Hanna H. Gray Fellows Program

Hanna H. Gray Fellows Program is sponsored by Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). HHMI's Hanna H.

Gray Fellows Program provides promising postdoctoral scientists with up to two years of salary, research funding, professional development, and support transitioning to an independent faculty career.

Postdoc-Faculty Transition Program | HHMI Hanna H. Gray Fellows The HHMI Hanna H. Gray Fellows Program supports postdoctoral scientists who show exceptional promise as future research leaders, equipping them to pursue bold and creative scientific research as they transition to independent faculty careers.

Beginning with the 2028 competition — opening November 3, 2026 — the Hanna H. Gray Fellows and Freeman Hrabowski Scholars Programs will select scientists through a single, combined competition. (Applicant review is specific to career stage.)

Hanna Gray Fellows receive up to two years of salary or stipend support, additional support to cover certain expenses associated with their Fellowship, and tailored professional development, including personalized support for their faculty search. Fellows who obtain a qualifying tenure-track or equivalent faculty position will be appointed as Freeman Hrabowski Scholars.

In addition to financial and professional development support, Fellows join HHMI’s thriving community of scientists across career stages through events such as HHMI Science Meetings and retreats. The Hanna H.

Gray Fellows Program reflects HHMI’s philosophy of supporting “people, not projects,” and Fellows are expected to be models of scientific excellence and inclusive lab leadership, and to recruit, mentor, and inspire a wide range of trainees. Last updated: September 3, 2026 Join our email list for news about the Hanna H. Gray Fellows and Freeman Hrabowski Scholars Programs, community, and competition.

“BECOMING AN HHMI SCIENTIST” VIRTUAL EVENt Learn more about HHMI’s early career programs — including what we look for in candidates and how to craft a strong application — straight from our Science Programs team, covering the Gilliam Fellows , Hanna H. Gray Fellows, and Freeman Hrabowski Scholars Programs. 2028 Competition Details for the Hanna H.

Gray Fellows Program Starting with the 2028 competition, the Freeman Hrabowski Scholars and Hanna H. Gray Fellows Programs will select scientists through a single, combined competition. (Applicant review is specific to career stage.)

A salary or stipend commensurate with postdoctoral experience, plus additional support to cover certain expenses associated with the Fellowship Up to two years of support, with renewal contingent on a favorable evaluation of scientific productivity and career development Flexibility to continue postdoctoral training at your current institution or, with HHMI approval, move to a different institution in the United States or overseas to acquire additional training or technical expertise Personalized career transition support for your faculty search through workshops and individual advising Tailored professional development through workshops, retreats, and HHMI Science Meetings A pathway to the Freeman Hrabowski Scholars Program upon securing a qualifying tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty position at an HHMI eligible institution , contingent on meeting all program requirements and beginning your appointment prior to May 1, 2030 The Hanna H.

Gray Fellows Program is open to postdoctoral scientists who meet the following criteria.

Hold a PhD and/or MD degree (or equivalent) Have no more than 7 years of postdoctoral training experience by December 15, 2026 Conduct research in the basic biological and biomedical sciences in any of the scientific disciplines that HHMI supports Are currently in a mentored postdoctoral research position at an HHMI eligible institution ; or, if you are currently in medical training, will have completed all your clinical residencies and are scheduled to transition to a mentored postdoctoral research position at an HHMI eligible institution by May 1, 2028 Intend to start your first independent tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty position at an HHMI eligible institution no later than May 1, 2030, and can provide a detailed career-development plan, supported by your current mentor, consistent with that expectation Are authorized to work in the US or are eligible to obtain a work authorization for the duration of your appointment Note: HHMI seeks a broad applicant pool.

We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, including from institutions not previously affiliated with HHMI. Applications to the Hanna H. Gray Fellows Program are submitted through HHMI’s Application and Review Channel (ARC) external link, opens in a new tab site, which opens November 3, 2026.

Note on journal names in your application: HHMI believes that scientific merit speaks for itself. To ensure that applications are evaluated solely on the quality of the science, please do not reference journal names in any part of your application materials — whether citing published papers or referring to manuscripts that are in preparation, submission, revision, accepted, or in press at a peer-reviewed journal.

This includes references to journals in the description of your past research contributions, your research program and cited references, your bibliography, and in your answers to questions about your scientific vision and career development plans. When citing primary research articles, use this format: Full author list. Title of article.

(Year) PMID . For preprints and journal articles not indexed on PubMed, use a DOI. You will be asked to provide: A description of your prior research contributions The title and a structured abstract of your research program A description of your research program, including citations to relevant literature, which will be uploaded as a separate document using the citation format referenced above.

Please do not use journal names in the reference list or the research program document.

