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Obtaining an external fellowship is highly beneficial for graduate students for many reasons. Fellowships often provide financial support for tuition, stipends, and research-related expenses. Some fellowships even provide unique professional development opportunities (i.e. training, workshops and networking events), which can help graduate students build skills and connections in their field.
To assist with this endeavor, the graduate school has curated helpful information and resources.
We ask students please complete the "Intent to Apply" form at least one month before submission of any external fellowship application. This form ensures the graduate school can adequately advise students through the application process, complete any required supporting documents, and provide access to our Fellowship Navigation Course resources in Canvas.
If you have received an external fellowship award or training grant as a GSBS student, please follow our Awarded External Fellowships/Grants Checklist to ensure timely activation of your funds.
External Funding Resources
Please see below for resources, support, and information on:
- Applying for Fellowships
- Current Funding Opportunities
- Writing a Successful Application
- Information for National Institutes of Health F Award Fellowships.
APPLYING FOR FELLOWSHIPS
If you are applying for an external fellowship please complete the “GSBS Intent to Apply for an External Individual Fellowship” form. Completion of this form will allow you to request access to the Fellowship Navigation course on Canvas, providing numerous resources for developing external funding applications. This form will also supply the GSBS with the required information to craft any necessary supporting documents for you.
The GSBS offers robust support to students who are interested in applying for external fellowships including:
- Offering application assistance: External fellowship advising is available to help students with writing personal statements, reviewing application materials, and providing feedback on drafts. Make an advising appointment or email [email protected].
- Providing information about fellowship opportunities: Check out current opportunities in our Career Connections monthly newsletter. We compile additional opportunities on Fellowship Opportunity List hosted on the Career Development Canvas page.
- Workshops and courses: Find relevant workshops and advice for success on our professional development calendar. The GSBS also offers the course, GS21 1171 NIH Fellowship Proposal Development, to support students working on NIH fellowship applications.
CURRENT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
The Office of Career Development will share specific upcoming opportunities monthly in the Career Connections newsletter.
We provide updated lists of additional funding and training grant opportunities through the Career Development Canvas Page.
WRITING A SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION
Undertaking a fellowship application is a major commitment. See below for some tips on writing successful fellowship applications:
- Talk to your research advisor: Graduate level fellowship applications often require detailed research proposals and training plans and are improved by the guidance and feedback from your research advisor. Discussing your intent to apply for an external fellowship with your research advisor ensures that you receive support and guidance for your application.
- Start early: Many fellowship programs have long application timelines, so it is important to start the process well in advance. This will give you plenty of time to gather all the necessary documents, and ample time to write and revise your application essays.
- Research your options: There are many different types of fellowships available, so it is important to research which ones are most relevant to your field and goals. Look for fellowships that align with your research interests and career aspirations, and be sure to read the eligibility requirements carefully.
- Tailor your application: Customize your application to the specific fellowship program you are applying for. This may include writing a personal statement that highlights your relevant experience and explaining how the fellowship will support your academic and professional goals.
- Seek feedback: Ask colleagues, advisors, and mentors to review your application materials and provide feedback. They can help you identify areas that may need improvement and offer suggestions for strengthening your application.
- Follow the application instructions: Make sure to carefully read and follow all the application instructions. This includes submitting all required materials and meeting all deadlines. Failing to follow the instructions can significantly decrease your chances of being accepted. In some cases, failure to follow the instructions will result in automatically rejecting your application.
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH F AWARD FELLOWSHIPS
Applicants for any NIH F awards are encouraged to fill out the “GSBS Intent to Apply for an External Individual Fellowship” form. For additional questions please email [email protected] or schedule a Fellowship Advising Appointment.
F30/F31: Ruth L Kirschstein-NRSA Fellowship Program
The purpose of the Kirschstein-NRSA program is to enable promising predoctoral students with potential to develop into a productive, independent research scientists, to obtain mentored research training while conducting dissertation research.
Students interested in applying for an F30/F31 are encouraged to take the NIH Fellowship Proposal Development Course.
This course is designed for students who intend to submit an NIH fellowship application (F30 or F31) at the end of the course. Participants will learn about the components of a fellowship application, how to develop an effective training plan, and the peer review process. By the end of the course, participants will have developed a complete draft of their application. Participants are expected to have completed the GSBS Scientific Writing Course, or equivalent, as the Research Strategy and Specific Aims sections will not be covered.
For additional resources in drafting your application please visit the Career Development Canvas Page and the NIH Application Guide.
There are several funding opportunities through the F30/31 programs. Please carefully review the criteria for each fellowship through the NIH Navigator for Funding Opportunities.
Deadlines are in April, August, and December each year.
F99/K00 Individual Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award
The purpose of the Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award (F99/K00) is to encourage and retain outstanding graduate students who have demonstrated potential and interest in pursuing careers as independent researchers. The award will facilitate the transition of talented graduate students into successful research postdoctoral appointments.
F99/K00 awards were previously managed but individual institutes. We are currently awaiting the publication a multi-institute F99/K00 mechanism. You may stay up-to-date on the most recent F99/K00 opportunities utilizing the NIH Navigator for Funding Opportunities.
For additional resources in drafting your application please visit the Career Development Canvas Page, and the NIH Application Guide.
Deadlines may vary by funding mechanism.
News
Mekenzie Peshoff explores brain tumor immunology through prestigious NIH fellowship
August 25, 2025
NIH grant helps support Genetics and Epigenetics student Heather Tsong’s brain research
May 27, 2025
Pre-doctoral affiliate fellow Yeseul Kim — focusing on imaging to enhance early pancreatic cancer detection
May 22, 2025
Meet the Staff – Sarah Herzog
February 18, 2025
To see more Fellowship and Grant success stories as well as additional news from the graduate school, see our News Archive.