Biophysics Grants

The Helen Hay Whitney Foundation supports early postdoctoral research training in all basic biomedical sciences.

To attain its ultimate goal of increasing the number of imaginative, well-trained and dedicated medical scientists, the Foundation grants financial support of sufficient duration to help further the careers of young men and women engaged in biological or medical research.

Eligibility

Candidates who hold, or are in the final stages of obtaining a Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent degree and are seeking beginning postdoctoral training in basic biomedical research are eligible to apply for a fellowship. The Foundation accepts applications from candidates who have no more than one year of postdoctoral research experience at the time of the deadline for submitting the application (July 15), and who have received a PhD (or D.Phil. or equivalent) degree no more than two years before the deadline, or an M.D. degree no more than three years before the deadline.

Fellowships may be awarded to US citizens planning to work in laboratories either in the US, Canada, or abroad and also to foreign nationals for research in laboratories in the US only. We expect that most applicants will reside in North America at the time of application. Foreign Students will need to obtain appropriate visa documentation, as required by US Immigration.

Applications from established scientists or advanced fellows will not be considered. The fellowships are for early postdoctoral training only. Clinical house-staff training does not count as "postdoctoral laboratory training.”

The Foundation will not ordinarily consider applicants who plan tenure of the fellowship in the laboratory in which they have already received extensive predoctoral or postdoctoral training. The aim of the fellowship is to broaden postdoctoral training and experience, and a significant change of venue is advisable. Since the number of available fellowships is limited, the Foundation does not make more than one award in any one year for training with a given supervisor, and in addition, will not support more than two fellows per laboratory at one time. Although we accept multiple applications from the same laboratory in the same funding year, we urge supervisors to support only one application if possible.

The Foundation expects that fellowship training will be obtained in an academic setting. The selection of a commercial or industrial laboratory for the training experience is not acceptable.

Review Procedure

In addition to considering the research plan and recommendations presented in each application, the Scientific Advisory Committee must give weight to the many intangibles involved, including interpretation of the Foundation's objectives. The following procedure is designed to be fair and to take into account the number of applications received in relation to the number of fellowships that can be awarded.

The initial step is the screening begun by the Scientific Advisory Committee as soon as all applications have been received. In this screening, the Committee selects those candidates whose applications merit a personal interview with a Committee member. Each applicant so selected is then assigned to a member of the Committee, who completes arrangements for the interview in October. Interview travel expenses from points in the United States, Canada, and Mexico are paid by the Foundation. US citizens residing abroad who are approved for an interview will be reimbursed for travel to the interview, up to an amount comparable to the transcontinental domestic airfares reimbursed for other candidates. All applicants will be advised by email of their status (declined or approved for interview) by early October.

All personal interview reports and applications are reviewed in context with each other at a full Scientific Advisory Committee meeting in November, and it is at this meeting that those interviewed candidates are selected to be recommended for approval by the Board of Trustees. All interviewed applicants are notified of the Committee's decisions by mid-November.

As the last step in the procedure, the Board of Trustees votes to approve the fellowship awards, in order of priority, up to the availability of funds.

Duration of Fellowship

The Whitney Fellowship is for a period of three years, contingent on performance satisfactory to the Foundation's Scientific Advisory Committee. One and two-year fellowships are not considered.

Activation of Fellowship

You may activate your fellowship anytime from April 1 - December 1, 2009.

Travel Expense

The Foundation provides funds for travel to the fellowship location at the time of activation of the fellowship for the Fellow and his or her family. No payment is made for the transportation of household goods.

Stipend and Expense Allowance

The current stipend and expense allowance is:
Stipend Research Allowance
1st year $43,000 $2,500
2nd year $44,000 $2,500
3rd year $45,000 $2,500

The annual research allowance of $2,500 is given to the Fellow's laboratory to help defray research expenses, such as lab supplies, computers, health insurance, etc. It is paid annually and is to be used at the discretion of the Fellow and his or her supervisor, also with no deductions for overhead. The host institution may utilize no more than $1,500 of the $2,500 research allowance to help defray the cost of the Fellow’s health insurance premiums, unless the Fellow specifically wishes to expend the entire allowance towards his or her insurance premiums. Otherwise, this money is to be used for research expenses, such as lab supplies, computers, etc.

There is a Dependent Child Allowance of $1,000 per annum for each child. There is no allowance for a spouse. If a fellowship is awarded and the Fellow advises us that he or she is eligible for the Dependent Child Allowance, we will then request a copy of the birth or adoption certificate(s). The allowance will be included in the first semi-annual check to the host institution and annually thereafter on the anniversary of the Fellowship's activation date.

Depending on the activation date of the fellowship, stipend payments are made semi-annually by the Foundation to the administering institution. Fellows in training abroad will receive quarterly stipend payments directly.

