expenses.

Simons Society Fellowships 
(Multiple) 

INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE STUDENTS AND/OR POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS

Graduate Women in Science
Deadline: January
Eligibility: Women holding a degree from a recognized institution of higher learning, of outstanding ability and promise in research, who are performing hypothesis-driven research at any institution in the U.S. or abroad. Any person who identifies as a woman in science, irrespective of race, religion, nationality, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, or age is welcome to apply. GWIS membership is required by the application deadline.
Funding: $50,000
Length: One academic year

Jane Coffin Childs Fund for Medical Research
Deadline: February
Eligibility: Citizens of any country are eligible, but awards for non-U.S. citizens can only be made to sponsoring institutions in the United States. Applicants should have no more than 18 months of postdoctoral research experience at the time of the application deadline; Ph.D. degree not conferred more than 24 months before application deadline; Ph.D. candidates that do not have their degree at time of the application deadline are eligible to apply; Applicants who have accepted a postdoctoral research fellowship award are not eligible; Applicants must have identified a sponsoring laboratory and sponsoring institution prior to applying;
Funding: Annual stipend of $70,000 for the first year, $72,000 for the second year, and $74,000 the third year; $1,000 of stipend support annually per dependent child under 18; Annual allowance of $2,000 for the cost of the research; Up to $1,800 total for travel to scientific meetings; Relocation award, capped at $500.
Length: 3 years

Life Sciences Research Foundation
Deadline: October
Eligibility: U.S. citizens working in any geographic location and non-U.S. citizens working in a U.S. laboratory may apply within 5 years of receiving their PhD. Applications must include a letter of acceptance from your proposed postdoctoral supervisor. You must complete your postdoctoral training in a lab different from that of your graduate (thesis) lab.
Funding: $231,000 ($77,000/year). The salary/stipend is $198,000 ($66,000/year) and the research allowance is $33,000 ($11,000/year).
Length: 3 years

EGL Charitable Foundation
Deadline: October
Eligibility: Israeli citizenship; Completion of Ph.D. and / or M.D./Ph.D. from an Israeli university by commencement of the fellowship; Applicants may not have completed their requirements more than one year prior to the submission deadline; Commitment from U.S. host research institution prior to submitting an application; Applicants must not have begun work at their U.S. Host Institute prior to the submission deadline; A postdoctoral research position in an area of biomedical science.
Funding: Total annual award of $84,648 (in 2024). This includes a salary of $65,523 and fringe benefits of $11,794 (in 2024); Travel stipend of $3,300 (in 2024); Indirect costs of $4,031 (in 2024) awarded to the host institution, in addition to a Relocation award of $5,000 for expenses, $3,000 for a spouse and $1,500 per child. Annual childcare allowance equivalent to 10% of the Fellow’s salary allowance from the Fellowship, awarded per child.
Length: 3 years

American Association of University Women International Fellowships
Deadline: Dec
Eligibility: Women, including people who identify as women, who are PhD students or postdocs and not U.S. citizens, who intend to return to their home country to pursue a professional career.
Funding: $20,000–$50,000
Length: 1 year

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS

Graduate Women in Science
Deadline: January
Eligibility: Women holding a degree from a recognized institution of higher learning, of outstanding ability and promise in research, who are performing hypothesis-driven research at any institution in the U.S. or abroad. Any person who identifies as a woman in science, irrespective of race, religion, nationality, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, or age is welcome to apply. GWIS membership is required by the application deadline.
Funding: $50,000 (up to $10,000)
Length: 1 academic year

Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships[MC3] 
Deadlines: Jan
Eligibility:

• All U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and U.S. permanent residents (holders of a Permanent Resident Card); individuals granted deferred action status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program;¹ Indigenous individuals exercising rights associated with the Jay Treaty of 1794; individuals granted Temporary Protected Status; asylees; and refugees, regardless of race, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, or sexual orientation;
• Individuals with evidence of superior academic achievement (such as grade point average, class rank, honors or other designations);
• Individuals committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level in the U.S.; and 
• Individuals who have completed all the requirements for a Ph.D. or Sc.D. degree, including successful defense of the dissertation, no earlier than December 8, 2015 and no later than December 8, 2022 in an eligible research-based field from a U.S. institution of higher education.

