Postdoctoral Support
Accepting Applications
The Stanford Maternal and Child Health Research Institute (MCHRI) Postdoctoral Support provides funding for innovative research focused on maternal and child health across all disciplines. This opportunity is available for: Postdoctoral Fellows.
Research must be primarily related to maternal and child health. Child refers to the expectant mother, oocyte, zygote, embryo, fetus, infant, child, and adolescent. All areas of research are eligible: basic, translational, clinical research, epidemiology/statistics, informatics, health services, or health policy.
MCHRI members and their mentees planning to apply to the Postdoctoral Support Program must consult with a data scientist. Reserve your 1-hour slot at the registration link below.
QSU Consultation Dates: January 9, 13, 24, and February 7
Funding Amount: $90,000 per year for up to 2 years
Details: Funded postdoctoral fellows will receive an annual salary capped at $73,800 plus fringe benefits not to exceed $90,000. Any remaining gaps in salary must be covered by the mentor.
Mentor Commitment: This funding mechanism requires a commitment from the primary mentor of $45,000 for year 2, providing a total combined MCHRI/primary research mentor support of $90,000 for year 2 of funding. Total MCHRI support is up to $135,000 over two years.
The postdoc’s primary research mentor must be a MCHRI Member and one of the following:
- MD, MD/PhD, or PhD whose primary focus is maternal and/or child health research.
- MD, MD/PhD, or PhD who wishes to expand his/her interest in maternal and/or child health research.
- The postdoc appointment must have started on or after January 1, 2023, to be eligible.
- We define a postdoc’s PGY3 as the 12 months starting at the beginning of their third-year appointment.
- To assess eligibility for the full 1.5 years of funding, we calculate the PGY3 eligibility window by subtracting 30 months from the award start date. Postdocs whose appointment start date falls within this 30-month period are eligible.
- MCHRI reserves the right to evaluate the PGY of each awarded postdoc and will make adjustment to budget and/or the award term accordingly.
- For questions regarding eligibility, please email mchri_admin@stanford.edu.
ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
APPLICATION DEADLINE
March 2, 2025
NOTICE OF AWARD
May/June 2025
AWARD START DATE
July 1, 2025
Forms for Applicants
- All applicants must have, or plan on, having a focus on maternal and child health research.
- All applicants and their Primary Research Mentor must be MCHRI Members.
- A Primary Research Mentor must be identified for postdoctoral fellows.
- All applicants must have legal residence in the United States (Applicants with H or J visas are eligible).
- All applicants must have a postdoctoral appointment date effective no later than the application deadline. The MCHRI Awards are not to be used for recruiting purposes.
Note: Clinical fellows (MD or equivalent) training in a clinical fellowship program should not apply through this mechanism.
The following are not eligible:
- Clinician Educators (CEs)
- Visiting scholars to Stanford
- Senior Research Scientists, Research Associates/Assistants
- Former recipients of MCHRI/PRF/LPFCH-sponsored awards who have not complied with award/reporting requirements. Mentor or applicants who have overdraft(s) in previous awards that are not cleared prior to applying are not eligible.
- Prospective postdocs with an appointment date occurring after the application deadline.
Postdoctoral Fellow Specific Eligibility
- The number of applications and total number of funded postdoctoral fellows per lab/PI shall be limited to one per cycle and at any given time. Questions regarding eligibility may be directed to MCHRI.
- *NEW* Mentors with funded postdocs are required to serve as a reviewer for the program, if requested, for a period of two years as a condition for renewal funding. Please see the policy for more details.
- Resubmissions shall be limited to one.
- Eligibility is limited to postdoctoral fellows in their first year through halfway into their third year at the time of application.
- Third-year applicants are eligible to apply for up to 1.5 years of funding, which covers the remainder of their third year and extends through their fourth year.
- To be eligible for renewal funding, postdoctoral fellows must be at PGY4 status or lower at the start of their award renewal period.
- Third year applicants must articulate how this funding will help their career path. (e.g., facilitate a transition into a new field, etc.)
- Funding for year two is not guaranteed and subject to review of progress, career plans, and documentation of the postdoc’s application for external funding.
- Applicants who completed a first post-doctoral fellowship at an institution not affiliated with Stanford University and wish to pursue a second post-doctoral fellowship at Stanford University in a different scientific area are eligible.
- Projects that introduce a new maternal and child health focus in the mentor’s lab are encouraged.
| YEAR | # of Applications | # of Awards |
Funding Rate |
Total Awarded |
| FY 24 | 89 | 16 | 18% | $1,285,351 |
| FY 23 | 87 | 14 | 16% | $1932,903 |
| FY 22 | 61 | 17 | 28% | $1,060,635 |
| FY 21 | 56 | 14 | 25% | $986,690 |
| FY 20 | 94 | 20 | 21% | $1,528,650 |
| FY 19 | 111 | 18 | 16% | $1,273,411 |
| FY 18 | 93 | 14 | 15% | $897,392 |
| FY 17 | 64 | 18 | 28% | $947,000 |
| FY 16 | 64 | 24 | 38% | $1,129,000 |
| FY 15 | 72 | 20 | 28% | $1,000,000 |
| FY 14 | 78 | 20 | 26% | $932,000 |
| FY 13 | 37 | 24 | 65% | $1,156,000 |
| FY 12 | - | - | - | - |
| FY 11 | 34 | 17 | 50% | $594,988 |
Please contact MCHRI Administration at mchri_admin@stanford.edu or 650-724-0279 with any questions.