• The candidate must be an enrolled student in a program leading to a research doctorate (such as a Ph.D. or Sc.D.) or a combined degree (such as an M.D./Ph.D.) in an academic department of an accredited university or health/medical institution.
• Eligible applicants and institutions DO NOT need to be located in the United States. International applications are encouraged.
• The candidate must have two or more years remaining before completing their program.
• The selected predoctoral fellow must spend at least 80% of their professional time engaged exclusively in their Autism Speaks autism research-related activities for the duration of the award and cannot simultaneously hold another fellowship award during the support period.
• Prior to application, predoctoral candidates must have an identified mentor for their fellowship.
• Autism Speaks is dedicated to equity, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from Black, racialized/visible minority, Indigenous/Aboriginal people, women, 2SLGBTQ+ persons and all other qualified applicants.
Students can only submit one application in response to this 2023 RFA. Mentors can be listed on only one student’s application.
Each academic institution has its own procedure for submitting grant applications. The Responsible Official (RO) is an institutional official who oversees how grants are administered and funds are distributed. They are authorized by the institution to apply for grants. Fellowship applicants cannot submit a grant application without the RO’s approval. A mentor cannot serve as an RO. To determine your school’s grant procedure, first ask your mentor, department head or office of graduate studies to explain your institution’s guidelines for grant submissions and to identify the official responsible for grants. Duke students should contact ORS (campus) or ORA (medical) for assistance.
• The Autism Speaks two-year Predoctoral Fellowship awards $37,000 USD per year. • This includes a stipend of $26,000 USD plus a $11,000 annual allowance. • The annual allowance can be used for research costs and supplies, professional travel, fringe benefits and/or tuition reimbursement. Indirect costs are not allowed. • During the two-year fellowship, awardees are ineligible to accept other grants and awards that fund the fellow’s stipend without explicit permission from Autism Speaks.