Fund Your Research
It is common for postdocs to be supported by their PI initially, but often postdocs will be asked to find their own funding at some point. Here are some resources that may help you start your search for funding.
Step 1: Search for Funding
- UCSF-Sponsored Awards for Postdocs
- Pivot: Finding Funding Opportunities*
- UCLA Graduate and Postdoctoral Extramural Support (GRAPES) Database
- National Institutes of Health
- National Science Foundation
- Fulbright Postdoctoral and Early Career Awards
- International Fellowships and Grants from the National Postdoctoral Scholars Association
- Postdoctoral Funding Opportunities: a regularly updated repository from Johns Hopkins University
- Federation of American Societies of Experimental Biology (FASEB): Travel Awards to FASEB Conferences
- Minority Postdoc: Diversity Postdoctoral Fellowships and Opportunities
- UC President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
- American Association of University Women Educational Foundation Fellowships and Grants
- UCSF Research Development Office Funding Opportunities
- A.P. Giannini Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship
*Training for postdocs and students in using the Pivot funding opportunities database is offered monthly by the Campus Library. See the Library class schedule for upcoming sessions.
Step 2: Create and Submit a Proposal
Did you know that at UCSF all grant submissions – including proposals for postdoctoral fellowships – are required to be submitted by the Office of Sponsored Research (OSR)?
Find your OSR support person, who will help you with proposal preparation, including budget development and compliance checks (see the RMS service partnership agreement for complete guidelines). UCSF requires that OSR approves all postdoc funding applications, and OSR must be notified of your intent to submit any proposal at least 30 days in advance of the sponsor’s deadline.
Are you interested in viewing successful NIH-funded grants from UCSF postdocs?
Request access to look at funded grants and fellowships from the Office of Career and Professional Development's grant resource library, including access to lectures on how to prepare a K99/R00 application, information on how to navigate the NIH application process, and guidance on writing clear and specific aims.
Need some boilerplate language for use in your grant application?
Check out the Research Development Office LibGuide.
