Although many of our Colorado State University Cell and Molecular Biology (CSU / CMB) students are supported through Research and Teaching Assistantships while they work on their doctorate, we strongly encourage trainees to apply for their own funding.  There are many benefits to obtaining a fellowship:

  • More freedom in choosing a lab and / or project.
  • A larger stipend.
  • Excellent practice for an academic career where grant-writing is an invaluable skill.
  • Better prospects in your career and future grant applications.

Both the Graduate School (GS) and CMB run workshops to help students apply for National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP) fellowships each fall.  In addition, there are multiple Grant Writing Courses offered at CSU that can help you hone your proposal preparation skills.

A number of opportunities are highlighted below, and more are listed on the Fogarty International Center site. Contact Carol Wilusz if you would like examples of successful applications or to get contact information for a successful applicant.

CMB Outstanding Student Scholarship

These $250 scholarships go to CMB PhD students who show initiative and commitment by submitting an application for an externally funded fellowship such as the NSF – GFRP (National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships Program) or  NIH – F31 (National Institutes of Health).  Application deadlines are December 1  and May 1 each year, with up to five scholarships available for each deadline.  Awards for the December deadline will be disbursed at the start of Spring semester and May deadline in early Fall.

Please visit the CMB Outstanding Student Scholarship Program form for eligibility requirements and the application.

Fellowship Opportunities

Quantitative Cell & Molecular Biology Program (qCMB) T32 Fellowships

National Institute of General Medical Sciences Logo

The National Institutes of Health awarded the CMB Program a $1.1 million T32 Training Grant in July 2019.  This award will support four CMB PhD students in 2019 – 20 and six students in subsequent years through 2024.   In order to be eligible for this fellowship CMB students must join a T32  Preceptor’s Laboratory and engage in research that has a significant computational or quantitative component.  Applications for fall of the following year will open each Spring.

Current qCMB T-32 Fellows:

Diana Lowe – Telling Lab, Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology
Callie Slaughter – Snow Lab, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Melea Barahona – Nordgren Lab, Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences
Emma Magna – Snow Lab, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Meg Hemmerlein – Wilsterman Lab, Biology
Rosi Danzman – Prasad Lab, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Connor King – Piccoud Lab, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Victoria Talbott – Metcalf Lab, Animal Sciences
Alex Alon – Santangelo Lab, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Prior qCMB T-32 Fellows:

Carlos Juarez-Guzman – C. Argueso, Agricultural Biology
Lexi Keene – Stenglein Lab, Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology
Pablo Maldonado, Jr. – Henao-Tamayo Lab, Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology
Shady Kuster – Sloan Lab, Biology
Gaby Ramirez – Dobos Lab, Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology
Victoria Nieciecki – Metcalf Lab, Animal sciences
Naly Torres – E. Nishimura Lab, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Sean Merriman – L. Argueso Lab, Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences
Casey-Tyler Berezin – Vigh Lab, Biomedical Sciences
Kailee Reed – Montgomery Lab, Biology
Kai Leleiwi – Wrighton Lab, Soil and Crop Science
Sere Williams – Santangelo Lab, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Reed Woyda – Abdo Lab, Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology
Kristin Scott – Santangelo Lab, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Alissa Williams – Sloan Lab, Biology

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships Program (NSF-GRFP)

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PhD students in their first or second year of graduate school are eligible to apply.  The deadline is in mid – October each year. The award is $34,000 a year for 3 years, plus tuition and additional funds for travel and supplies.

Current CMB NSF – GFRP Fellows:

Kayl Ecton – Abdo/Dean Lab, Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology
Darcy Hunstiger – Peebles Lab, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Shady Kuster – Sloan Lab, Biology

Previous  CMB NSF – GFRP Fellows:

Katy McIntyre – C. Argueso Lab, Agricultural Biology
Alissa Williams – Sloan Lab, Biology
Adam Heck – C. Wilusz Lab, Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology

National Institute of Justice Graduate Research Fellowship in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)

National Institute of Justice Logo

NIJ’s Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) program supports doctoral students engaged in research that advances NIJ’s mission. The fellowship provides $150,000 over three years for stipend and tuition.

