Parkinson's Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships Grant

The Parkinson's Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships provide two-year funding opportunities for early career scientists and clinical neurologists focused on Parkinson's disease research. Basic Scientists receive $140,000, while Clinical Neurologists receive $160,000 over the fellowship duration. Applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria, including recent PhD completion for Basic Scientists and residency completion for Clinical Neurologists. The program encourages applications from underrepresented groups in science, promoting diversity in research initiatives.

NOTE:
Initially, we ask applicants to send a Letter of Intent. If selected by reviewers, the applicant can proceed to submit a full proposal. We will notify applicants invited to submit a full proposal at least six weeks prior to the full application deadline.
The Parkinson’s Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships are two-year fellowships for scientists fresh from their PhD training or neurology residence. The fellowships support training at major research institutions to help these scientists become independent Parkinson’s disease researchers. The Parkinson’s Foundation seeks research proposals from promising early career scientists that will directly impact the understanding of Parkinson’s disease or its treatment.
Funding
The program offers two different levels of support for basic research scientists and clinical neurologists. The program grants $140,000 over two years to Basic Scientists, including $65,000 for the postdoctoral fellowship salary stipend and an annual $5,000 research allowance. The program grants $160,000 over two years to Clinical Neurologists, including $75,000 in annual salary support and a $5,000 annual research allowance.
The Postdoctoral Fellowship salary stipend may be supplemented by your mentor from other sources to match the current NIH NRSA Postdoctoral Stipend or your institutional pay scale levels, but never decreased. The $5,000 research allowance may be used at the discretion of the fellow, with the approval of the mentor, to pay for items such as books, training courses, travel costs, or a computer.
Fringe benefits, postdoctoral taxes, institutional or administrative costs, and other fees are not allowable expenses under this award. However, the Foundation recognizes that healthcare expenses remain a challenge for many Fellows, who often pay these costs out of pocket. Therefore, if requested in writing to the Foundation prior to the start of the award, Fellows may allocate up to $2,500 per year of their research allowance to offset their out-of-pocket costs for health insurance premiums (this provision does not apply to Fellows who have their health insurance premiums fully covered by their institution).

Eligibility

The Basic Scientists applicants must be within five years of receiving their PhD at the time the award starts. The Clinical Neurologists must possess an MD or equivalent and be within three years of having completed a residency in neurology at the time the award starts. This program is open to both national and international applicants. If awarded, a Postdoctoral Fellow must commit 80 percent of their effort to the Parkinson's Foundation-funded project.Fellows may not concurrently hold an overlapping award from another source.

Ineligibility

Fringe benefits, postdoctoral taxes, institutional or administrative costs, and other fees are not allowable expenses under this award.