Finding Funding Opportunities
On this page find search databases, resources, and lists of funding opportunities applicable to postdocs. When searching funding databases, conduct multiple searches and use broad keywords. Include searches focused on research impact and target population, as well as your geographic region and demographics. Think creatively about using federal, foundation, industry, and institutional sources for research projects, conference travel, publishing, and training support during your postdoctoral experience.
Tips
✔ Keep a personal spreadsheet of opportunities and due dates (template tracking sheet)
✔ Use databases to identify funding opportunities, but refer to the sponsor website for the most accurate information.
✔ Talk to mentors and peers for applicable funding opportunities
Funding Databases
Graduate and Postdoctoral Extramural Support Database
GRAPES is a searchable database of a wide range of graduate and postdoctoral funding opportunities maintained by UCLA. This can also be filtered by citizenship status.
Lists of Postdoc Funding Opportunities
Foundation Opportunities
UC San Diego Foundation Relations Office maintains a list of foundation funding opportunities for postdocs updated annually.
Federal and Foundation Fellowships
A downloadable repository of over 300 federal and private funding opportunities for postdoctoral scholars maintained and periodically updated by Johns Hopkins University.
Biomedical Opportunities
Albert Einstein College of Medicine maintains a list of postdoctoral funding opportunities in the biomedical sciences.
Biological Sciences
Find funding opportunitiesion for postdocs in biological sciences using this list curated by UC Berkeley.
Humanities
Find funding opportunities for postdocs in the humanities using this list crated by UC Berkeley.
Diversity-minded Opportunities
Minority Postdoc maintains a list of diversity-minded funding opportunities for current and future postdocs.
Global Health Opportunities
Fogarty International Center curates a directory of non-NIH postdoc funding opportunities in international biomedical and behavior research.
Federal Agency Opportunities
National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health (NIH) supports individual fellowships (F series) and career development (K series) in biomedical, behavioral, social, and clinical research. Be sure to explore the priorities of the different NIH Institutes and Centers.
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation (NSF) funds special programs for postdocs in most fields of science and engineering.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) supports postdocs whose research is in the quality, effectiveness, accessibility, and cost effectiveness of health care through the F32 mechanism.
Funding Listservs
Sign up for listservs and alerts distributed by funding agencies in your field to stay up-to-date on new initiatives, priorities, and funding opportunities. Some example listservs are below.
UC San Diego Postdoc Listserv: https://postdoc.ucsd.edu/
UC San Diego Funding List: https://groups.google.com/a/ucsd.edu/g/funding-announcements-g
NIH Weekly Table of Contents: grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/listserv.htm
NSF Updates: service.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNSF/subscriber/new?topic_id=USNSF_25
Philanthropic News Digest: philanthropynewsdigest.org/rfps
Internal Funding Opportunities
President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program: ppfp.ucop.edu/info/index.html
Chancellor’s Research Excellence Scholarships: https://blink.ucsd.edu/research/about-us/awards-funding/
Chancellor's Outstanding Postdoctoral Scholar Award: postdoc.ucsd.edu/award-opportunities/postdoctoral-scholar-award.html