Postdoc Funding & Awards

UW–Madison postdocs are encouraged to look for and apply for fellowships and research awards to support their salary/stipends, research, and travel expenses. Many federal agencies, professional organizations, and private foundations provide awards for international and U.S. postdocs to support their research and training activities.

You can review resources for finding opportunities and writing competitive applications below.

Funding Databases

Postdoc Fellowships & Awards Database (NetID login required)

The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs maintains this curated list of fellowships, research awards, travel awards, and prizes that are available for international and U.S. postdocs who are currently appointed at University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Pivot (NetID login required)

University of Wisconsin – Madison subscribes to the Pivot-RP funding database. UW–Madison postdocs can use their institutional login to access this resource and search for relevant fellowships, research awards, travel awards, prizes, and more. For best results, use the advanced search filters to focus on the ‘Early Career and Emerging in Field’ career stage and to select relevant funding types.

Grants Information Collection

The University of Wisconsin – Madison Libraries maintain a collection of databases, guides, and directories to help researchers identify and pursue appropriate funding opportunities.

Duke Research Funding Database

Duke University maintains a publicly accessible database of funding opportunities, though some functionality is only available to individuals appointed at Duke. For best results, use the advanced eligibility filters to focus on opportunities for ‘Post Doctoral Fellows’.

UCLA Graduate & Postdoc Funding Database

UCLA maintains a publicly accessible database of funding opportunities, though some functionality is only available to individuals appointed at UCLA. For best results, use the academic level filters to focus on opportunities for ‘Postdoctoral Scholars’.

Internal Funding Opportunities

Postdocs who are currently appointed at University of Wisconsin – Madison may find salary/stipend, research, or travel funds at UW. Some places to look are listed below.

Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (ICTR) Funding Opportunities

ICTR provides career development, training, and research awards and opportunities for UW researchers working in clinical and translational research.

NIH and HRSA Training Grants

Note: NIH and HRSA Training Grants are only open to U.S. citizens, noncitizen nationals, and permanent residents.

The Office of Training Grant Support maintains a list of NIH and HRSA training grants at the University of Wisconsin–Madison that provide fellowship funding for postdoctoral researchers in scientific health-related research fields.

Office of the Provost Awards and Grants

The Office of the Provost administers some internal awards and grants. Though most are only open to faculty, there are periodic opportunities that are open to postdocs.

Postdoctoral Research Symposium Awards

The UW Postdoc Association and Office of Postdoctoral Affairs offer travel awards as prizes for blitz talks and posters at the annual Postdoctoral Research Symposium held in September. Competition guidelines are typically released in the summer of each year.

Research Funding

The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research maintains some internal research award competitions. Though most are only open to faculty, there are periodic opportunities for postdocs.

Wisconsin Partnership Program (WPP) Postdoctoral Grant Program

The WPP hosts an annual grant competition in the summer for postdocs appointed in the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

Writing an Application

Before You Begin

Most external funding applications must be routed through the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (RSP). Before you begin working on your application, reach out to your School, College, or Division Pre-Award Contact to determine the internal deadline (usually at least 5 business days before the external deadline) and to begin the planning process.

UW–Madison Writing Workshops and Resources

For additional support while preparing your application, check out the following resources available to UW–Madison postdocs.

Postdoc Fellowship Writing Series

The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs presents an annual series on strategies for planning, drafting, and revising common components of a postdoc fellowship application.

Big10+ Postdoc Research Development Series

The Big10+ Postdoc Affairs Network organizes an ongoing webinar series that provides domestic and international postdocs across disciplines with workshops related to grant seeking and writing skills.

medRISE (Research Investigator Support and Education) Grant Library Repository and Templates

The medRISE group maintains a Grant Library Repository with some example successful grant applications. They also maintain templates for common NIH and other biomedical grant applications on their website.

If you have a successful grant application that you are willing to share with the Grant Library Repository, regardless of field or discipline, medRISE will help redact any sensitive information and add it to the repository. Reach out through the Grant Library Repository request form for more information.

Writing Center Workshops

The Writing Center offers free workshops for all writers at UW–Madison. Programs are designed around writing processes and strategies over a variety of topics including: grant applications; visual media and presentations; personal statements and CVs; and more.