Supplementation of the stipend is permitted. It is not acceptable, however, to hold concurrently a full fellowship from another source. Non-research activities, such as teaching, must not occupy more than 10% of the Fellow's time.

Annual Meeting

A two-day Annual Meeting of Fellows is held in November of each year, at which each third-year Fellow presents the results of his or her research. This meeting is an important component of the Fellowship Program because of the opportunity it provides the Fellows for scientific interchange and exposure to biomedical fields other than their own. Attendance at the meeting in its entirety is expected as a condition of acceptance of the fellowship. Awardees that activate their fellowship after September 1, will attend their first of three Annual Meetings starting the following year.

Competition

Competition for the Helen Hay Whitney fellowships is intense. Less than 5% of those who apply to us receive awards. Please note that because of the volume of applications received, the Foundation is unable to provide critiques of unsuccessful proposals.

Applications

Applications are to be filled out and submitted online at www.hhwf.org. Applications must be received by The Helen Hay Whitney Foundation no later than 5:00pm EST, July 15, 2008. Late applications will not be considered.

Pharmaceutics > Post Doctoral Fellowships

Program

Pharmaceutics is that area of the pharmaceutical sciences that seeks the optimal development of a drug delivery product or device and its subsequent performance in the delivery of the drug from the device following its administration to a patient. Pharmaceutics is a multidisciplinary area, with significant underpinnings from such basic scientific disciplines as physical chemistry, physical organic chemistry, and biophysics.

The number of well-trained graduates from Ph.D. programs in pharmaceutics who further develop and refine their research skills through formal postdoctoral training is limited. The reasons for this frequent absence of postdoctoral research experience are several. They include strong employment demand by industry and academia for junior scientists when they graduate from doctoral programs and a shortage of funds available to universities for the ready support of postdoctoral fellows. This situation serves to compromise the ultimate research capabilities of many such graduates. The lack of postdoctoral experience can be particularly telling for Ph.D. graduates seeking academic positions and often renders them less competitive in the successful pursuit of extramural funding - a factor which is so necessary for a productive research program.

The PhRMA Foundation recognizes the critical need for such well-trained scientific investigators. Accordingly, it wishes to encourage more qualified graduates to obtain postdoctoral research training in pharmaceutics. The Foundation seeks to achieve this goal by providing fellowships each year to qualified applicants who have the opportunity to become involved with mentors, facilities and programs that, collectively, can be expected to provide an excellent environment for the fellow. Applications will be accepted for postdoctoral research training extending over a minimum of one year and a maximum of two years. Each fellowship carries an annual stipend of $40,000 which can be supplemented by the sponsor and/or his/her institution.

Eligibility

To be eligible, applicants must either (i) hold a Ph.D. degree in pharmaceutics or a related discipline from an accredited U.S. university or (ii) expect to receive such a degree before activating the fellowship. Applicants should indicate a strong determination to continue their research careers in pharmaceutics following completion of the fellowship. An equally important aspect of eligibility is that suitable facilities for the necessary training and research must be available to the applicant. The program with which the applicant is, or will be, associated must provide an environment where the applicant's potential can be developed to the fullest extent possible.

Before an individual is eligible to apply for a PhRMA Foundation award, the applicant must first have a firm commitment from a university in the U.S. Applications must be submitted by an accredited U.S. school and all applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Purpose

For the purposes of this program, pharmaceutics includes basic pharmaceutics, biopharmaceutics, pharmaceutical technology and pharmaceutical biotechnology. Ph.D. graduates in chemistry, physics, biology and related areas who wish to develop expertise and careers in pharmaceutics through relevant post-doctoral experience are also encouraged to apply. The fundamental aspects of pharmacokinetics are not included since these are covered by PhRMA Foundation programs in pharmacology and toxicology. The focus of the program is to assist in the postdoctoral research training of the applicant. It should be stressed that the quality of the research proposed will be a major factor in the selection of fellows. Research projects that extend or develop the proprietary value of specific drug products are not acceptable in this program. This exclusion does not preclude research in which specific drug products are used to test hypotheses which have a general applicability.

Applications, however good, which do not meet the aims of the program will be disapproved.

Award

The award, consisting of a $40,000 annual stipend, is made to the institution on behalf of the fellow. The award is intended solely as a stipend and may not be used otherwise. If necessary, the institution may supplement the award to a level that is consistent with other postdoctoral fellowships it currently offers. If the stipend is to be supplemented, indicate the amount. If no supplement is intended, so state this. The program provides no other subsidies (travel, tuition, fringe benefit costs, etc.) and indirect costs to the institution are not provided. It is expected that the fellowship will be administered in accordance with the prevailing policies and procedures of the institution.

