BIO5 Postdoctoral Fellowship

Group of people pose in front of BIO5 Institute signs

The 2026 BIO5 Postdoctoral Fellowship application is now live and

will close April 20, 2026. Apply now.

About

This fellowship is an internal funding mechanism through the BIO5 Institute for outstanding postdoctoral researchers who are engaging in interdisciplinary research with a BIO5 member at the University of Arizona.

These small grants are designed to support and enhance the independent research goals of postdoctoral researchers working with BIO5 members.

To strengthen a forward-thinking mindset, each fellow will form a three-person mentoring committee intended to intellectually and technically support the fellow's research projects and provide career guidance. Fellows will also present their research at an annual research showcase at the BIO5 Institute.

Recipients of the fellowship can use their awards to purchase research supplies and engage in professional development to encourage their pursuit of becoming independent researchers.

The next application cycle opens in spring 2026, with the new cohort announced in July (the fellowship moved to a fiscal year cycle starting in 2026).

Application Overview

Any questions can be directed to the BIO5 administration office at bio5-applications@arizona.edu

Applicants for the BIO5 Postdoctoral Fellowship must:

Have been a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Arizona for at least 6 months but no more than five years since earning a doctoral degree.
Have a Postdoctoral Research Associate (PRA) appointment with a BIO5 Institute member at the time the application is submitted.
Be in good standing with University of Arizona (safety training, ethics training, etc.).
Cannot have previously been awarded the BIO5 Postdoctoral Fellowship.

The BIO5 Postdoctoral Fellowship application should be written for a general scientific audience. Avoid the use of technical language when possible so that reviewers from a broad range of disciplines can understand the content. The application has three main components:

Narrative (800 word maximum) that explains: Proposed research training or project (nature, duration, logistics, etc.) that the funds will be used to support; how the research training or project will enhance your independence; how the successful completion of the research training or project will advance your career; suggested mentoring plan, including the three-person mentoring committee

Biosketch : Use NSF, NIH, or agency style suitable to your area of research.

Letter of Support from applicant’s primary U of A mentor: This letter must include confirmation of the PRA through the full period of the BIO5 Postdoctoral Fellowship and be aware that this letter and the relationship between mentee, mentor, and mentor team is part of the judged criteria.

Review of the BIO5 Postdoctoral Fellowship applications will be based on:

Overall merit of the proposal for enhancing the applicants research skills
Strength of advancement of applicants independence and career goals
Described mentoring plan
Mentor’s letter of support/recommendation
Budget and budget justification

The budget for the BIO5 Postdoctoral Fellowship is up to $5,000 and can be used for:

Workshop / Conference registration fee
Travel expenses (airfare, lodging, meals)
Software (as allowable by U of A policy, note that no laptops or inventoried items are allowed on these funds)

Society dues (as allowable by U of A policy)
Research supplies

History

To better support the success of early career researchers, Michael D.L. Johnson, assistant professor in the Department of Immunobiology and inaugural Keating Family BIO5 Professor, wanted to create a program to support postdoctoral researchers at the University of Arizona. After brainstorming, he collaborated with former BIO5 director Jennifer Barton and BIO5 leadership, who readily agreed and provided funding.

In 2019, the BIO5 Postdoctoral Fellowship was established. Since then, the program supports up to eight postdoctoral researchers each year who work with a BIO5 member.

Fellowship FAQ

All applications must be submitted through the internal University of Arizona system, Arizona Cultivate. We suggest submitting your application well before the deadline to avoid any technical difficulties. Emailed applications will not be accepted.

Applications will open in March and close at the end of April of each year.

Two requirements are 1) The applicant must be a postdoctoral research associate (PRA) at the University of Arizona and 2) their principal investigator (PI) is a member of the BIO5 Institute.

Yes, the requirement is six months in a postdoctoral research associate (PRA) position at the University of Arizona at the start of the award (July).

Your PI must be a member of the BIO5 Institute by the start date of the award (January). They can become a member by following the steps on the BIO5 website.

Please visit the Become A Member to see benefits and start the membership process.

Your mentoring committee should be three people, one being your PI who must be a member of the BIO5 Institute. The other two mentors are people who will help you shape and deliver your research idea (providing feedback, counterpoints, and/or encouragement). These mentors do not necessarily need to BIO5 members, nor be associated with the University of Arizona. You can have more than three people if you wish.

It is in your best interest to explain your mentoring committee in the narrative section of your application, including their names and how they will aid you in your project and/or professional development.

The fellowship is $5,000.

The $5,000 will be available for the fiscal year (July through June) of the fellowship. It must be used by the postdoctoral fellow only, not by other lab members or the PI.

The funds can be used for:

Workshop/conference registration fees
Travel expense reimbursement (airfare, lodging, meals)
Software (as allowable by University of Arizona policy, note that no laptops or inventoried)
Society dues (as allowable by University of Arizona policy)
Research supplies

Funds cannot be used for:

Equipment
Travel advances
Personnel expense