Grants

Yes. WRF’s focus is on life sciences and enabling technologies, but we are open to projects in all natural sciences, engineering, computer or information science. We recognize that many innovative projects may cross disciplinary boundaries and therefore applicants should not worry too much about exactly how their projects will be classified. However, it will be important for candidates to make a connection between their projects and how they contribute to WRF’s mission.

Translation is a continuous process of turning knowledge and discovery into applications that can eventually have real-world benefit to patients and the broader public. There is no single point in that process that defines when a project becomes translational. We expect postdoctoral fellowship applications to articulate the impact of their research rather than defining their work as translational or basic. Applicants should articulate how their research will make a difference and ultimately provide public benefit. Public benefit might take the form of delivering novel technologies, products, services, practices or discoveries that will eventually improve lives.

WRF Postdoctoral Fellows do not have to be US citizens or permanent residents, but must be eligible to work in the US for the entire duration of the fellowship. Fellows are employees of the institutions at which they carry out their fellowships, so we recommend that prospective applicants contact the relevant institutions where they intend to work to confirm eligibility for employment.

Our goal is to support postdoctoral fellows who are early in their research careers. Therefore, applicants who will have had more than two years of postdoctoral training when our application opens are generally not eligible to apply. If you believe that there are exceptional circumstances that need to be taken into account, please contact us to confirm your eligibility.

You are eligible to apply if you are already in the lab in which you intend to conduct your fellowship research as long as you have not had more than two years of postdoctoral training in total (see above).

There is no single type of research project that is successful. The Selection Committee is looking for creative, innovative solutions to important problems and a research plan that is driven by the applicant. Fellows should articulate their own role in conceiving and developing the research, and highlight the unique skills they will bring to enable the success of the project. Applicants are encouraged to look at examples of recently funded fellows and their projects on our website.

Postdoctoral fellows can propose projects that are independent and distinct from their PI’s work. Nevertheless, fellows are expected to carry out research in a lab environment that is supportive of the research. The applicant is therefore expected to articulate why the chosen lab will help the work to be successful. We also require a letter of support from the proposed PI that outlines the support and mentorship that the postdoc will receive during the course of their fellowship.