Hanna H. Gray Fellows Program: Faculty Phase Grant

Hanna H. Gray Fellows Program: Faculty Phase Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Amount: Up to US $1,080,000
Last Updated: January 20, 2026

Summary

The Hanna H. Gray Fellows Program, supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, aims to enhance diversity in the academic research community. It provides funding of $250,000 and a $20,000 annual expense allowance for early-career researchers committed to fostering an inclusive scientific culture. Eligible applicants must hold a PhD or MD, commit to at least 75% research effort, and have no more than 24 months of postdoctoral experience. This initiative empowers fellows to become leaders in science.

Overview

Hanna H. Gray Fellows Program Excellence in science depends on the development of scientists from all backgrounds. HHMI initiatives foster equitable and inclusive scientific environments where everyone can thrive regardless of their background, disability, gender, ethnicity, or race. The Hanna H. Gray Fellows program seeks to increase diversity in the professoriate by supporting early career researchers who show exceptional promise of becoming academic scientists, which includes the potential to build and contribute to an equitable and inclusive scientific culture. Through their successful careers, Hanna Gray Fellows will move science forward and will recruit, mentor, and inspire the next generation of scientists from all backgrounds. Fellows receive funding for their postdoctoral training and during their early years as independent faculty. In addition to financial support, they benefit from professional development, mentorship, a cohort of peers, and inclusion in HHMI’s broader scientific community. Faculty Phase The program supports early career scientists with the potential to become leaders in academic research. Fellows receive funding to support their postdoctoral training and may continue to receive funding during their early career years as independent faculty. Funding Fellows will receive $250,000 in research funding and a $20,000 expense allowance per year, paid through a non-renewable grant to the institution where they have attained a faculty position. This phase of the award has a maximum length of four years.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. You are eligible to apply if you:are a basic science researcher or physician-scientist in the biological and biomedical sciences in the many scientific disciplines that HHMI supports have been accepted to join a laboratory as a postdoctoral researcher, led by a tenured or tenure-track faculty member at an eligible institution in the US, including Puerto Rico, at the time of the application due date. will commit 75% of your total effort to research in a postdoctoral training position by the grant start date. will commit to a minimum of two years of postdoctoral training in this position after the grant start date. hold a PhD and/or MD (or equivalent), which is conferred by the start of the grant term. have no more than 24 months of postdoctoral research experience by the application due date. If you are a PhD applicant, the date or anticipated date of conferral of your doctoral degree must be on or after the specified timeline. If you are an MD or MD/PhD applicant in residency, clinical fellowship, or postdoctoral training you can have no more than 24 months of postdoctoral training by the application deadline.Conditions of the award:Fellows in both Postdoctoral Training and Faculty Phases are required to devote at least 75% of their total effort to research. To transition to the faculty phase of the program, fellows must obtain a tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty position at an eligible research institution with a doctoral-level graduate program in their area of interest. Fellows are expected to contribute to the growing community of Hanna Gray Fellows, participate in professional development activities, attend an HHMI science meeting each year, and provide an annual progress report.