Funding Resources

Resources to help postdoctoral scholars find and apply for funding

UCI Office of Research provides support and resources for faculty, staff and postdoctoral scholars, including:

Proposal Planning and Submission Process at UCI

Grant Writing Tips and Guides
YouTube page:
    Use of single IRBs for multi-site grant applications
    NIH Compliance for Public Access
    ClinicalTrials.gov– What is it and why do researchers need to know?

Additional Resources:

ORCID provides a persistent digital identifier that distinguishes you from every other researcher and, through integration in key research workflows such as manuscript and grant submission, supports automated linkages between you and your professional activities ensuring that your work is recognized. You are highly encouraged to create an ORCID.

National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity-offers a variety of resources on grant writing. Since UCI sponsors this service, you can join free via an institutional sub-account membership. Use your UCI e-mail address to enroll.

“On the Art of Writing Proposals”– Some Candid Suggestions for Applicants to Social Science Research Council Competitions

“How do I Review Thee? Let Me Count the Ways”: A Comparison of Research Grant Proposal Review Criteria Across US Federal Funding Agencies by Holly J. Falk-Krzensinski and Stacey C. Tobin.  This article includes charts to help correlate required sections/review criteria among grant applications and thus enable researchers to more easily adapt current grant applications to other application formats.

Can We Talk? Contacting Grant Program Officers by Robert Porter, University of Tennessee

AAAS Career Center– Includes courses on proposal/grant writing (most courses are fee-based. Contact Emma Flores-Kim, PhD, Assoc. Director of GPS BIOMED to determine if your registration might be waived).

Listed below are links to funding databases and current postdoctoral scholar funding opportunities from federal agencies, private foundations, UC programs, and others. Additional opportunities are listed below in “recent announcements”.

STEM Funding

Humanities and Social Sciences Funding

UC Sponsored Postdoctoral Fellowships

Travel

For International Scholars

Also, consider industry, professional organization sponsors and your home country as possible resources.

Postdoctoral scholars and graduate students are invited to attend all or select sessions. Questions? Contact Kayleigh Anderson, PhD

Check back for upcoming workshops/seminars!

Past Offerings:

Finding Funding Opportunities using PIVOT and other Databases 

UCI owns a subscription to PIVOT, an extensive database; learn how to best search. Additional databases will also be discussed.
Attendees should bring their laptops to this workshop.
Wednesday, February 20, 12:30-1:30pm
Graduate & Postdoctoral Scholar Resource Center, 3100 Gateway Study Center

NIH NRSA Grant Review Process

Speakers: Vice Provost Frances Leslie and Marcelo Wood, Chair and Professor Neurobiology and Behavior, UCI.
This session will focus on what makes a strong and competitive application and the review process from a NIH NRSA faculty advisor and former application reviewer.
Wednesday, February 27, 12:30-2:00pm
Graduate & Postdoctoral Scholar Resource Center, 3100 Gateway Study Center

Effective Grant Writing and Keys to Finding Research Funding
Lori E. Greene, Ph.D. – Director of Research Development, School of Physical Sciences
Wednesday, March 6- 12:30-2:00pm
Graduate & Postdoctoral Scholar Resource Center, 3100 Gateway Study Center

Optimize Your NRSA F31 and F32 Applications- Advice from Awardees
This workshop provides a venue to discuss the NRSA application and how to frame your application. The panel includes several NRSA awardees.
Thursday, March 14, 12:00-1:20pm
Natural Science II, room 4201

NIH K Award Process 

Speaker: Vice Provost Frances Leslie
Obtaining an NIH K award is a professional boost for early career researchers.  Learn about the K awards and how best to apply from the perspective of an NIH grant reviewer.
Wednesday, April 3, 3:00-4:30pm (note date change)
Graduate & Postdoctoral Scholar Resource Center, 3100 Gateway Study Center

Weekly PoWER Group Meeting- Postdoc Writing Editing and Review Group–All postdocs writing papers and grant applications are welcome to write and review in a quiet and productive atmosphere.

Contact Kayleigh Anderson, Ph.D. (kayleiga@uci.edu) for more information joining a PoWER group or creating a new PoWER group at another time.

 

Be sure to use PIVOT to conduct a more complete search of available opportunities in your field. If a deadline is past, check the website for the updated information.

