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CRI Immuno-Informatics Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026: Funding, Eligibility & Deadline

MedOpportunities · New Castle, IN · 2 days ago
AnalystFull-time

Opportunity Overview

Cancer immunology increasingly relies on researchers who can bridge the gap between biological and quantitative sciences. The CRI Immuno-Informatics Fellowship supports hypothesis-driven projects in basic or translational cancer immunology. Successful projects must leverage innovative computational methods or high-throughput “omic” approaches to address critical gaps in understanding the immune system's role in cancer.

Benefits

  • Three years of robust financial support, structured as follows:

    • Year 1 Stipend: $74,000
    • Year 2 Stipend: $76,000
    • Year 3 Stipend: $78,000

  • Institutional Allowance: An additional $5,000 per year is provided to the host institution for research supplies, conference travel, health insurance, or childcare.

  • Bonus Training: Dedicated support is provided for fellows to attend the CRI Bioinformatics Bootcamp.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Applicants must hold a doctoral degree by the date of award activation.

  • Must have fewer than 5 years of mentored research experience at the time of award activation.

  • Must conduct research under a sponsor who holds a formal appointment as an assistant professor (or higher) at the host institution.

  • The research project must fall within the broad field of immunology and be directly relevant to solving the cancer problem.

  • Only 1 fellow per sponsor may apply per application round, and faculty sponsors cannot have more than 3 CRI-supported fellows simultaneously.

  • Applicants who have already spent 3 or more years in their sponsor's laboratory are generally ineligible, except under exceptional circumstances.

Required Documents

  • Applicant Background: Brief description of accomplishments (max 500 words).

  • Knowledge Gap Statement: Description of missing skillsets and how this fellowship fills those gaps (max 250 words).

  • CV/Biosketch: Applicant’s, sponsor's, and co-sponsor's curriculum vitae and bibliography (NIH biosketch preferred).

  • Project Summary: Relevance to cancer/immunology (max 500 words).

  • Lay Abstract: Non-technical summary for fundraising purposes (max 250 words).

  • Specific Aims: Project objectives (max 500 words).

  • Research Proposal: Background, significance, materials, and methods (max 4 pages, excluding references/figures).

  • Letters of Recommendation: Two letters are required (one must be from the applicant’s thesis advisor).

  • Sponsorship Letters: Letters from both the sponsor and co-sponsor detailing their qualifications and the training environment.

Tips to Increase Your Chances

  • Emphasize the "Dual-Training" Aspect: Make sure your application clearly articulates your current knowledge gap (e.g., you know immunology but lack data science skills) and how the co-sponsor's environment will bridge this gap.

  • Follow Formatting Rules Strictly: Any attached documents must be typed single-spaced using a 12-point font or larger.

  • Submit Early: Do not wait until the last minute. Institutional approvals and DocuSign signatures often take longer than expected.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Exceeding Page Limits: Applications that exceed the stated word or page limits (such as the 4-page research proposal limit) will be automatically disqualified.

  • File Format Errors: Submitting Word documents instead of the required PDFs.

  • Color Scanning Letters: Referees should scan their letters in grayscale at a maximum of 300 dpi. Color scanning significantly increases file sizes and can cause upload errors.

  • Missing Signatures: Assuming the application is submitted before all DocuSign signatures are finalized.

Application Process

Access CRI's online Application Portal. Fill out the required online fields and upload all supporting documents individually as PDFs. Route the application for institutional signatures. Your application is not complete until all signatories have signed via DocuSign. Track your assigned application number in case you need to contact the grants department.

Application Timeline

  • Notification: Applicants are notified of the committee's decision approximately 10 to 12 weeks after the deadline.

  • Activation: Fellowships activate on the first of the month. They can be activated as early as 4 months after the deadline, but no later than 1 year following the deadline.

Deadline

  • Standard Deadlines Are March 1 And September 1 Annually.

  • Because Deadlines That Fall On Weekends Or Holidays Shift To The Next Business Day, The Upcoming 2026 Deadlines Are March 2, 2026 (11:59 p.m. Eastern Time) September 1, 2026 (11:59 p.m. Eastern Time)

FAQs

  • Q: Can I apply if my project isn't exclusively focused on cancer?

  • A: Your project must fall into the broad field of immunology, but it must have direct relevance to solving the cancer problem to be eligible.

  • Q: Am I allowed to resubmit if my application is rejected?

  • A: Yes. You can resubmit at a subsequent deadline, provided your new application demonstrates significant progress and explicitly addresses changes from the previous submission.

  • Q: Can my sponsor write one of my two letters of recommendation?

  • A: No. The second letter should be from an individual well-acquainted with your work, but not your fellowship sponsor. (If your sponsor was also your thesis advisor, you must contact CRI for specific instructions).

Final Thoughts

The CRI Immuno-Informatics Postdoctoral Fellowship is an elite opportunity that perfectly positions researchers for the future of oncology. By actively encouraging the marriage of big data and cellular biology, CRI is funding the next great wave of cancer breakthroughs. If you meet the criteria and want to expand your methodological toolkit, start preparing your specific aims and reaching out to potential co-sponsors well ahead of the deadline!

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