Updated September 6, 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 databasePostdoctoral Fellowships
The ACS Postdoctoral Fellowships fund early-career researchers to develop independent cancer research skills through mentored training and hands-on research at US institutions.
All Disciplines Postdoctoral Fellowship
The Fulbright Scholar Program funds U.S. postdocs to conduct independent research in any field at Israeli universities, promoting academic and cultural exchange between the U.S. and Israel.
American 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.
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.
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.
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.