The postdoctoral fellowships provide one year of support for individuals engaged in postdoctoral study after the attainment of the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) degree. 
Funding: $50,000
Length: 1 year

Jane Coffin Childs Fund for Medical Research
Deadline: February
Eligibility: Citizens of any country are eligible, but awards for non-U.S. citizens can only be made to sponsoring institutions in the United States. Applicants should have no more than 18 months of postdoctoral research experience at the time of the application deadline; Ph.D. degree not conferred more than 24 months before application deadline; Ph.D. candidates that do not have their degree at time of the application deadline are eligible to apply; Applicants who have accepted a postdoctoral research fellowship award are not eligible; Applicants must have identified a sponsoring laboratory and sponsoring institution prior to applying;
Funding: Annual stipend of $70,000 for the first year, $72,000 for the second year, and $74,000 the third year; $1,000 of stipend support annually per dependent child under 18; Annual allowance of $2,000 for the cost of the research; Up to $1,800 total for travel to scientific meetings; Relocation award, capped at $500.
Length: 3 years

NIH F32: Ruth L. Kirschstein Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award
Deadlines: April 8, August 8, Dec 8
Eligibility: Postdoctoral candidates who have the potential to become productive, independent investigators in scientific health-related research fields relevant to the missions of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers.
Funding: Find 2023 funding levels here.
Length: Three years

Simons Society Fellowships 
(Multiple) 

Life Sciences Research Foundation
Deadline: October
Eligibility: U.S. citizens working in any geographic location and non-U.S. citizens working in a U.S. laboratory may apply within 5 years of receiving their PhD. Applications must include a letter of acceptance from your proposed postdoctoral supervisor. You must complete your postdoctoral training in a lab different from that of your graduate (thesis) lab.
Funding: $231,000 ($77,000/year). The salary/stipend is $198,000 ($66,000/year) and the research allowance is $33,000 ($11,000/year).
Length: 3 years

American Association of University Women American Fellowships
(Multiple)
Deadlines for Dissertation, Postdoctoral and Publication Fellowships: Nov and Dec
Eligibility: Women scholars, including people who identify as women, who are PhD students or postdoctoral researchers, U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and who are completing dissertations or preparing research for publication.
Funding: $8,000-$50,000
Length: 1 year

American Association of University Women Research Publication Grants in Engineering, Medicine and Science
Deadline: December
Eligibility: Women, including people who identify as women, U.S. citizens or permanent residents, scholars conducting basic research in engineering, medicine or the physical or biological sciences and who have a doctorate degree in one of those fields. The grantee must publish their research in a scholarly publication and be listed as a primary author.
Funding: $10,000–$35,000
Length: 1 year

EARLY CAREER INVESTIGATORS

National Geographic Early Career Grant
Deadlines: Quarterly on Jan 15, April 22, July 10, Oct 12
Eligibility: Researchers with less than 5 years of full time experience. We fund individuals working on projects in science, conservation, storytelling, education, and technology that align with one or more of our focus areas.
Funding: Level I Grants: up to USD $20,000; Level II Grants: up to $100,000.
Length: Up to one year

Brain & Behavior Young Investigator Grant
Deadlines: March
Eligibility: Postdoctoral researchers already employed in research training or a faculty research position: post-doctoral fellows, instructors and assistant professors (or equivalent). an on-site mentor or senior collaborator who is an established investigator in areas relevant to psychiatric disorders. Basic and/or clinical investigators are supported, but research must be relevant to serious brain and behavior disorders such as schizophrenia, mood disorders, anxiety disorders or child and adolescent mental illnesses.
Funding: Up to $70,000, or $35,000 per year
Length: 2 years

HHMI Hanna H. Gray Fellowship 
Deadline: early December
Eligibility: individuals who:

• are from gender, racial, ethnic, and other groups underrepresented in the life sciences, including those individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. This includes, but is not limited to, women of any ethnic or racial group as well as any individual identifying as Hispanic, Black, Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander, or American Indian / Alaska Native.
• are basic science researchers and physician-scientists in the biomedical and life science disciplines.
• hold a PhD and/or MD (or equivalent), which must be conferred by the start of the grant term.
  • U.S. citizens must have a degree from a research institution in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico) or an international research institution.
  • Non-U.S. citizens and applicants with other nationalities must have a degree from a research institution in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico).
• have been accepted to join a laboratory as a postdoctoral researcher at a research institution located in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico) at the time of the application due date.

Funding: Postdoctoral Training Phase: $70,000 salary for the initial year and a $20,000 expense allowance. Faculty Phase: $250,000 in research funding and a $20,000 expense allowance per year.
Length: Up to 4 years for the postdoctoral training phase; up to 4 years for the faculty phase

Please note that if you plan to apply for an external fellowship, you need to inform Anastasia Philippis in the 500 office 4 WEEKS BEFORE THE EXTERNAL DEADLINE.

All applications will need to be finalized with Anastasia and submitted to SPA for internal processing 5 DAYS BEFORE THE EXTERNAL DEADLINE.

Changes to your stipend, the timing of payments, health care, etc. vary depending on sponsors and grants. For questions about what will change once you are awarded a fellowship or grant, PhD students should contact Jaya Santosh, [email protected]. Postdoctoral researchers should contact Jessica Jimenez, [email protected].

Reporting requirements differ depending on your sponsor. Reporting requirements, deadlines, etc. can be found in the executed agreements (NOAs). Once you receive an agreement, please review all reporting requirements and guidelines and forward the agreement to Assistant Director of Grants Anastasia Philippis, [email protected], in the 500 office. In addition, please send Anastasia any sponsor email notifications regarding reporting requirements, due dates, award changes, extensions granted etc. so she can help you navigate these changes.