Postdoctoral Scholars Program
The Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind (KIBM) solicits proposals for the 2026-27 KIBM Postdoctoral Scholars Program.
The KIBM Postdoctoral Scholars Program provides both financial support and networking opportunities for exceptional postdoctoral scholars at UC San Diego and The Salk Institute to pursue innovative research in neuroscience. The award will be $50,000 for a 12-month period and is renewable for a second year contingent on good progress and the faculty mentor's continued sponsorship. Scholars will participate in meetings and present their work at the KIBM annual spring symposium.
- Applicants must hold a Ph.D. degree.
- Open to US citizens and non-US citizens.
- This program is only open to those who currently hold a full-time postdoctoral position in the field of neuroscience at UC San Diego or The Salk Institute.
- The applicant must have a minimum of six months of postdoctoral experience working in the laboratory of their sponsor at the time of application but no more than four years of cumulative postdoctoral training (including appointments at other institutions) by the time of award activation. Please consult with your department HR contact to confirm the maximum allowable duration of your postdoctoral appointment based on institutional guidelines.
- The award cannot be held concurrently with a fellowship that supports salary (or stipend) and benefits.
- To request an exception to any of the above criteria, please email kibm@ucsd.edu by January 09, 2026.
- UC San Diego postdocs should log into InfoReady via the UC San Diego Login button with their Active Directory credentials in order to access the application. Please note that this is considered an internal proposal for UC San Diego applicants so there is no need to route the application to UCSD’s Office of Contracts and Grants via Kuali Research.
- Salk postdocs should log into InfoReady under the Login for Other Users section to access the application. Salk postdocs who do not already have an InfoReady account can click on the Register button to create one.
Application Information and Materials
- Full Program Guidelines and Instructions [PDF]
- Biosketch Template [Word doc]
Online Application Form via InfoReady
The online submission portal for the 2026-27 Postdoctoral Scholars Program is now open. Applicants may need to log in and re-click the link below to access the application. Applications are due on Tuesday, January 20, 2026 by 5pm PT.
Reference Letters
Please review the Full Program Guidelines and Instructions for details on the reference letter requirements. After the postdoc submits their application online, referees will receive an email with instructions on how to submit their letter in support of the applicant. Reference letters are due on Friday, January 30, 2026 by 5pm PT.
Postdoc Scholars Program Cohorts
The KIBM Postdoctoral Scholars Program supports exceptional postdocs at UC San Diego and Salk Institute to pursue innovative research in neuroscience.
Post-Award Resources
Fund managers and awardees can access the Postdoctoral Scholars Program Post-Award Resources below to view award terms and conditions.