Funder: American Cancer Society
Due Dates: June 1, 2025 | December 1, 2025
Funding Amounts: Up to 3 years; stipends of $66,000, $68,000, and $70,000/year; $4,000 annual allowance; $1,500 travel allowance in final year; no indirect costs.
Summary: Supports postdoctoral researchers in mentored cancer research training to prepare for independent research careers.
Key Information: Open to US citizens and non-citizens with appropriate visa; applicants must be within 4 years of doctoral degree and not hold a faculty appointment.
Description
The American Cancer Society (ACS) Postdoctoral Fellowships provide funding and mentored research training for early-career scientists aiming to establish independent careers in cancer research. The program is designed to broaden the research experience of new investigators and position them for future success as independent researchers in the cancer field. Peer reviewers assess how well the fellowship will expand the applicant’s training and experience.
Due Dates
- June 1, 2025
- December 1, 2025
If a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, applications are accepted the next business day.
Funding Amount
- Stipend: Progressive annual stipends of $66,000 (Year 1), $68,000 (Year 2), and $70,000 (Year 3).
- For applicants eligible for only 2 years: $68,000 and $70,000.
- Fellowship Allowance: $4,000 per year for health insurance, workshops, and career development.
- Travel Allowance: Additional $1,500 in the final year for travel to the ACS Postdoctoral Fellows Symposium or a domestic scientific meeting.
- Indirect Costs: Not allowed.
- Total Maximum: $217,500 (3-year award); $147,500 (2-year award).
Eligibility
- Citizenship: Open to US citizens and non-citizens with an appropriate visa at the time of application.
- Institution: Must be at a US academic institution or eligible non-profit.
- Degree: Applicants must have received their doctoral degree less than 4 years before the application deadline (time in clinical-only training does not count).
- 0–<3 years since degree: eligible for 3-year fellowship.
- 3–4 years since degree: eligible for 2-year fellowship.
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4 years: generally ineligible unless an approved extension is granted for extenuating circumstances (e.g., family/medical leave, military service).
- Faculty Status: Applicants must not hold a faculty appointment (e.g., Instructor, Research Assistant Professor).
- Other Support: Cannot hold another postdoctoral fellowship concurrently.
- Mentorship: Application must be endorsed by a proposed mentor and department head.
- Visa: Non-citizens must have a visa that allows completion of the fellowship; the institution is responsible for verifying status.
Application Process
- Submission Platform: All applications are submitted via ProposalCentral.
- Application Materials: Download and complete required templates after starting an application in ProposalCentral.
- Required Documents:
- Cover pages (with e-signatures from applicant and primary mentor)
- Budget summary
- Pending fellowship applications
- NIH-format biosketch
- Statement of experience, training potential, and career goals
- Fellowship research plan (max 9 pages)
- Three letters of recommendation (not from mentor)
- Training and mentoring plan (prepared by mentor)
- Mentor commitment letter and biosketch
- Facilities description
- Mentor’s research support
- Compliance statements
- Appendix (optional: eligibility correspondence, reprints, protocols)
- Resubmissions: One resubmission allowed. If resubmitting and now outside the 4-year eligibility window, a one-year extension is granted.
- Parental Leave: Paid parental leave (4–12 weeks/year) is available, with grant term and stipend extended accordingly.
Additional Information
- Fellowship Allowance: May be used for health insurance, workshops, and meeting expenses at the fellow’s discretion.
- No indirect costs may be charged to the award.
- Special Endowment Supplements: Top-ranked fellowships may be supplemented above the standard stipend, depending on available funds.
- Paid Parental Leave: Up to 12 weeks per year, with grant term and stipend extended for the same duration.
- Mentor Requirements: The mentor must have a strong track record in research and mentoring and sufficient funding to support the proposed project.
- Role Changes: Fellows must remain in a mentored, non-faculty role and dedicate 100% research effort to the ACS project.
External Links
Contact Information