American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellowships

Scholarship Sponsored by American Cancer Society

Overview

Postdoctoral Fellowships support new investigators in research training programs to prepare them for independent careers in cancer research. Peer reviewers evaluate how well each fellowship broadens the applicant’s research training and experience. Awards provide structured research support, progressive stipends, and allowances to defray training-related costs. Applicants should consult the program policies for additional procedural and eligibility details.

Description: The fellowship funds postdoctoral-level research training intended to expand technical skills, mentorship, and independence in cancer research.

• Supports transition to independent cancer research careers
• Peer review emphasizes training breadth and impact
• Applicants should review program policies before applying

Eligibility

Eligibility focuses on appointment type, institutional affiliation, immigration status, and time since the terminal doctoral degree. Applicants must be in a postdoctoral position at a US academic institution or eligible nonprofit and meet citizenship or lawful immigration criteria at the time of application. Faculty appointments (for example, instructor or assistant professor) and research/staff scientist positions are not eligible. Eligibility windows are measured from the month and year of the terminal doctoral degree to the month and year of the application deadline.

Eligibility: Typical requirements include a US academic or eligible nonprofit affiliation, appropriate immigration status, a current postdoctoral appointment, and having received the terminal doctoral degree within the allowable timeframe.

Term limits: Time in clinical-only training is not counted toward the postdoctoral time limit; eligibility is determined by month and year of degree and application deadline.

Contact: For extenuating circumstances, send questions at least six weeks before the deadline to [email protected].

• Must hold a postdoctoral appointment (faculty and staff scientist roles ineligible)
• Institution must be a US academic or eligible nonprofit
• Time since terminal degree and prior postdoctoral training determine eligibility
• One postdoctoral fellowship application allowed per cycle

Grant Term and Budget

Fellowships are awarded for up to three years with progressive annual stipends. Current stipend levels are $66,000, $68,000, and $70,000 for each successive year. Top-ranked fellowships may receive additional supplements from available endowment funds. Fellows also receive an annual allowance to support insurance, workshops, and conference expenses, with an extra allotment in the final year for symposium or domestic meeting attendance.

Award Value: Stipends are provided on a progressive annual schedule, and select awards may be supplemented above the standard stipend.

Allowances: Fellows receive $4,000 per year for training-related expenses and an additional $1,500 in the final year for attendance at designated scientific meetings.

• Award duration: up to 3 years
• Progressive stipends: $66,000, $68,000, $70,000
• Annual fellowship allowance plus a final-year meeting supplement

Parental Leave

Fellows may elect paid parental leave for births or adoptions, from a minimum of four weeks up to twelve weeks per year. The grant term is extended by the same number of weeks taken for leave, and stipend payments continue during the extended term. This structure ensures fellows receive continuous stipend support while pausing research duties and can complete the full fellowship term. The policy balances research continuity with parental responsibilities.

Parental Leave Option: Paid maternity/paternity leave is available for four to twelve weeks per year, with corresponding extension of the grant term and continued stipend payment.

• Minimum four weeks, maximum twelve weeks per year
• Grant term extended by leave duration
• Stipend continues during leave and the extended period

Application Timeline

Applications must be submitted by the published deadline for each cycle. If a deadline falls on a weekend or federal holiday, submissions will be accepted the next business day. Applicants should allow sufficient time for institutional approvals and any required administrative processes. Review the program schedule and internal timelines well before the deadline to avoid last-minute issues.

Application Timeline: Deadlines are firm but shift to the next business day if they fall on a weekend or holiday; plan ahead for institutional approvals.

• Observe published cycle deadlines
• Deadlines falling on weekends/holidays move to the next business day
• Start institutional clearance early to meet the deadline