Helen Hay Whitney Fellowships for Postdoctoral Research 2025

 Pursuing studies in the USA? Here’s some good news! The Helen Hay Whitney Fellowships are currently accepting applications. In this article, we will provide detailed information about this fully funded postdoctoral scholarship, including its benefits and step-by-step application process.

The Helen Hay Whitney Fellowship for the academic year 2025-2026 is a fully funded scholarship available to international students seeking postdoctoral degrees. The scholarship provides financial aid amounting to US$60,000 per year.

The Helen Hay Whitney Fellowships offer international students the opportunity to pursue postdoctoral studies at universities in the USA. The foundation provides substantial financial support to young individuals engaged in biological or medical research, with the ultimate goal of increasing the number of skilled and dedicated medical scientists.

It’s important to note that the competition for the Helen Hay Whitney fellowship is highly competitive, with less than 5% of applicants being awarded. Due to the high volume of applications received, the foundation is unable to provide feedback on unsuccessful proposals.

Here is a summary of the scholarship program:

• Level of Study: Postdoctoral
• Institution: Helen Hay Whitney Foundation
• Study Location: United States
• Course Offered: Biomedical Sciences
• Program Duration: 3 years
• Application Deadline: June 17, 2024, 5:00pm EST (Currently closed; applications will open on April 17, 2024)

The Helen Hay Whitney Fellowships provide the following benefits to recipients:

• Funds for travel to the fellowship location at the time of activation, including travel expenses for the fellow and their family.
• Coverage of travel expenses incurred for the two-day Annual Fellows Meetings held in November.
• Dependent Child Allowance of $1,500 per year for each child.
• Stipend and research allowance as follows:
  • 1st Year: $54,000 stipend, $1,500 research allowance
  • 2nd Year: $57,000 stipend, $1,500 research allowance
  • 3rd Year: $60,000 stipend, $1,500 research allowance

To be eligible for the Helen Hay Whitney Fellowships, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Required Language: English
• Eligible Countries: All World Countries
• Foreign nationals must have local residency status and authorization to work in the country of the fellowship they are applying for.
• Candidates must hold or be in the final stages of obtaining a Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent degree and seek beginning postdoctoral training in basic biomedical research.
• Candidates should have no more than one year of postdoctoral research experience at the time of the application deadline. They should have received a Ph.D. (or equivalent) no more than two years before the deadline or an M.D. degree no more than three years before the deadline.
• Fellowships may be awarded to foreign citizens for research in laboratories in the US. Most applicants are expected to reside in North America at the time of application.
• Applicants who have received extensive predoctoral or postdoctoral training in the laboratory where they plan to tenure the fellowship will not be considered. The fellowship aims to broaden postdoctoral training and experience, so a significant change of venue is recommended.
• Foreign students will need to obtain appropriate visa documentation as required by US immigration.
• The fellowships are only for early postdoctoral training and are not open to established scientists or advanced fellows.
• Attendance at the two-day Annual Meeting of Fellows held in November is required for all third-year fellows. This meeting provides an opportunity for scientific interchange and exposure to biomedical fields beyond their own.

To apply for the Helen Hay Whitney Fellowships, please visit the official website (link provided at the end of the article). Here are important instructions for applying:

1. Read the instructions carefully before completing the online application submission.
2. Download the Reference_Letter Template and forward it to your four referees. The completed reference letters should be emailed to letters@hhwf.org in PDF format, following the instructions on the Reference Letter Template.
3. Download the Application Items 1-6 form. Complete it and upload it along with the other requested items.
4. Important: The zipped file should be uploaded immediately after submitting the 2-page application cover. It should not be uploaded at a later time or date.

By following these instructions, you can apply for the Helen Hay Whitney Fellowships and take advantage of this opportunity for postdoctoral research.