Gilliam Fellows Program
Gilliam Fellows Program supports PhD students and thesis advisors with doctoral support and professional development to advance basic biological and biomedical science and inclusive training environments.
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Funder: Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Due Dates: September 1, 2026, 9:00 AM ET (Applications open) | October 27, 2026, 11:59 PM ET (Applications close) | Summer 2027 (Award notification) | September 1, 2027 (Fellowship begins)
Funding Amounts: $65,000 annually for up to three consecutive years of PhD support; opportunity to apply for four additional postdoctoral years
Summary: Supports PhD students and their thesis advisors in pursuing ambitious biological and biomedical science and building inclusive training environments.
Key Information: Students apply with their primary PhD advisor, who must complete a year-long mentorship development course.
Description
The Gilliam Fellows Program is an early-career initiative of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) supporting PhD students and their faculty thesis advisors as mentor-mentee pairs. It combines doctoral financial support with professional development for both students and advisors, emphasizing ambitious basic biological and biomedical research, effective mentorship, and inclusive scientific environments. HHMI’s approach is to support “people, not projects,” investing in students poised to become scientific leaders.
Fellows join HHMI’s multigenerational scientific community through the Gilliam Annual Meeting and HHMI Science Meetings, presenting research and connecting across disciplines and career stages. Advisors receive mentorship training focused on healthy lab cultures. Fellows pursuing independent academic research careers may compete for a subsequent postdoctoral phase with additional financial support and tailored professional development.
