Post-doctoral Funding

Post-doctoral Funding

Post-doctoral funding is generally intended to provide further research training for persons who have completed a PhD but are not yet independent investigators. This funding is available through a variety of sources including: foundations, associations and government agencies.

Below are frequently accessed funding sources. For a complete list visit the APTA Research webpage:

Foundation Funding for Post-doctoral Studies

American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowships

These fellowships are designed to help a trainee initiate a career in cardiovascular research while obtaining significant research results.

Please see the American Heart Association webpage for further details:

National Institutes of Health Funding for Post-doctoral Studies

Pathway to Independence Award

The primary, long-term goal of the Pathway to Independence (PI) Award program is to increase and maintain a strong cohort of new and talented NIH-supported independent investigators. The PI award program is designed to facilitate a timely transition from a mentored postdoctoral research position to a stable independent research position with independent NIH or other independent research support at an earlier stage than is currently the norm.

The PI award will provide up to 5 years of support consisting of two phases.  The initial phase will provide 1-2 years of mentored support for highly promising, postdoctoral research scientists.  This phase will be followed by up to 3 years of independent support contingent on securing an independent tenure-track or equivalent research position.  The PI award is limited to postdoctoral trainees who propose research relevant to the mission of one or more of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs).

For more information please see PA-07-297 on the NIH Web Site

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) for Postdoctoral Fellows

The objective of the National Research Service Award (NRSA) F32 program is to provide support to promising postdoctoral applicants who have the potential to become productive and successful independent research investigators in scientific health-related fields relevant to the missions of the participating NIH Institutes. Postdoctoral applicants for this award must include a research training proposal that documents the need for the research training and the expected value of the proposed fellowship experience as it relates to the individual’s goals for a career as an independent researcher.

There are a variety of award mechanisms under this umbrella. Please see the NIH website for more details.

The Section would like to extend a special thanks to all of the partnering organizations that have joined in to make the organization an invaluable resource for information, tools, and support for the population we serve.