| Application Procedures | The Application Process at UCSF Fellowship/Award Administration |
| Fellowship Information | Grant Seeking Tips Extramural Fellowships for Ph.D. Students Extramural Fellowships for Postdoctoral Scholars National Fellowship Program Announcements Major Foundations and Government Agencies Professional Associations |
| Preparing Your Proposal | Proposal Writing Tips |
Most funding agencies post their requirements and application forms available online. Please review the forms and requirements well in advance of the deadline to determine if the signature of the Graduate Division or a Contracts and Grants Officer is required. Please refer to the instructions below to learn who should approve (and submit) your grant or fellowship application.
1. UCSF CONTRACTS AND GRANTS APPROVAL AND SUBMISSION: All predoctoral grants/fellowships that are funded by government agencies must be submitted through UCSF Contracts and Grants (C&G). The exception is the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP), which is submitted directly by the student. This includes, but is not limited to:
There are special forms that need to be submitted to C&G along with your application. You will need to work with a Grants Analyst in your department to have these forms prepared; they can also help you with other C&G requirements. If you do not know who your Grants Analyst is, talk to your PI or Graduate Program Administrator.
All application materials are due to Contracts and Grants no later than 9:00am, 4 business days in advance of the agency deadline. C&G will not review or submit late applications. Note that beginning February 1, 2010, the deadline will be 9:00am, 5 business days in advance of the agency deadline. Note that at least one of the C&G forms requires the signature of the Graduate Dean, so be sure to build that in to your submission timeline.
2. GRADUATE DIVISION APPROVAL AND SUBMISSION: Some non-federal grants or fellowships require the approval of the Graduate Dean or another institutional officer. This includes, but is not limited to:
Once approved by the Dean, the student is responsible for submitting the final application to the agency. The exeption to this is the American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship, which is submitted by the Graduate Division.
Applications must be submitted no later than 5:00pm, 5 business days in advance of the agency deadline. Please submit the complete application, along with the RFP/announcement, to: Kalai Diamond, Graduate Student Financial Support Analyst, Graduate Division, 1675 Owens Street CC-310, San Francisco, CA 94143-0523. The Graduate Division office is located in the Mission Bay Community Center, Room 310. You may leave your materials with the front desk assistant, along with your phone number and email address. You will be contacted when it is ready for pickup.
3. STUDENT SUBMISSION WITHOUT UNIVERSITY APPROVAL: Some grants/fellowships do not require any institutional approval before submission. In this case, work with your PI to prepare all application materials, and submit it by the agency deadline.
Extramural fellowships foster successful scientific careers by distinguishing the most meritorious research projects and demonstrating the recipient's commitment to securing support. The Graduate Division encourages students to apply for these prestigious awards. Eligibility, support, and application procedures vary by fellowship. Students should consult with UCSF graduate program directors, administrators, and graduate advisors as they prepare applications. For a list of the major national fellowship programs available to UCSF graduate students, please print the National Fellowship Program Announcements (pdf). You may conduct an on-line search to identify other sources of extramural support. Most On-Line Fellowship Search Databases are free and offer various ways to search for appropriate fellowships. For the best results, search more than one database using several parameters:
Some of the largest fellowship programs are run by government agencies (such as NSF and the Department of Homeland Security) and charitable foundations. Following is a partial list of some of the foundations and government agencies that have provided funding for UCSF students in the past:
You should also talk with your faculty mentor about sources of support for your field of research. Your faculty mentor can be a great source of information about funding agencies and professional associations (i.e. American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, etc.) that support research in your area. If you are unsure of what professional associations support your area of research, do a Google search on your research interest and see what professional associations come up. Some of the major professional associations are:
The UCSF Career Center offers books and classes to assist students in seeking extramural fellowships and writing grant proposals Listed below are some articles on grant proposal preparation and writing that may be helpful:
If your application is successful and you receive an award, please be sure to notify both your graduate program administrator and the Graduate Division (graduate.support@ucsf.edu) so that your award can be administered properly. You may require information about how and when you will receive your funds. You may also be required to submit annual and/or final reports. We will help ensure that you meet all award requirements and understand the benefits and obligations of your fellowship or grant.