Overview

The Cancer Research Institute (CRI) Postdoctoral Fellowships offer promising young scientists the opportunity to advance their careers while contributing to groundbreaking cancer research. By providing financial support and fostering innovation, this program empowers researchers to explore novel ideas in immunotherapy, cellular therapy, and other cutting-edge fields in cancer science.

Who Can Apply?

• Proficiency in English.
• Open to applicants from all countries worldwide.
• Applicants must work in areas directly related to immunology or cancer immunology. Projects should fall within the broad scope of immunology and have relevance to addressing cancer-related challenges.
• Applicants must hold a doctoral degree by the time the award is activated. Research must be conducted under a sponsor with a formal appointment at the host institution.
• Applicants with five or more years of relevant postdoctoral experience are ineligible, except for M.D. applicants, where residency years are excluded from this calculation.
• Applicants who have already spent three or more years in a sponsor’s lab by the fellowship start date will only be considered in exceptional cases.

Application Procedure

Steps to Apply for the CRI Irvington Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

Step 1: Complete the Application Form

• Fill out the PDF application form, print it, and secure signatures for the Institutional Certifications section.
• Signatures are required from the following:
  • Internal Review Board (IRB) or Certifying Officer: To confirm compliance with government and institutional regulations.
  • Administrative Officer: To validate administrative oversight.
  • Financial Officer: To confirm financial compliance.

Step 2: Submit the Form

• Once the form is complete, scan it as a PDF.
• Upload the scanned form along with other required documents during the online application process.

Step 3: Compile and Upload Supporting Documents
On the final page of the application, upload the following materials in a single PDF document in the specified order:

1. Completed PDF Application Form: Include the cover sheet and ensure all required signatures are present for section three.
2. Applicant Background and Research Accomplishments: Provide a brief overview.
3. Funding Sources: List all other funding applications, including their submission deadlines.
4. Curriculum Vitae (CV) and Bibliography: Include all relevant academic and professional details.
5. Project Summary: Highlight the relevance of the proposed research to understanding or treating cancer through immunological approaches.
6. Non-Technical Abstract: Write a clear, layperson-friendly summary of the research, its importance, and potential clinical impact (for fundraising purposes).
7. Detailed Research Proposal:
   • Include background, significance, specific aims, materials, and methods.
   • Limit to 6 pages, including tables and figures (references are not included in the page count).
8. Sponsor’s Letter of Introduction: The sponsor must introduce the applicant, outline their qualifications, and confirm direct supervision of the proposed research.
9. Sponsor’s CV/Biosketch and Bibliography: Limit the bibliography to the past 5 years or publications relevant to the proposed research. Include a list of the sponsor’s current research support.
10. Letters of Recommendation:
    • Two letters are required.
    • One must be from the applicant’s thesis advisor.
    • The second should come from an individual familiar with the applicant’s work (not the sponsor).
    • If the sponsor was also the thesis advisor, contact CRI for further instructions.

What Financial Support is Available?

• A stipend of $55,000 for the first year, $57,000 for the second year, and $59,000 for the third year of the fellowship.
• An additional annual allowance of $1,500 provided to the host institution, which can be utilized at the sponsor’s discretion to cover the fellow’s research supplies, travel to scientific conferences, or health insurance costs.