The second year of this award is contingent upon a progress report approved by the Foundation and submission of a financial report.

Application Information

Applications for a postdoctoral fellowship award should be submitted online by October 1, 2008. Please note that no applications will be accepted after the deadline date. Identification of the successful applicants will be made no later than December 15, 2008.

Pharmaceutics > Pre Doctoral Fellowships

Program

Pharmaceutics is that area of the pharmaceutical sciences that seeks the optimal development of a drug delivery product or device and its subsequent performance in the delivery of the drug from the device following its administration to a patient. Pharmaceutics is a multidisciplinary area, with significant underpinnings from such basic scientific disciplines as physical chemistry, physical organic chemistry, and biophysics.

Progress in pharmaceutics research requires the constant entry of well-trained investigators into the field. The PhRMA Foundation recognizes the critical need for such scientists and appreciates that the training of such individuals is both long and expensive, requiring four to five years of study and research. To encourage the entry of more qualified individuals into this area, the PhRMA Foundation program aims at supporting promising students during their thesis research by providing assistance in the form of stipend and funds to cover costs incidental to the training. Applications will be accepted for a minimum of one year and a maximum of two years.

The program is designed for applicants who expect to complete the requirements for the Ph.D. in pharmaceutics in two years or less from the time the fellowship begins. For the purposes of this program, pharmaceutics includes basic pharmaceutics, biopharmaceutics and pharmaceutical technology. The fundamental aspects of pharmacokinetics are not included since these are covered by PhRMA Foundation awards in pharmacology and toxicology. Students in this area are encouraged to submit an application to that program.

The program assumes that the fellows will devote full-time (including summers) to their research. The PhRMA Foundation fellowship may not be used as a supplement to funds from other fellowships or assistantships. However, this does not preclude institutions supplementing a fellowship with their own funds in order to bring the stipend within the normal range of the institution. The focus of the program is to assist in the predoctoral training of the applicant. It should not be viewed as a program to fund a research project. It should be stressed that the quality of the research proposed will be a major factor in the selection of fellows. The student's success in carrying out a rigorous academic [i.e., course work] program will be another major selection factor. Research projects which extend or develop the proprietary value of specific drug products are not acceptable in this program. This exclusion does not preclude research in which specific drug products are used to test hypotheses which have a general applicability. Applications, however good, which do not meet the aims of the program will be disapproved.

Eligibility

The fellowship program of pre doctoral support is designed to assist full-time, in-residence Ph.D. candidates in pharmaceutics who are enrolled in a school of pharmacy accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education. The program seeks to support advanced students who will have completed the bulk of their pre-thesis requirements (generally two years of study) and are starting their thesis research by the time the award is activated. Students just starting in graduate school should not apply.

To be eligible, applicants must hold a B.S., M.S., or Pharm.D. degree in pharmacy or a related area such as chemistry or biology from an accredited school in the U.S. A candidate enrolled in a Pharm.D./Ph.D. program should not be taking required clinical course work or clinical clerkships during the tenure of the fellowship. Also, before an individual is eligible to apply for a PhRMA Foundation award, the applicant must first have a firm commitment from a U.S. university, and must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

Award

The award is made to the university on behalf of the fellow. The fellowship provides a stipend of $20,000 a year payable monthly for a minimum of one year and a maximum of two years. Of the $20,000 awarded annually, $500 a year may be used for incidentals directly associated with the thesis research preparation (e.g., secretarial help, artwork, books, travel, etc.).

Awards may be activated beginning January 1, 2009 or on the first day of any month thereafter, up to and including August 1, 2009. The second year of a fellowship is contingent upon certification by the thesis advisor that satisfactory progress is being achieved.

This program is designed to provide students stipend support during thesis research. An individual may not simultaneously hold or interrupt any other fellowship providing stipend support during the PhRMA Foundation fellowship. This stipend may be supplemented by the institution in order to bring the stipend into the normal range used by the institution for similar awards, e.g., research assistantships and fellowships. During the tenure of the fellowship, the fellow must be a full-time, in-residence student.

The stipend may be continued for up to three months after completion of the requirements for the doctorate, provided that the student remains in the department during this period and has obtained no other stipend or salary support. This provision applies only if there is sufficient time remaining within the agreed upon period of the fellowship and upon specific request to the Foundation detailing how the time would be used.

Indirect costs are not provided to the institution and PhRMA Foundation grant funds may not be used for this purpose.

Application Information

The application for a pre doctoral fellowship award should be submitted online by October 1, 2008. Please note that no applications will be accepted after the deadline date.

No more than two applicants from a department may be proposed for a fellowship in any one-year. Identification of the successful applicants will be made no later than December 15, 2008.