CMB NIJ Fellows:

2018 Heather Deel – Metcalf Lab, Animal Science

F31 The Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award

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These predoctoral fellowships enable promising students with potential to develop into productive, independent research scientists, to obtain mentored research training while conducting dissertation research. Each award covers stipend, tuition and fees for up to three years.  Students are most competitive for this type of award after they have passed their preliminary exam.  Deadlines are April 8, August 8, December 8 each year.

Current CMB F31/F30 Fellows:

Sam Brill – Thamm Lab, Clinical Sciences
Naly Torres- E. Nishimura Lab, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Previous CMB F31 Fellows:

Sarah Kane – Zabel Lab, Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology (2014 – 17)
Krystle Frahm – Tobet Lab, Biomedical Sciences (2013 – 14)
Sean Hammond – Tjalkens Lab, Biomedical Sciences (2016 – 17)
Katriana Popichak – Tjalkens Lab, Biomedical Sciences (2016 – 17)
Eric Tauchman – DeLuca Lab, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2014 – 16)

American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship

American Heart Association Logo

This scholarship is offered to enhance the integrated research and clinical training of promising students who are matriculated in pre – doctoral or clinical health professional degree training programs and who intend careers as scientists, physician – scientists or other clinician – scientists, or related careers aimed at improving global cardiovascular health.  Each award is for one to two years and covers stipend (~$24,000). Notably, this fellowship is open to international students as well as US citizens.  Deadline in July.

Previous CMB AHA Fellows:

Jerome Lee – C. Wilusz Lab, Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology

National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship

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As a means of increasing the number of U.S. citizens and nationals trained in science and engineering disciplines of military importance, the Department of Defense (DoD) plans to award fellowships to individuals who have demonstrated the ability and special aptitude for advanced training in science and engineering. Fellowships support an annual stipend of $38,000 plus tuition and fees for up to three years.  The deadline is in early December.  The format of the application is similar to NSF. First and second year predoctoral students are eligible.

National Institute of Food and Agriculture Predoctoral Fellowship

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The United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA) provides funding for single – function and integrated agricultural research, education, and extension efforts that address key problems of local, regional, national, and global importance in sustaining conventional and organic food and agriculture systems. Two – year Fellowships come with a stipend of up to $35,000 per year plus tuition and other benefits.  Students must have attained candidacy to be eligible.

Current CMB USDA-NIFA Fellow

Sam Ogden – M. Nishimura Lab, Biology

Previous CMB USDA-NIFA Fellows

Hannah Berry – C. Argueso Lab, Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management
Katy McIntyre – C. Argueso Lab, Agricultural Biology

Boren Fellowships

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The Boren Awards promote long term linguistic and cultural immersion.  Therefore, preference will be given to applicants proposing overseas programs of six months or longer.  However, applicants proposing overseas programs of three to six months, especially those in the STEM fields are encouraged to apply. The fellowship provides up to $24,000 for up to one year of overseas study. The deadline is in January each year

Science and Technology Policy Fellowships

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The Science and Technology Policy (STP) Fellowships program of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) provides opportunities to outstanding scientists and engineers to learn first-hand about policymaking while contributing their knowledge and analytical skills to the federal policymaking process. Fellows serve yearlong assignments in the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the federal government in Washington. Each year, the program adds to a growing corps over 3,000 strong of policy-savvy leaders working across academia, government, nonprofits and industry to serve the nation and the world. These fellowships are open to those who have completed their PhD degree and provide a stipend of $80 – 105,000 per year.

Previous  CMB Mass Media Fellows:

Sere Williams – Santangelo Lab, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Previous CMB STP Fellows:

Peter Winter – Roess Lab, Biomedical Sciences

Chateaubriand Fellowship Program

Chateaubriand Fellowship Logo

The Chateaubriand Fellowship is a grant offered by the Embassy of France in the United States. It supports outstanding PhD students from American universities who wish to conduct research in France for a period ranging from four to nine months. Chateaubriand fellows are selected through a merit – based competition, through a collaborative process involving expert evaluators in both countries.

Previous CMB Chateaubriand Fellow:

Jillian Lang – Leach Lab, Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management

Generating, Analyzing, and Understanding Sensory and Sequencing Information

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GAUSSI is an NSF – supported training program that brings CSU students from a variety of disciplines together to learn about generation and analysis of large biological datasets, such as those produced through DNA sequencing and biosensing.   Any CMB student can participate in GAUSSI activities during the 2019 / 20 academic year but the program will end in May 2020 and be superceded by qCMB.

