Neuroscience is a wonderous field that explores the mysteries of the brain and nervous system. It’s a multidisciplinary area of study with diverse career opportunities, from research in cutting-edge labs to addressing the complexities of mental health and neurological diseases.
In this article, we have compiled a list of fellowships that cater to undergraduates, graduates, postdocs, and professionals alike. These fellowships offer valuable experiences, financial support, professional development, parental leave, and the chance to contribute to the ever-evolving world of neuroscience. Some fellowships encourage applications from underrepresented and first-generation students and are open to international students and researchers.
Be sure to bookmark any neuroscience fellowships to your ProFellow account if you’re interested in applying!
Undergraduates
CNUP Summer Undergraduate Research Program
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Neuroscience (SURF-N) offers a summer experience for undergraduate students interested in exploring hypothesis-driven laboratory research in neuroscience. Selected students collaborate with dedicated mentors to learn fundamental techniques for conducting independent research projects. Applicants should be rising juniors or seniors, be comfortable working in a lab setting full-time during the summer, and may not use other funding sources. During the 10-week program, fellows receive a $4,000 stipend.
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Neuroscience (SURF-N)
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Neuroscience (SURF-N) provides summer stipends to undergraduate students interested in cutting-edge research in several neuroscience disciplines. Generally, 10-15 students are invited annually to work with their identified mentors and other laboratories to learn basic techniques for conducting independent research projects. The fellowship provides a $ 4,000 fellowship for 10 weeks of research or pro-rated at $400/week, paid twice a month. Applicants are sophomore or junior status in an accredited college or university. The ideal applicant will also have previous research lab experience and/or an interest in pursuing graduate education in Neuroscience or a related, research-oriented field.
Hot Metal Bridge Post-Bac Program
The University of Pittsburg offers a two-semester post-baccalaureate fellowship program to help talented students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds bridge the gap between an undergraduate degree and a graduate training program. Fellows receive financial support, mentoring from faculty, research experience, and guidance for graduate school applications. To be eligible, students must be U.S. citizens, hold a bachelor’s degree, and be interested in the humanities or a science field like neuroscience. Those from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds and first-generation students are encouraged to apply.
Graduates
Einstein Center for Neurosciences Berlin PhD Fellowships
The ECN offers interdisciplinary training and research opportunities for national and international scientists interested in neuroscience. The program’s consortium includes 120 internationally recognized research groups focusing on synapse to behavior, molecule to disease, and brain to mind. With annual calls for application, the ECN will finance the finding and start the phase of PhD research project for one year. All selected PhD students can undertake up to three small rotation projects in different labs.
FENS/IBRO-PERC Exchange Fellowships Programme
The FENS/IBRO-PERC Exchange Fellowships Programme helps master’s, PhD, and postdoctoral students broaden their research training by undertaking goal-directed laboratory visits to European institutions. Students may receive up to EUR 4,000 to fund travel to a host country and lab and for local expenses. To be eligible, applicants should be a member of a FENS society or an IBRO member organization in the Pan-Europe region.
Postdocs/Professionals
Combe Trust Fellowship
The Combe Trust Fellowship encourages outstanding interdisciplinary research, international scholarly collaboration, and networking activities of visiting Fellows with academics in the Centre for Theology and Public Issues (CTPI). Applications for visits of two to three months are welcomed from senior researchers in the following areas: public theology, religion and religious education, physiology and health, Scots law, peacebuilding, prison reform, psychiatry, psychology and neuroscience, moral philosophy, natural sciences or the arts (e.g., theatre, film, dance, visual arts). Fellows collaborate with CTPI faculty and participate in the Centre’s events. Funds are available for travel and accommodation costs, up to a maximum of £3,900.