Answers to a set of questions about your scientific vision Answers to a set of questions about your career development plans, both from you and from your current mentor At least one and up to three significant articles on which you are listed as a first, co-first, corresponding, or co-corresponding author, along with a significance statement for each of them.

Only primary research articles are eligible, and all articles must be publicly available, either as a pre-print or in a peer-reviewed journal.

A bibliography of your primary research publications, including both publicly available preprints and peer-reviewed journal articles Your educational, training, and employment history, and a list of past and current research funding support Answers to a set of narrative questions that will help us learn about your leadership experience and mentoring skills If you are currently in medical training and are selected as semifinalist, a copy of the official offer letter for the mentored postdoctoral research position that you are scheduled to start prior to May 1, 2028.

The letter must specify your position title and start date, as well as the name, position title and affiliation of your future mentor. Confidential information such as your salary or stipend and benefits must be redacted.

Contact information for your current mentor and your department chair (to confirm eligibility for candidates who reach the semifinalist stage) For full application requirements and additional program details, see the Hanna H. Gray Fellows Program Applicant Guide and Frequently Asked Questions ( PDF ). Contact [email protected] with additional questions.

HANNA H. GRAY FELLOWS PROGRAM SNAPSHOT Competition: Every other year; next competition opens November 3, 2026 Who’s Eligible: Postdoctoral scientists at HHMI eligible institutions with no more than 7 years of postdoctoral experience as of December 15, 2026, including gaps between research positions Compatible Positions: Only mentored postdoctoral research training positions.

All independent positions, irrespective of type and institution, are incompatible What Counts for 7-Year Limit: All research experiences you have had following your doctoral degree, irrespective of position type, institution, or country Support Includes: Salary or stipend commensurate with experience plus yearly funds to cover certain expenses; personalized guidance for faculty search Duration: Up to two years (one-year term, renewable for a second year) Pathway: Fellows who start a qualifying faculty appointment within 2 years become Freeman Hrabowski Scholars, if other program requirements are met; otherwise, they forfeit this opportunity Publications Required: Between 1 and 3 original research articles in which you are the first, co-first, corresponding, or co-corresponding author, published in a journal or preprint server Recommendation Letters: None are required, but your mentor will complete a questionnaire to help us evaluate your readiness for independence Compatible Funding: This varies by award.

If selected, HHMI will work with you to determine what funding sources are compatible Tuesday, November 3, 2026 at 9:00 AM ET Tuesday, December 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET Semifinalist Leadership Interviews: Semifinalist Recorded Presentations Due: Finalist Scientific Interviews: Two weeks after notification 2028 Frequently Asked Questions ( PDF ) Freeman Hrabowski Scholars Program HHMI Eligible Institutions Hanna Gray Fellows in the News A Spatial Cell Atlas of the Spinal Cord Reveals New Clues to Chronic Pain A team led by HHMI Hanna Gray Fellow Shan Meltzer has created a detailed, cell-by-cell map of the spinal cord that offers a new framework for understanding chronic pain and provides a powerful new resource for the field.

Understanding Immunity: Jeannette Tenthorey As a postdoc studying immune-system response to pathogens, HHMI Hanna Gray Fellow Jeannette Tenthorey realized HIV was fruitful field of research. Her work shows how much is left to understand about the virus.

New Frontiers: Christopher Barnes Inspired by the work of HHMI Investigators, Christopher Barnes and his lab focus on studying how HIV makes first contact with host cells – and how the immune system responds.

Evert Njomen Wants to Speed Up Drug Discovery external link, opens in a new tab Evert Njomen, PhD at Duke University identifies potential drug targets by using a time-saving method and proteome-wide approach pioneered by her postdoc supervisor. (via trinity. duke.

edu) Life as a Hanna Gray Fellow Support for a major career transition In conjunction with the Freeman Hrabowski Scholars Program, the Hanna H. Gray Fellows Program provides support for individuals' postdoctoral training, and helps to facilitate a transition to the next stage of their academic career.

Join a vibrant scientific community Fellows are part of an active network of more than 100 current program participants, as well as the broader HHMI scientific community. Through collaborations and HHMI Science Meetings, they connect with peers to exchange ideas and share emerging research.

Tailored training and professional development Fellows access learning opportunities that help them build thriving research environments, drawing on the expertise of program leaders and the shared experiences of the Fellow community. The program honors the contributions and service of Hanna Holborn Gray, HHMI’s former Board Chair, an HHMI Trustee for nearly three decades, and former president of the University of Chicago.

During her tenure, HHMI launched initiatives to improve science education, built the Janelia Research Campus, and expanded flagship programs that opened doors for talented scientists across all career stages. Get HHMI News in your inbox