CMB GAUSSI Fellows:

Dayton Pierce – Hoerndli Lab, Biomedical Sciences
Jessie Filer – Geiss Lab, Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology
Shea Moore-Farrell – Peebles Lab, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Adam Heck – C. Wilusz Lab, Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology

Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need Fellowships

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The CMB Program supported a number of fellows through this training award which ended in Spring 2019.  GAANN Department of Education Fellows are encouraged to gain experience in teaching and complete the Graduate Teaching Certificate offered through The Institute for Learning and Teaching (TILT). The award provides a stipend based on financial need along with tuition and fees.

Previous CMB GAANN Teaching Fellows:

Vanessa Selwyn – Telling Lab, Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology
Stephanie Morphet – Belisle Lab, Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology
Kristin Scott – Santangelo Lab, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Kaitlin Doucette – Crans Lab, Chemistry
Victoria Harcy – L. Argueso Lab, Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences
Kathy Cosenza – Mykles Lab, Biology
Kristen Brown – Montgomery Lab, Biology
Kaitlin Leddy – Stewart Lab, Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management
Dayton Pierce – Hoerndli Lab, Biomedical Sciences
Kelly Hassell – Crans Lab, Chemistry
Alissa Williams – Sloan Lab, Biology
Melissa Edwards – Brown Lab, Clinical Sciences
Kate Rockenbach – Sloan Lab, Biology

International Fellowships

Fullbright Fellowship Program 

The Fulbright Program expands perspectives through academic and professional advancement and cross-cultural dialogue. Fulbright creates connections in a complex and changing world. In partnership with more than 140 countries worldwide, the Fulbright Program offers opportunities in all academic disciplines to passionate and accomplished graduating college seniors, graduate students, and young professionals from all backgrounds. Program participants pursue graduate study, conduct research, or teach English abroad.

Previous CMB Fulbright Fellow:

Malik Zohaib Ali – Gonzalez-Juarrero Lab, Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology

Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future Program 

The Schlumberger Foundation is an independent nonprofit entity that supports science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. The program’s long-term goal is to accelerate gender equality in STEM by generating conditions that result in more women pursuing scientific careers through alleviating some of the barriers they encounter when enrolling in STEM disciplines.

Current CMB Schlumberger Fellow:

 Ban Alkurdi – Swygert Lab, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Colorado State University Fellowships

Vice President for Research (VPR) Graduate Fellows Program

The Vice President for Research (VPR) Graduate Fellows Program at Colorado State University supports excellence in graduate student research and promotes interdisciplinary work. These VPR Graduate Fellows receive research funding, professional development, networking opportunities, and travel funding aimed at preparing them to become thought leaders.

Current CMB VPR Fellows

Rosi Danzman – Prasad Lab, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Rachel Brady – Thamm Lab, Clinical Sciences
Callie Slaughter – Snow Lab, Chemical and Biological Engineering

Previous CMB VPR Fellows

Darcy Hunstiger – Peebles Lab, Chemical and Biological Engineering

McPherson Graduate Scholarship

Each year McPherson Graduate Scholarships are awarded to new applicants to Colorado State University’s Graduate School and cover the first year of graduate study with the opportunity for renewal in the second year.

Previous CMB McPherson Fellows

Pablo Maldonado – Henao-Tamayo Lab, Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology
Sam Ogden – M. Nishimura Lab, Biology

MLK Advancing Education Scholarship

The MLK Advancing Education Scholarship is awarded each year to one Colorado State University graduate student who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in promoting equities in education for underrepresented and/or racially minoritized students.

Previous CMB Advancing Education Fellow

Gaby Ramirez – Dobos Lab, Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology

STRATA Lab to Life Internship

The STRATA Lab to Life Internship was offered through the CSU Energy Institute’s Cogen Summer Internship as a partnership between the CSU Institute for Entrepreneurship (I4E) and CSU STRATA. The goal is to assist the entrepreneurial efforts of I4E and CSU STRATA working together to launch companies and prepare them for financing, early sales, growth, research, and business development. This position works with inventors, experienced executives, and in various technologies to launch and build companies.

Current CMB STRATA Fellow

Darcy Hunstiger – Peebles Lab, Chemical and Biological Engineering