Jacobs Foundation Research Fellowship Program
The Jacobs Foundation Research Fellowship Program is a globally competitive initiative that welcomes early and mid-career researchers who earned their Ph.D. within the last decade. The program is devoted to advancing the understanding and enhancement of learning and development in children and youth worldwide. Relevant disciplines encompass a broad spectrum, including but not limited to education sciences, psychology, economics, sociology, behavioral science, computer science, pedagogy, linguistics, neuroscience, and the science of learning. The fellowship encourages applications from scholars interested in analyzing data, interdisciplinary research, and those seeking to understand the variability in research. Fellows may use their award money for their salary, research equipment, and travel and are eligible for other non-financial benefits.
Janssen Fellowship in Translational Neuroscience Research
The prestigious Paul Janssen Fellowship is awarded to an exceptional young physician-investigator holding an MD or PhD degree. This fellowship facilitates innovative translational research in neuroscience, specifically exploring its intersection with psychiatric disease and medicine. The selected fellow will benefit from dual mentorship, with guidance from a scientist mentor and a clinical investigator mentor from Columbia University’s reputable faculty. The fellow’s role involves bridging basic scientific observations with clinical applications under the mentorship’s joint guidance. The award encompasses a stipend commensurate with experience, and the fellowship spans one year, with the potential for renewal based on exemplary performance.
MindCORE Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
MindCORE offers a postdoc in interdisciplinary research in human intelligence and behavior. This program serves as a launching pad for researchers to cultivate their research initiatives. Successful fellows can anticipate a comprehensive package that includes a competitive salary, a relocation allowance, health insurance coverage, and a modest research budget. The fellowship spans one-year terms, with the potential for renewal for up to three years. Eligible applicants should have earned a PhD in psychology, linguistics, neuroscience, philosophy, computer science, or a related discipline.
Neuroscience Institute Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
The Neuroscience Institute (NI) at Carnegie Mellon University invites applications from diverse, creative, and collaborative early-career candidates for its prestigious Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. Each year, the program awards up to two fellowships, typically renewable annually for two years. The Neuroscience Institute at Carnegie Mellon is a dynamic hub that unites researchers from various disciplines across the University, fostering multidisciplinary collaborations to propel the frontier of brain science. Fellows receive an annual stipend of $65,000, comprehensive benefits, and access to a professional development fund of up to $5,000 annually. Applicants are encouraged to reach out to faculty to develop a competitive proposal.
NINDS Postdoctoral Fellowships
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, or NINDS, offers a postdoctoral fellowship as a part of the National Institute of Health (NIH) Intramural Research Program. This initiative offers exceptional, advanced training and research opportunities for postdoctoral scientists in the early phases of their professional research journeys. The primary focus is to equip emerging scientists with the skills and knowledge necessary for independent careers in fundamental or clinical neuroscience research. Applicants are encouraged to contact investigators they are interested in working with.
Sloan Research Fellowships
The Sloan Research Fellowship Program awards 2-year fellowships to outstanding, early-career researchers who aim to contribute significantly to their respective fields. Candidates should hold a PhD in chemistry, computer science, economics, mathematics, neuroscience, earth system science, physics, or related fields. They must also be tenure-track faculty with a regular teaching obligation. Recipients of the fellowship are granted $75,000 to support their research activities.
Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute Postdoctoral Scholar Awards
The postdoctoral scholar program at Stanford University offers research support and a collaborative network of mentors and peers for exceptional postdocs dedicated to advancing the understanding of the mind and brain in health and disease. Individuals can apply for the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Postdoctoral Scholar program in either the Interdisciplinary or Brain Resilience track. This program provides two years of fellowship funding and includes provisions for parental leave. Additionally, postdoctoral scholars receive an annual discretionary research fund of $5,000. Applicants must separately apply for a postdoctoral position at Stanford and submit their signed job offer letter before fellowship fund disbursement.
Interested in more science fellowships? Sign up for the ProFellow database, which includes more than 2,700 funded opportunities for professional development and graduate school.
© 2024 ProFellow, LLC, all rights reserved.