Data Science Fellowship Opportunity
The Data Incubator offers an intensive 8 week fellowship that prepares masters students, PhDs, and postdocs in STEM and social science fields seeking industry careers as data scientists. The program is free for Fellows and supported by sponsorships from hundreds of employers across multiple industries. Anyone who has already obtained a masters or PhD is welcome to apply. Applications from international scholars are welcome. Details.  (numerous deadlines)

California Sea Grant State Fellowships
The State Fellows Program provides a unique educational opportunity for graduate students who are interested both in marine resources and in the policy decisions affecting those resources in California. There are numerous fellowships with different deadlines. Details and application

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center CPRIT TRIUMPH Postdoctoral Fellowship in Translational Cancer Research
This three-year fellowship provides basic, translational, and clinical training and aims to further develop talented PhD or MD/PhDs into successful clinical/translational research scientists. Contact Dr. Kari Brewer Savannah, Program Manager, with any questions at ksavannah@mdanderson.org.

Applications are reviewed quarterly: due dates of March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31, 2019.

Hannah H. Gray Fellows Program- Howard Hughes Medical Institute

HHMI seeks to increase diversity in the biomedical research community. The goal of the Hanna H. Gray Fellows Program is to recruit and retain individuals who are from gender, racial, ethnic, and other groups underrepresented in the life sciences, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds, early in their careers to help them reach their potential to become leaders in academic research and inspire future generations. Details and application
Due: January 9, 2019

AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellowship
This fellowship places science, engineering, and mathematics students and postdocs at media organizations nationwide. Fellows use their academic training in the sciences as they research, write and report today’s headlines, while sharpening their abilities to communicate complex scientific issues to the public. The Fellowship experience broadens the participant’s career path while increasing the public’s understanding of science and technology. Details and application.
Due January 15, 2019

L’Oreal USA For Women in Science Program
The L’Oréal USA For Women in Science fellowship program honors female scientists at a critical stage in their careers with grants of $60,000 each. Since 2003, w70 postdoctoral women scientists have been awarded over $3.5 million in grants. They are seeking five exceptional female scientists looking to advance their research and serve as role models for the next generation of girls in STEM. Details and application.
Due: February 1, 2019

The Zuckerman Postdoctoral Scholars Program
High-achieving postdoctoral scholars from premier universities in the United States are invited to do research at one of four Israeli universities. Once they complete their research, many Zuckerman postdocs are expected to accept faculty positions at top North American universities, weaving a network of academic collaboration and goodwill that will greatly benefit US-Israeli scientific cooperation. Details and application.
Due: March 30, 2020

The California Council on Science and Technology
The CCST Science Fellows program is open to those holding a PhD or equivalent degree in science and engineering, and in social science fields such as economics. As CCST Science Fellows, scientists and engineers spend one year in Sacramento serving the California State Legislature. Working as legislative staff in the State Assembly or State Senate, they get a front-row seat learning about the craft and process of lawmaking in the State of California — a dynamic arena that often sets policy trends for the United States and the world. Details
Due: February 28, 2019

NASA Postdoctoral Program
The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) provides early-career and more senior scientists the opportunity to share in NASA’s mission. NASA Postdoctoral Fellows work on 1 to 3 year assignments with NASA scientists and engineers at NASA centers and institutes to advance NASA’s missions in earth science, heliophysics, planetary science, astrophysics, space bioscience, aeronautics, engineering, human exploration and space operations, astrobiology, and science management. Details and application
Due: March 1, 2019

2018 Simons Postdoctoral Fellowships in Marine Microbial Ecology
This fellowship supports research on fundamental problems in marine microbial ecology. The foundation is particularly interested in applicants with training in different fields who want to apply their experience to understanding the role of microorganisms in shaping ocean processes and vice versa, including applicants with experience in modeling or theory development. Applicants should have received their Ph.D. or equivalent degree within three years of the fellowship’s start date and may be citizens of any country. Details
Due: June 15, 2018, 5:00 p.m. EDT.

Helen Hay Whitney Foundation
To attain its ultimate goal of increasing the number of imaginative, well-trained and dedicated medical scientists, the Helen Hay Whitney Foundation grants financial support of sufficient duration to help further the careers of young investigators engaged in biological or medical research. Details
Due: July 1, 2019 

Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF)

This year (2018), LRF is offering three Young Investigator Grant program (including a Postdoctoral Fellowship Grant), as well as grants supporting correlative studies in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and adolescent/young adult (AYA) lymphomas. Details and application
Due: September 6, 2018

EAR Postdoctoral Fellowships 
The Division of Earth Sciences (EAR) awards Postdoctoral Fellowships to recent recipients of doctoral degrees to carry out an integrated program of independent research and professional development.  Fellowship proposals must address scientific questions within the scope of EAR disciplines and must align with the overall theme for the postdoctoral program. The program supports researchers for a period of up to two years with fellowships that can be taken to the institution of their choice (including institutions abroad).  FAQs.   Details and application
Due: September 11, 2019

Arnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Fellow Opportunity

Supports advanced research by postdoctoral scholars within the core areas of fundamental chemistry or the development and build of chemical instrumentation; research must be innovative in method, speed or process, or represent new instrument technology. This fellowship will be a catalyst from “mentored yet independent” postdocs to outstanding, independent researchers in academic or industry/governmental labs
Two Tracks: Postdoctoral Fellowship in Chemical Sciences and Postdoctoral Fellowship in Chemical Instrumentation. Details.
Due September 26, 2018

Parker B. Francis Fellowship

This fellowship provides research support to clinical and basic scientists embarking on careers in clinical, laboratory or translational science related to Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at a U.S. or Canadian university or research institution. The ideal candidate is one with evidence of strong aptitude in research and who is in transition from post-doctoral trainee to independent investigator. Details and application
Due: October 15, 2018

A.P. Giannini Foundation
A.P. Giannini Foundation invites physician-scientists and junior researchers with 3-36 months of postdoctoral experience to apply to the 2018 Postdoctoral Research Fellowship & Career Development Award Program. This program supports innovative research in the basic sciences and applied fields and trains fellows to become established investigators. The research should advance the translation of biomedical science into treatments, preventions and cures for human diseases. Details and application
Due: November 5, 2018

NIH Website-Research Career Development Awards 

What are NIH K awards? 

K awards provide support for senior postdoctoral fellows or faculty-level candidates. K awards are designed to promote the career development of specific groups of individuals based on their past training and career stage.  The objective of K programs is to bring candidates to the point where they are able to conduct their research independently and are competitive for major grant support.  

What is a K99/R00 award?

Often called the “Pathway to Independence” award. It supports an initial mentored research experience (K99) followed by independent research (R00) for highly qualified, postdoctoral researchers, to secure an independent research position. Award recipients are expected to compete successfully for independent R01 support during the R00 phase.

NIH Reporter  Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tool; provides access to reports, data, and analyses of NIH research activities, information on NIH expenditures and the results of NIH supported research.

NIH Matchmaker– recently enhanced to make it just as easy to identify NIH program officials whose portfolios include projects in your research area, as well as NIH-funded projects similar to your supplied abstracts, research bios, or other scientific text.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) provides several examples and templates for grant applications.  Unfortunately, there is no K99/R00 example. 

Guide to effective grant writing : how to write a successful NIH grant application 2nd ed. by Otto O. Yang, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles
You may access this guide by logging into the UCI libraries.  Use VPN if off campus.

UCSF provides examples of K awards components and additional resources.

What is the BRAIN Initiative Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00)?
This award is similar yet distinctive form the K99/R00 award described about.  A webinar describing the BRAIN Initiative K99/R00 with associated slides is posted here. 

NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (NRSA)– Description and application for F32

A practical guide to writing a Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA grant
by Andrew D. Hollenbach, Associate Professor of Genetics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA
You may access this guide by logging into the UCI libraries.  Use VPN if off campus.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) provides several examples and templates for grant applications.  Unfortunately, there is no F32 example. However, the F31 example and other documents could be useful.

Special NSF Programs for Postdoctoral Fellows

NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG), January 2017

NSF Prospective New Awardee Guide, January 2016

Having Success with NSF: A Practical Guide, 2013
by Ping Li, Professor of Psychology, Linguistics, and Information Sciences and Technology Pennsylvania State University and Karen Marrongelle, Professor in the Fariborz Maseeh Department of Mathematics & Statistics at Portland State University, Oregon.
You may access this guide by logging into the UCI libraries.  Use VPN if off campus.

The Nature Masterclasses online certificate course in Scientific Writing and Publishing is an incredible resource for those involved with the publishing process.  The course, taught by expert editors from the Nature journals, includes 15 modules and covers the entire scientific publishing process from writing a paper to publication.

Learn or update your knowledge about how to get published in top journals:

* How to get the most out of the writing process

* How the manuscript selection process works

* What happens to your paper after submission

UCI Nature Masterclasses portal.

Complimentary access is available to UC Irvine students of all levels, postdoctoral fellows, faculty, staff and administrators.  The course focuses on the natural sciences, though it is relevant to most disciplines. This course is provided by the UCI School of Medicine and School of Biological Sciences.

The Office of Research created a video with step-by-step instructions for complying with the NIH’s mandatory Public Access policy. The policy requires that published journal articles resulting from NIH funded research be made publicly available on the agency’s PubMed Central digital archive. The video teaches you how to deposit manuscripts onto the archive and how to report compliance. Watch “NIH Public Access Mandate” on YouTube.