Nominations Open for the 2026-2027 ASCI PSSF Fellowship

The ASCI is pleased to call for nominations for the 2026-2027 ASCI PSSF Fellowship. The fellowship program provides MD-only medical students with a 12-month immersive and mentored gap-year training experience in basic, translational, or applied biomedical research.

The fellowship includes a $42,000 stipend and an additional allowance of $8,000 for health insurance and travel expenses.

The medical school dean’s nomination deadline is Monday, October 13, 2025, 11:59 PM Eastern.

The final application deadline is Monday, January 6, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern.

Instructions to Nominate:

Applicants must be nominated by their medical school dean, who may submit only one applicant per competition year. Deans will send the applicant’s name and email address to programs@the-asci.org. The ASCI will start the application and email candidates with access to upload materials, including their:

• brief biographical statement and headshot (to be published only if accepted),
• comprehensive research plan (1,000-word limit, not including references),
• research mentors’ recommendations,
• curriculum vitae, and
• undergraduate and medical school transcripts.

Fellowship candidacy will be evaluated based on the feasibility and scientific rigor of the proposed research projects, as well as the candidate’s strength of commitment and potential to successfully advance as a physician-scientist. Quality of training will be evaluated through the research plan and information provided in the mentor’s endorsement, including the mentor’s research qualifications, i.e. expertise and publication record in the research area, and external grant support to fund the research project for the entire proposed fellowship term.

The ASCI PSSF Fellowship includes:

• a $42,000 stipend and an additional allowance of $8,000 for health insurance and travel expenses.
• access to a monthly seminar series with ASCI PSSF Advisory Committee mentors and special guest speakers.
• a mid-year celebration to present fellowship research findings.
• complimentary registration to the AAP/ASCI/APSA Joint Meeting and programmatic access, including invitations to the:
  • Early Career Award Welcome Reception,
  • ASCI Dinner and New Member Induction Ceremony,
  • Food & Science Evening, and
  • Small Group Dinner with the ASCI PSSF Advisory Committee.
• Access to ASCI’s virtual community programming, including our:
  • ASCI Scientific Sessions – a virtual spotlight, held every two months, on distinguished investigators and their contributions to the field of biomedical research,
  • peer review groups and near-peer mentoring opportunities, and
  • activities on various biomedical topics led by established physician-scientists.

Eligibility:

The ASCI PSSF Fellowship is open to United States citizens and U.S. permanent residents only. Prior laboratory research experience is not required. Candidates may apply during any year of their medical school studies; applicants in the last year of school must defer graduation until the completion of the fellowship year. They may not be enrolled in a combined MD/PhD program, a PhD program, a PharmD, an ScD program, or have completed a PhD, PharmD, or an ScD in a laboratory-based science.

Important Dates: