Fellowships & scholarships to explore
A running list of funding you can bring to, or pursue for, a spot in the lab. It spans undergraduate through postdoc, so check the level and eligibility columns, and always confirm the current deadline on each program’s own page.
If you come across other internal or external funding opportunities, or if any links are stale, please let Christina know. For conference travel awards specifically, see Conferences.
The goal
You’re trying to convince a panel that:
- your idea is brilliant and “transformative” for the field;
- you have the unique skills to bring the project to life; and
- the project is doable within the granting period.
Don’t underestimate the importance of being confident and believing in yourself while you’re writing.
General tips
- Check the application details early. Requirements are often hidden in the templates and formatting of the actual application form.
- Know the foundational research in your area so you can identify real gaps in the field.
- Avoid jargon. Explain the work in a straightforward way: it’s hard to predict the expertise of your reviewers.
- Consider a traditional outline:
- Background, with a summary sentence in the first paragraph (e.g., “Here, I will show…”).
- Methods: make sure to be very clear and specific, even listing specific equipment. The reviewers want to be sure you actually know how you’ll do what you’re proposing.
- Results
- Discussion
- Get multiple reviewers. Review panels are made of many people usually. You can’t make everyone happy, but you can try! Have several people read and edit your application, and give them a specific list of what the granting agency is looking for.
- Use AI appropriately. Rather than having AI draft prose, Christina prefers to use AI tools as “pre-reviewers”. She uses prompts to request checks for typos and grammar, and ensure that the logical flow is sound and paragraphs are clear and understandable. See Using AI for the lab’s full policy.
Spot something to improve? Anyone in the lab can edit this guide. Edit this page suggest a change how edits work
Last updated