Skip to content
Circlebreaker

Funding

Salary · Grant

Scripps Research Fellows Program

FellowshipUSA · La Jolla

Scripps Research

Application Deadline

December 31, 2026

Official Page

Can you apply?

Here's who can apply

Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.

“A potential Scripps Research Fellow is a scientist of extraordinary promise and creativity, one who has recently received (or is about to receive) their PhD, MD, DVM or equivalent degree, or one who has spent less than a year working as a postdoctoral associate in the biomedical sciences.” Eligibility

  • Education required

    PhD Enrolled · PhD

Check my eligibility — free

Circlebreaker is a free database of global fellowships, scholarships and programs — every one decoded like this.

We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.

The Scripps Research Fellows Program selects a cohort of early-career scientists each year to start independent research at Scripps Research in La Jolla, California.

Fellows are appointed as research-track faculty, receive their own lab space and three years of funding, and lead a team while based in a faculty mentor’s lab. Several past Fellows were later promoted to tenure-track faculty at Scripps.

Benefits & funding

  • Dedicated laboratory space and three years of funding to build and lead a research team
  • Research-track faculty appointment with Principal Investigator status, so Fellows can apply for external grants independently
  • A faculty mentor and on-campus core facilities (e.g. cryo-EM)
  • Visa assistance for international scholars and their families
  • Duty: the primary appointment must be at Scripps; Fellows join the program’s on-campus activities

Eligibility

  • Recently received, or about to receive, a PhD, MD, DVM or equivalent degree, or less than one year as a postdoctoral associate in the biomedical sciences (exceptions in some fields, such as immunology)
  • Any nationality; current Scripps postdocs may apply
  • Basic research in the natural sciences: applied projects are unsuitable, but engineering projects that repurpose tools for basic research are welcome
  • Unsuccessful applicants may reapply if still eligible

Application process

  1. 1
    Prepare a cover letter, CV, a one-page personal statement and a research statement of up to 3 pages.
  2. 2
    Complete the roughly one-page form on how your research benefits from Scripps.
  3. 3
    Have 3 referees upload recommendation letters.
  4. 4
    Submit through Interfolio by December 31, 2026 for the first review round; emailed materials are not accepted.

Program timeline

  1. Interviews (until a suitable candidate is found)

    September 2026 – May 2027

  2. Application deadline (first review round)

    December 31, 2026

  3. Applications close at the latest

    May 2027

  4. Anticipated start

    Fall 2027

The monthly round-up

New fellowships, scholarships and programs, once a month. No account needed.