The Grass Foundation: Fellowship Program Grant

The Grass Foundation: Fellowship Program Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Grass Foundation
Amount: Approximately US $50,000
Last Updated: October 15, 2025

Summary

The Grass Foundation's Fellowship Program offers early-career scientists the opportunity to conduct independent research at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Massachusetts. Fellowships include laboratory access, housing, and meals for a summer, fostering a collaborative environment among researchers. With a focus on various neurobiological fields, the program encourages applicants who are in a critical phase of their careers, particularly those needing to develop confidence and skills as principal investigators.

Overview

Note: October 15, 2025: Priority application deadline for summer 2026 Grass Fellowships. Applicants who submit by this deadline will have the opportunity to receive feedback and possibly amend their proposal. December 1, 2025: Final deadline for applications. Purpose Grass Fellowships at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA, support investigator-designed, independent research projects by scientists early in their career. Supported approaches include: NeurophysiologyBiophysicsIntegrative NeurobiologyNeuroethologyNeuroanatomyNeuropharmacologySystems NeuroscienceCellular and Developmental NeurobiologyComputational Approaches to Neural Systems The Foundation also has a longstanding interest in epilepsy-related research. Benefits Grass Fellowships provide research support including laboratory space, animals, equipment and supplies for one summer at the MBL. Additionally, the investigator, his/her spouse or legal domestic partner, and dependent children are provided housing, a daily meal allowance and round-trip travel to the MBL. Fellows function as an intellectual and social group within the MBL scientific community while sharing space in the Grass Laboratory. In a weekly private seminar series, eminent investigators at the MBL discuss their work with the Fellows. In addition, a yearly Forbes Lecturer will spend a portion of the summer in the Grass Lab interacting with Fellows.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Early investigators (late stage predoctoral trainees and beyond) are eligible to apply.This includes applicants with prior experience at MBL or with the Grass Foundation (MBL course alumni are encouraged to apply).The fellowship targets new investigators that are at a “critical period,” when becoming their own PI during the summer helps to develop the confidence and drive to pursue an independent research career. Investigators at all early career stages are eligible to apply. International Fellows (i.e., not US citizens or resident aliens) must hold a valid visa (J-1, H-1B, F1 or F1-OPT) for the entire duration of the fellowship.

Ineligibility

MBL does not have facilities to house large mammalian species.Isolated rooms for sensitive behavioral tests are extremely unlikely due to space limitations.Predoctoral researchers are eligible to apply however; applicants should not combine a Grass Fellowship with writing a Ph.D. thesis.Since the Grass Fellowship provides a rich intellectual environment and support for independent research, it does not offer a stipend during the fellowship learning experience.MBL is not currently a Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) facility so pseudorabies virus work is NOT permitted; lentivirus work is permitted in cell culture only, NOT in whole animals.