Is the Helen Hay Whitney Fellowship open now?
No. Applications for the 2027 fellowship closed on 15 June 2026.
How much is the stipend?
The Foundation publishes US$73,000 for year 1, US$75,000 for year 2 and US$77,000 for year 3, plus a US$1,500 annual research allowance.
Who is the fellowship designed for?
Early postdoctoral biomedical researchers, not established scientists or advanced fellows.
What does this scholarship actually cover?
A competitive three-year early-postdoctoral biomedical fellowship with rising annual stipends, research allowance and relocation travel support.
Other verified benefits
Stipend rises from US$73,000 in year 1 to US$75,000 in year 2 and US$77,000 in year 3; travel to the fellowship location is covered for the Fellow and family; child allowance is US$1,500 per child per year.
Costs not confirmed or not covered
No spouse allowance is provided. Health insurance can be supported from the annual research allowance but is not listed as a separate full benefit.
Who is eligible to apply?
PhD applicants must generally have received the doctorate within two years of the deadline; M.D./M.D.-Ph.D. applicants within four years. Applicants must have spent no more than one year in the proposed postdoctoral laboratory by the deadline.
Foreign citizens may receive the fellowship only for research in U.S. laboratories. The Foundation receives roughly twenty times more applications than awards.
Eligible countries
U.S. citizens may train in the U.S., Canada or abroad; foreign citizens are eligible for fellowship training in U.S. laboratories.
Language requirements
No universal IELTS requirement stated; research-laboratory and immigration requirements apply.
Which documents were historically required?
This is a historical checklist, not a current application checklist.
- Research proposal
- CV or résumé
- Two reference letters
Which documents may be required conditionally?
- Passport/ID
What should you do next?
- Wait for the next online application to open.
- Choose an eligible academic postdoctoral laboratory.
- Prepare a strong biomedical research proposal and academic recommendations.
- Submit through Proposal Central before the next deadline.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Helen Hay Whitney Fellowship stipend?
The current fellowship pays US$73,000 in the first year, US$75,000 in the second and US$77,000 in the third, plus a US$1,500 annual research allowance.
Can international researchers apply for Helen Hay Whitney?
Yes. Foreign citizens can apply, but their fellowship research must take place in a laboratory in the United States under the Foundation's current rules.