Graduate and Post-Doctoral Fellowships
What is a fellowship?
Fellowship awards are generally made to individual applicants. ISU agrees to administer the awards on behalf of the recipients. These awards are generally funded in response to proposals, which are routed through, and endorsed by, the Office of Sponsored Programs & Support. Each sponsor’s terms and conditions must be reviewed for ISU acceptability.
Awards are generally modest amounts. Support of the fellow is provided as a stipend. Sometimes a modest research allowance is included which may be used for health insurance, materials and supplies, travel, or computer purchase. Purchases must be made under the supervision of the faculty sponsor.
Graduate Fellows
Financial support for graduate students in the form of fellowships— covering a cash award to the fellow, tuition, and an additional allowance to ISU— is subject to the rules and regulations of the committee on Graduate School Policy. Faculty members who are soliciting fellowships should consult with the appropriate department head and the Dean for Graduate Education before making commitments.
More information about applying for funding as as graduate student
Post-Doctoral Fellows
A Postdoctoral Fellow is an individual who is performing independent research to further their education and research. This individual is not required to perform any specific research under the direct supervision of any individual or employer. It is common for the Fellow to collaborate with others who are working on similar research or to discuss possibilities or alternatives concerning the research with colleagues and receive assistance, suggestions, guidance or advice.
Fellows are expected to observe the policies and procedures of the university regarding conduct and behavior consistent with employees and visitors. To that extent the university exercises some behavioral control over all individuals. The important consideration is that the fellow maintains the final decision(s) regarding the direction of their research and is performing independently and not under the supervision of ISU.
A fellow is usually provided with a monthly stipend, the purpose of which is to support the fellow during their research. This stipend is not a salary because the fellow is not an employee, not hired by ISU to perform research, and is not performing under the direction or supervision of ISU. This income is referred to as “unearned” income by the IRS.
Common Fellowship Sponsors:
The Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Fund for Medical Research
Life Sciences Research Foundation
Medical Foundation – Charles A. King Trust