Updated September 26, 2026
Postdoc Fellowships and Research Grants
Fellowships and grants open to postdoctoral researchers, from NIH and NSF fellowships to foundation awards. Updated automatically as new funding opens.
Portable funding changes what a postdoc can be. A fellowship in your own name buys protected research time, strengthens your independence case, and travels with you if you change labs. In 2026, with faculty hiring slowing and federal grant odds tightening, postdocs who bring their own funding have a real edge in a difficult market.
Featured grants
Updated automatically from Atom's grant databaseAmerican Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellowship
The American Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellowship from AAUW supports women scholars with a year of funding to conduct independent postdoctoral research in any academic field.
NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowships
NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowships support early-career researchers in conducting independent research and education in astronomy or astrophysics for up to three years.
Residency Funding
Supports PhD students and postdocs for short-term research residencies at external academic institutions to advance independent research and scholarly collaboration.
The funding landscape for postdocs spans two very different worlds. On the federal side, mechanisms like the NIH F32 and the K99/R00 pathway to independence continue on their standard cycles, alongside NSF, DOE, and DOD fellowship programs in specific fields. On the private side, foundations and scientific societies fund postdoctoral fellowships across the life sciences, physical sciences, and engineering, often with simpler applications and faster decisions than their federal counterparts.
This collection lists opportunities currently open to postdoctoral researchers. Pay close attention to the fine print: most postdoc fellowships restrict eligibility by years since PhD, and citizenship or residency requirements vary widely between funders. Forecasted opportunities are labeled so you can plan ahead for cycles that have been announced but are not yet accepting applications.
Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Innovation Grants
The Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Innovation Grants from AFSP fund early-career scientists conducting innovative research into the causes and prevention of suicide.
Postdoc-to-Faculty Transition Awards
Supports postdocs transitioning to faculty as they launch independent research on cystic fibrosis pathogenesis, treatment, and related complications.
Postdoctoral Fellowship Grants (PRF)
The Postdoctoral Fellowship Grants (PRF) by the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research support mentored cancer research projects by early-career scientists at New Jersey institutions.
Fellowship Program (Predoctoral, Postdoctoral, and Postdoctoral Associate Grants)
This fellowship program funds predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers in New Jersey to advance innovative and inclusive autism research, supported by the Governor's Council for Medical Research and Treatment of Autism.
Postdoctoral Fellowships
The American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellowships support early-career researchers with training and mentorship to advance independent careers in cancer research.
Drotar-Crawford Postdoctoral Fellowship Research Grant in Pediatric Psychology
The Drotar-Crawford Postdoctoral Fellowship Research Grant funds mentored postdoctoral research in pediatric psychology, supporting innovation and professional growth through the Society of Pediatric Psychology.
Career Development Grant for Postdoctoral Women
The ASM Career Development Grant supports postdoctoral women in microbiology with up to $2,000 for research-enhancing travel, training, and leadership development activities.
Postdoctoral Fellowship
A 12-month fellowship for new physical therapy researchers to pursue full-time, mentored research and training aimed at advancing the field.
Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Award
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellowship supports early-career scientists conducting basic research to advance understanding and treatment of cystic fibrosis.
General Research Grants: Scholarships – Research Scholarships (Postdoctoral & Senior Scholars)
The Gerda Henkel Foundation's General Research Grants support postdoctoral and senior scholars in the historical humanities to pursue independent, original research projects.
Clinical Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Award
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Clinical Postdoctoral Research Fellowship funds two years of clinical CF research to help fellows gain expertise and advance toward independent research careers.
Parkinson’s Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships
The Parkinson’s Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships support mentored research training for early-career scientists focused on advancing Parkinson’s disease understanding or treatment.
Fellows-to-Faculty Award
The Simons Foundation's Fellows-to-Faculty Award supports early-career researchers in autism and neuroscience as they transition from postdoctoral roles to independent faculty positions.
Autism Postdoctoral Fellowship Research 2027
Autism Postdoctoral Fellowship Research 2027 supports postdoctoral researchers through mentored autism research and training to advance understanding of ASD and prepare fellows for independent research careers.
Postdoctoral Fellows Grant Program
The Welch Foundation's Postdoctoral Fellows Grant Program funds recent PhDs to conduct innovative chemical research in Texas labs for three years.
Postdoctoral Grants in Mammalian Reproductive Biology
The Lalor Foundation’s Postdoctoral Grants in Mammalian Reproductive Biology support early-career researchers studying mammalian fertility regulation to advance reproductive science.
Fellowship Grant
The Larry L. Hillblom Foundation Fellowship Grant supports postdoctoral research in diabetes or aging at California institutions, emphasizing independent research and strong mentorship.
Frequently asked questions
A fellowship is funding awarded to you, usually covering your salary and some research costs, that you bring to a host lab. A position is funded from a PI's grant. Fellowships give you more independence and are a strong signal on a faculty application.
Federal sources include NIH individual fellowships and pathway-to-independence awards and NSF postdoctoral fellowships. Foundations, disease organizations, professional societies, and universities also run postdoctoral programs, often with smaller applicant pools.
Some programs are open to any nationality, while many federal fellowships require US citizenship or permanent residency. Each listing's eligibility section spells out citizenship requirements.
Ideally before or early in your postdoc. Many programs limit eligibility to the first few years after your PhD, and review cycles often take six months or more, so plan a year ahead of when you want funding to start.