About

The Life Sciences Institute, Medical School, College of Pharmacy, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, and Biosciences Initiative at the University of Michigan have partnered to offer the Michigan Life Sciences Fellows program, a highly competitive postdoctoral fellowship program to enhance the research program of the entire life sciences enterprise at Michigan.

The Michigan Life Sciences Fellows program aims not just to train the next generation of scientists, but the next generation of scientific leaders. The Michigan Life Sciences Fellows program provides additional salary and financial resources, along with flexibility and freedom to pursue research ideas, creating a unique multidisciplinary community of scholars and providing mentorship focused on nurturing and launching truly innovative scientists into groundbreaking careers.

"Postdoctoral fellows are an important engine driving academic life sciences research," says Roger D. Cone, Ph.D., the Mary Sue Coleman Director of the U-M Life Sciences Institute and vice provost and director of the U-M Biosciences Initiative. "Our philosophy is to do everything we can to help Michigan Life Sciences Fellows succeed in building the careers that will drive the science of tomorrow."

APPOINTMENT

  • Fellows are appointed full-time for a 12-month period, with the expectation the appointment will be renewed each year for three years.

    • Fellows will join a research group within our nationally ranked Medical School (No. 16, U.S. News & World Report), College of Pharmacy (No. 3, U.S. News & World Report), College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, or the U-M Life Sciences Institute. Fellows may indicate an interest in working with up to three research groups during the application process.

  • For the cohort beginning in 2022-2023, the fellowship includes an annual stipend corresponding to the NIH pay scale for postdoctoral fellows, plus $10,000; $15,000 annually toward independent research; and a $2,000 annual travel stipend.

  • Fellows also receive a subsidized health and dental plan for the fellow and their dependents, optional life insurance, and up to three weeks of paid sick leave and one month of vacation annually. For more information, visit Academic Human Resources.

  • Starting dates for the fellowship are negotiable.

Michigan Life Sciences Fellow Jennifer Yeung working in the lab.

Michigan Life Sciences Fellows Jennifer Yeung (above) and Mo Siddiq (below)


ELIGIBILITY

  • We are seeking early-career researchers of exceptional promise in the biological sciences — all major subfields are of interest.

  • Applicants must be less than one year post-degree (Ph.D., M.D., Pharm.D., M.D./Ph.D., or Pharm.D./Ph.D.) at the time of application, or graduate students in the final year of their doctoral degree. Degree confirmation must to be provided prior to the start of the fellowship.

  • Applicants from the University of Michigan will not be funded to work in the same lab in which they undertook their doctoral work, nor in labs where they are currently serving as a postdoc.

  • International students are welcome to apply. International applicants who have just completed their degree will be expected to take advantage of the F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) training time allowed or STEM status, if applicable. Those not eligible for F-1 OPT will be assisted in obtaining a visa.

  • Although this program is open to all, women, first-generation college students, and minorities underrepresented in the sciences are strongly encouraged to apply. (U-M nondiscrimination policy)

DEVELOPMENT OF FELLOWS

  • Fellows will be assisted in forming a “mentoring committee” composed of their primary mentor, another leading scientist from their field at U-M, and a prominent scientist external to U-M.

  • Faculty will provide fellows with mentorship through the process of applying for external funding.

  • Fellows will also participate in career-building activities, such as participating as non-voting members in faculty recruitment processes and attending internal faculty workshops.

  • Beyond their individual laboratory research projects, the program will support fellows with additional training in a broad set of skills necessary for a successful career in research, including scientific writing, oral presentation, grant writing, lab management and applying for jobs.

  • There is no teaching requirement for the program, though we will offer flexibility to candidates who wish to teach if it aligns with their professional goals.

  • Beyond their individual laboratory research projects, the program will support fellows with additional training in a broad set of skills necessary for a successful career in research, including scientific writing, oral presentation, grant writing, lab management and applying for jobs.

Michigan Life Sciences Fellow Joshua MacCready presenting his work

REVIEW & SELECTION

  • Applications are reviewed by a review committee made up of members from participating schools, colleges and units.

  • Finalists are invited to present their work at the University of Michigan with travel expenses paid by the program.