Funding
Research Funding
Postdoctoral fellows seeking independent funding for a research project or idea may refer to the resources below.
U-M Funding for Research
Research funding opportunities managed by the U-M Office of Research Development (ORD), including institutionally limited “limited submissions” and the U-M Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR)’s internal grant programs.
U-M Office of the Vice President for Research Funding Resources
From forging partnerships with industry to collaborating with K-12, the University of Michigan provides a number of resources to help students, faculty, and staff further develop their research projects.
U-M Medical School Funding Opportunities
Innovative online platform that streamlines the process of finding and applying for funding opportunities at the U-M Medical School.
U-M Library – Funding and Grants
Provides resources on finding internal and external funding and grants.
U-M Administered Programs
Postdoctoral fellowship opportunities at the University of Michigan.
Johns Hopkins Curated List of Postdoc Funding Opportunities
Continuously updated repository of federal and private funding opportunities developed by Johns Hopkins University, intended for postdoctoral investigators.
In most cases, receiving your own fellowship will classify you as a “scholar trainee” which would impact the way you report your income for tax purposes (see section II. F. 2. in the Standard Practice Guide Section 201.19). For more information, visit the U-M Finance website.
Alternatives to NIH Postdoctoral Fellowships
Check out this list of alternatives to NIH postdoctoral fellowships. These include fellowships in science and technology policy, biomedical research, neuroscience, AI and data science, global health, and more. Many also offer competitive stipends, research training, funding for travel, and support from experienced PIs.
Non-Research Funding
Below is a list of non-research, need-based grant requests.
We encourage postdocs to apply as necessary but we cannot guarantee that a request will be approved.
Refer to the University of Michigan Postdoctoral Association to learn about and apply for professional development and travel grants (postdoc parents interested in child travel grants must apply to the OPA via a separate process outlined below).
Emergency Funding
The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs Postdoctoral Emergency Fund is intended to help meet the financial needs of current postdocs who encounter an emergency situation. This may include: major accidents such as fire and natural disasters, or some medical or dental events that are urgent, unforeseen, and unusual.
Awards may be up to $2,500 total.
Expenses incurred solely due to voluntary or involuntary loss of employment are not covered by this fund. While emergency funds can be used for urgent needs, actual processing time to receive funds can take up to seven business days from date of approval.
Email our office at postdoc-affairs@umich.edu to request the Emergency Funding application form.
We encourage you to provide as much information and documentation to support your emergency funding request as possible. Our office will carefully review and consider your application but approval is not guaranteed as funds are limited.
Outstanding Postdoctoral Fellow Award
The Outstanding Postdoctoral Fellow Award recognizes postdoctoral fellows at the University of Michigan who have demonstrated a breadth of excellence in all areas of research, teaching, mentoring, service, and leadership. This year, three postdoctoral fellows will be named Outstanding Postdoctoral Fellows and awarded $1,000 (post-tax), to be spent as the awardees see fit.
The awards are administered by the U-M Postdoctoral Association (UMPDA) with support from Rackham Graduate School and the University of Michigan Medical School Postdoc Office. Funding for the award is provided by the University of Michigan Office of Research (UMOR), Rackham Graduate School, and the University of Michigan Medical School Postdoc Office.
Child Travel Grant
Demands of parenting present special challenges to postdoctoral fellows who are parents of very young children, and desire to participate in academic conferences as part of research and scholarship.
OPA supports postdoctoral fellows at the University of Michigan working to balance family obligations and scholarly research by providing funds to help with costs of travel expenses for children under the age of six who must accompany a postdoctoral parent to a professional meeting.
OPA will provide up to $500 to postdoctoral fellows per 12-month period. This money is for the child’s travel needs, not the postdoctoral fellow’s own travel expenses.
Allowable travel expenses when children accompany postdoctoral fellows to academic conferences may include, but are not limited to:
- Child’s airfare
- Car seat rental
- Hotel crib rental
- Conference daycare
Expenses must be related to the postdoctoral fellow’s approved professional travel, and must include appropriate documentation of the expense(s).
Requests seeking reimbursement for childcare provided by a partner or other family member will not be approved. Questions regarding allowable expenses can be directed to postdoc-affairs@umich.edu.
Please note that the IRS considers reimbursed child travel expenses taxable income.
To apply for the Child Travel Grant, contact OPA via email prior to your planned conference trip for approval and next steps. Please provide the following details:
Specific reimbursement request (e.g., to pay for child’s airfare, conference daycare charges, etc.)
- Postdoctoral fellow full name
- Postdoctoral fellow employee ID number
- Child’s full name and date of birth
- Name, dates, and location of conference
- Specific reimbursement request (e.g., to pay for child’s airfare, conference daycare charges, etc.)
