PCC Fellowship Program Grant

PCC Fellowship Program Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Partnership For Clean Competition Research Collaborative
Amount: Up to US $150,000
Last Updated: February 06, 2026

Summary

The PCC Fellowship Program aims to advance anti-doping research by supporting young scientists with a PhD in relevant fields. Designed for aspiring researchers, it offers two tracks: the Laboratory Track, providing hands-on experience in WADA-accredited labs, and the Research Track, focusing on academic research mentorship. Each fellow receives a stipend of $60,000 per year for two years, along with additional funding for research-related expenses. This initiative fosters ethical leadership and ensures ongoing contributions to anti-doping science.

Overview

As we aspire to help generate the world’s most effective and widely adopted methods and resources for detecting and deterring the use of performance enhancing substances, the PCC recognizes the need to support scientists who invest their time and talent in anti-doping research. The Fellowship Program represents the PCC’s investment in the future of the anti- doping science community. The program supports qualified scientists who have completed a PhD program and who demonstrate strong interest and potential for long-term contribution to the fields of anti-doping science. By cultivating ethical leadership and ongoing commit​ment to research, the Fellowship Program helps ensure the continuation of standard​s established by today’s anti-doping experts. The PCC provides two Fellowship Tracks for young PhD researchers: The Laboratory Track This track is ideal for candidates wishing to pursue a career within an anti-doping laboratory setting. The two-year program provides the unprecedented opportunity to gain practical knowledge from a WADA-accredited laboratory and expert mentors and use that knowledge to conduct research that supports the anti-doping field. In the first year, the PCC Fellow will spend at least three months in an approved WADA-accredited lab, supporting existing lab research and learning about the intricacies and existing approaches for sample testing and analysis.During the remainder of the first year and the second year, the PCC Fellow will refine the initial project proposal based on his/her experiences in the WADA-accredited lab and conduct supporting research either at the WADA-accredited laboratory or at the fellow’s home institution.In exceptional circumstances, the PCC would consider a request for a third year of support. In these rare cases, the PCC will cover a portion of the third-year salary and overhead, up to $37,500 USD per year. The institution in which the fellow conducts research (either WADA-accredited lab or home institution) will be required to match the amount and may decide to apply to the PCC to continue the Fellow’s initial research or involve the fellow on other priority anti-doping projects. If the fellowship is granted, the fellow will receive a $60,000 USD per year stipend in each of the first two years. The institutions in which the research will be conducted would be paid overhead in the amount of $15,000 USD in addition to the salary stipend. The maximum amount provided by the PCC for each two-year Fellowship will be $150,000 ($75,000/year). Either the WADA-accredited laboratory or the fellow’s home institution will still be eligible to apply for other research project funds from the PCC. The Research Track This track provides support for young investigators wishing to perform academic research related to the anti-doping field under the mentorship of an experienced researcher, including the opportunity for site visitation at a WADA-accredited lab, and funding for travel to relevant anti-doping conferences. This track is ideal for candidates wishing to contribute to a high-quality anti-doping research project within an academic (non-WADA laboratory) setting. Research Track Fellowship status may be requested for one to three years, concurrent with the length of the research project in question. The research project in question may be fellow or mentor led, meaning potential fellows may apply to the PCC independently with an idea for a project and support of a mentor, or they may apply in conjunction with a PCC grant applicant (mentor) to contribute to existing research.If applying in conjunction with an existing project application, the application for the fellow and the research grant must be provided during the same grant cycle. If applying using this process, the mentor should request funding for the individual within the grant application. Additionally, the fellow should submit an application for PCC Fellowship indicating support for working on this project. In order to become a PCC Fellow, both the research grant and Fellowship application must be approved.The research may occur at any academic or laboratory setting of the fellow’s choosing, pending PCC approval of the mentor and facilities.The fellow is highly encouraged to take advantage of an optional 1-2 week PCC supported site visit to a WADA-accredited lab, designed to provide additional context for how their current or future research may be applied in a real-world setting. If the fellowship is granted, the fellow will receive a $60,000 USD per year stipend in each of the first two years, along with $10,000 USD for equipment and supplies, and $5,000 USD which can be used to travel and attend approved anti-doping conferences. The institutions in which the research will be conducted would be responsible for overhead in addition to the salary stipend. The maximum amount provided by the PCC for each two-year Fellowship will be $150,000 ($75,000/year). The fellow’s host institution will still be eligible to apply for other research project funds from the PCC.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Candidates must have a PhD in a physical, biological/medical science, or pharmacology discipline such as:BiochemistryPharmacologyEndocrinologyStatistical modelingProtein chemistryAnalytical chemistryToxicologyHematologyMolecular and cell biologyPhysiologyMetabolismProteomicsMass spectrometryAnalytical techniquesImmunological assay and chromatography techniquesCandidates must demonstrate an interest in anti-doping but may have limited experience with research in the field.Candidates must demonstrate an excellent research and academic background.Laboratory Track candidates must contact and confirm the support of one or more of the WADA-accredited laboratories (contact information included below) in formulating their proposal. The candidate should select the WADA-accredited laboratory at which they desire to conduct their research.Research Track candidates must contact and confirm the support of established researchers in formulating their proposal.Candidates should explain the value they will provide to the WADA-accredited lab and/or anti-doping movement during their experience and if relevant include their approach to collaborating with the lab if they choose to return to another institution to conduct research during the Laboratory Track program.