About Michigan Pioneer Fellows
The Medical School and its Endowment for the Basic Sciences, the Life Sciences Institute, and the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, at the University of Michigan (participating units) have partnered to offer the Michigan Pioneer Fellows program, a highly competitive postdoctoral fellowship program to enhance the research program of the entire life and biomedical sciences enterprise at Michigan.
The Michigan Pioneer Fellows program provides financial and mentoring support to highly motivated and accomplished post-doctoral fellows bound for research-intensive careers. The program offers competitive salary and financial resources, and provides mentorship focused on nurturing and launching innovative scientists into groundbreaking careers.
APPOINTMENT
Fellows are appointed full-time for a 12-month period, with the expectation that the appointment will be renewed annually for three years.
Fellows will join a research group onsite in Ann Arbor in the U-M Medical School, the Life Sciences Institute, or the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. Fellows are strongly encouraged to pursue training in a highly collaborative environment involving more than one PI.
The fellowship includes an annual compensation corresponding to 120% of the NIH pay scale for postdoctoral fellows. The mentor(s) and participating units are responsible for 75% and 25%, respectively, of the stipend and benefits. In addition, a sum of $15,000, provided by the unit, will be placed under the control of the fellow to cover expenses related to attendance of scientific meetings, research endeavors, and training and professional development.
Fellows receive a subsidized health and dental plan for the fellow and their dependents, and optional life insurance. For more information, visit Academic Human Resources.
Starting dates for the fellowship are negotiable.
Research fellows Alex Knights, Ph.D. (above) and Amanda Erwin, Ph.D. (below)
ELIGIBILITY
We are seeking early-career researchers of exceptional promise in the life and biomedical sciences.
Applicants must be available to be in lab onsite in Ann Arbor during the fellowship (not a virtual program.)
Applicants must be less than one year post-degree (Ph.D., M.D./Ph.D., or Pharm.D./Ph.D.) at the time of application, or enrolled as students in the final year of their doctoral degree program. Degree confirmation must be provided prior to the start of the fellowship.
For applicants who have entered clinical training programs (including those with M.D., D.O., and Pharm.D. degrees), they must be less than one year past their post-graduate clinical training end date at the time of application.
Applicants currently in their first year of postdoctoral research in a U-M laboratory are eligible. Individuals who seek to continue training in the laboratory environment in which they have conducted doctoral thesis research are not eligible.
International students are welcome to apply. International applicants who have just completed their degree will be expected to take advantage of the F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) training time allowed or STEM status, if applicable. Those not eligible for F-1 OPT will be assisted in obtaining a visa.
The program is open to all. Women, first-generation college students and minorities underrepresented in the sciences are strongly encouraged to apply (see U-M nondiscrimination policy)
Professional Development
Fellows will form a mentoring committee composed of their primary mentor(s), and at least two other leading scientists in their field.
Fellows will meet monthly with the Program Directors for career development workshops and scientific discussions.
Fellows will participate in rigorous grant writing workshops for transition awards and K-fellowships.
The program will support fellows with additional training in a broad set of skills necessary for a successful career in research, including scientific writing, oral presentation, lab management and applying for jobs.
History
In 2023, Michigan Life Sciences Fellows and Michigan Postdoctoral Pioneer Program combined to form the Michigan Pioneer Fellows. These two programs merged to provide maximum professional growth, mentorship and collaborative opportunities to participants. Combined, these two programs offer postdoctoral fellows unique opportunities to interact and grow with a cohort of peers, while receiving both the independence to pursue their scientific projects and the necessary support to develop as scientific leaders.
Fellows presenting at a poster session
