Applications for the Helen Hay Whitney Fellowships 2025 are now available. These fellowships are for international postdoctoral scholars who want to do research in biology or medicine. It covers early postdoctoral research training in all basic biomedical sciences at top universities in the USA. International applicants can study postdoctoral program in the USA for 3 years. This program fully funds select candidates with up to US$77000 per year. The Foundation supports young researchers so as to nurture the development of innovative and skilled medical scientists. The fellowship is very competitive with an acceptance rate of less than 5 percent. Because many applications are received feedback is not given for unsuccessful proposals.
Key Points:
- Opportunity: Fully funded postdoctoral fellowship for international researchers
- Funding: Provides up to US$77000 per year
- Field: Focuses on basic biomedical research in biology and medicine
- Location: Offered at universities in the USA
- Goal: Increase the number of innovative and dedicated medical scientists
- Competitiveness: Less than 5 percent acceptance rate
Helen Hay Whitney Fellowships Summary
| Fellowship In | USA |
| Available For | International Postdoctorals |
| Fellowship Type | Fully Funded |
| Degree Level | Postdoctoral |
| Last Apply Date | June 16, 2025 |
Also See: 30,000 € Klaus Töpfer Fellowship 2026: Fully Funded
Fellowship Benefits
- Travel Funding at Activation
- The Foundation funds travel expenses for the Fellow and their family when the fellowship is activated.
- No funds are provided for the transportation of household goods.
- Annual Fellows Meetings
- Travel expenses for the two-day Annual Fellows Meetings in November are covered.
- Reimbursements are issued directly to the Fellow upon submission of expense receipts.
- These reimbursements are provided in addition to the annual stipend and research allowance.
- Stipend Amounts
- 1st Year: $73,000
- 2nd Year: $75,000
- 3rd Year: $77,000
- Research Allowance
- A fixed research allowance of $1,500 is provided annually.
- The allowance is remitted directly to the host institution and may be used at the Fellow’s discretion.
- Permissible expenses include lab supplies, computers, or even partial payment toward health insurance premiums.
- The amount is provided without deductions for institutional overhead, registration fees, or taxes.
- Payments are made on the fellowship activation date and annually thereafter.
- Dependent Child Allowance
- A Dependent Child Allowance of $1,500 per annum is available for each child.
Eligibility Criteria
Degree Requirements
- Applicants must have received a Ph.D. (or D.Phil. or equivalent) no more than two years before the application deadline.
- Alternatively, applicants holding an M.D. (or M.D.-Ph.D.) degree are eligible if the degree was awarded no more than four years prior to the application deadline.
- For M.D. applicants, the four-year interval includes clinical training only, with no more than one year counted in the postdoctoral laboratory.
Postdoctoral Laboratory Employment Requirement
- Applicants must have been employed in their postdoctoral laboratory for no more than one year prior to the application deadline.
- The “postdoctoral laboratory” refers to the laboratory where the applicant proposes to serve as a HHW fellow.
- Time spent in the applicant’s Ph.D. laboratory to finish up work does not count toward this one-year limit.
- Example: If an applicant receives their Ph.D. in January, remains in their Ph.D. laboratory until the end of September, and then moves to their postdoctoral laboratory on October 1, the one-year period in the postdoctoral laboratory begins on October 1.
Reapplication Eligibility
- Applicants with a Ph.D. (or equivalent) who applied before joining their postdoctoral laboratory but did not receive an award are eligible to reapply the following year.
Additional Guidelines
Laboratory Change Recommendation
- The Foundation typically does not consider applicants who plan to remain in the same laboratory where they have already completed significant predoctoral or postdoctoral training.
- A change of laboratory is generally advisable in order to broaden postdoctoral training and experience.
Supervisor and Laboratory Award Limitations
- Single Award per Supervisor:
- The Foundation will not grant more than one award per year to fellows training under a single supervisor.
- In the event that multiple applications are received from one laboratory, only one application will be reviewed (selected by the Chair of the SAC) and the others will be declined administratively.
- Fellow Limit per Laboratory:
- No more than two fellows per laboratory may be supported at the same time.
- If awards are given to applicants from a laboratory in two successive years, applicants from that laboratory will be ineligible in the third year.
Application Process for the Helen Hay Whitney Fellowships
The application mode is online for the Helen Hay Whitney Fellowships 2025. From the below given link you can apply.