Student wearing glasses uses a tool to fix a bike wheel in the Bike Barn

Current Funding Opportunities

UC Davis/UC System

  • McNair Scholars Program Seeking Nominations for 2026–2027 Cohort
  • Graduate students help shape the next generation of scholars. The UC Davis McNair Scholars Program is seeking nominations, and we appreciate your support in identifying talented undergraduates who can benefit from our program.

    Our program equips students with the skills and experiences needed to stand out in the competitive graduate school application process, including faculty-mentored research, professional development, and preparation for graduate school.

    We encourage you to nominate students in your classes, labs, or networks who show strong potential for graduate study. Nominations can be sent directly to Juan Cervantes at [email protected]

    Learn more and apply: https://mcnair.ucdavis.edu
  • UC LEADS Fellowship
  • UC LEADS Fellows are eligible to receive competitive funding packages of at least 5 years, including tuition and fees, stipend/salary support, and a summer stipend. Fellows also receive a transition supplement, to support moving expenses and/or the transition to graduate school at a UC campus, and a professional development funding allocation to be used at any time during your Ph.D. program.

    Graduate Program Application Fee Waivers
    The application fee is waived for UC LEADS alumni applying to master’s and doctoral programs at all 10 of our UC campuses. (Note: this waiver applies to UC master's applications as well, though the fellowship is for UC Ph.D. students only.)

    Fellowship Award Details
    For funding eligibility, UC LEADS alumni must apply and be admitted to a UC STEM Ph.D. program within 5 years of completing their UC LEADS undergraduate program. There is no additional application, and there is currently no limit to the number of awards that will be given.

    Fellowship Funding
    All admitted UC LEADS alumni are eligible to receive competitive funding packages of at least 5 years. The UC LEADS Fellowship is a cost-shared award package between UCOP and your UC graduate program, and includes tuition and fees, stipend/salary support (at the competitive level for your program), and a summer stipend (for at least the 2 years covered by UCOP). Additional funding details will be provided in the offer letter once you are accepted into a program.

    Living Supplement/Transition Award
    Enrolled UC LEADS Fellows will receive a $3,000 transition supplement, to support moving expenses and/or the transition to graduate school at a UC campus.

    Professional Development
    Enrolled UC LEADS Fellows will receive a $5,000 professional development funding allocation that may be used at any time during their Ph.D. program.

    Learn More: https://ucleads.ucop.edu 

  • Leaders for the Future Fellowship
  • The Leaders for the Future Fellowship is open to UC Davis Master’s and Ph.D. students as well as postdoctoral researchers in all disciplines who are interested in developing leadership, innovation and business skills while engaging in an experiential project or applied experience outside academia.

    Structured career exploration and professional development through a series of workshops. 9-month long program.

    Apply and Learn More: https://innovate.ucdavis.edu/leaders-future 

  • Graduate Student Child Care Grant (GSCCG)
  • The Graduate Student Child Care Grant (GSCCG) Program provides up to $5,675 per UC student per year. The program is designed to offset actual costs incurred in childcare services. The GSCCG can be supplemented with additional funds from the Community Based Care Grant (CBCG) program for those students who demonstrate both financial and situational need. 

    Please visit the website for more information and applications: https://hr.ucdavis.edu/departments/worklife-wellness/student-parent/ucd-grant
  • Community Based Care Grant (CBCG)
  • The Community Based Care Grant (CBCG) provides awards to full-time graduate and professional students parents who demonstrate financial and situational need. Children from birth through age 12 are eligible: $2,400 per quarter or $3,600 per semester is awarded for children 0-1; $2,000 per quarter or $3,000 per semester is awarded for children 2-5; and $1,100 per quarter or $1,650 per semester is awarded for children 6-12.

    Please visit the website for more information and applications: https://hr.ucdavis.edu/departments/worklife-wellness/student-parent/ucd-grant
  • LAUNCH Postdoctoral Training Program
  • The LAUNCH (Leaners to Leaders in Urology, Nephrology, and non-Cancer Hematology) Training Program is looking for applicants for its open postdoctoral training slots for one year of support to start before June 30, 2025. Any postdoctoral fellow or trainee who wishes to undergo research training in the basic, clinical or translational sciences within non-malignant urology, nephrology and hematology is encouraged to apply.

    Applications can be submitted on a rolling bases. Application reviews will be conducted two weeks after the full application materials are received, with applicants who are selected to move on then completing an interview.

    To be eligible, candidates must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident; be affiliated with UC Davis, USCF, UC Berkeley or Stanford University; have an M.D., M.D./Ph.D., or D.V.M.; commit to academic careers in research; have a primary mentor who has a track record of success in research in nephrology, urology, or hematology; have not already received more than two years of T32/F32 or TL1 funding; and conduct research within the mission areas. 

    Visit launch.ucsf.edu for more information. 

 

External Opportunities

  • California-Denmark Innovator Fellowship
  • Spend January-June 2026 immersed in Denmark’s bioinnovation ecosystem, exploring solutions for food, nutrition and planetary health. This fully funded experience will identify three PhDs or postdocs to conduct translational and commercial research to advance new technologies. Application deadline May 17; Learn more here.

    Info Session: Thursday, May 7, 9 a.m.: Register here on Zoom