Award at a Glance
Award amount: $28,300 stipend
Application deadline: February 3
Questions? Contact: Member Communities Department
Who can apply: APS members who are graduate student members from underrepresented racial/ethnic backgrounds and are enrolled in a full-time program leading to a PhD. Advisor/PI must be an APS member in good standing at time of application.
Award Description
The goal of the Porter Physiology Development Fellowship is to promote diversity among students pursuing full-time studies towards a PhD in the physiological sciences and to encourage their participation in the American Physiological Society (APS).
The fellowship provides:
- A $28,300 stipend over 12 months
- Online professional development activities on networking skills and career development.
- Opportunities for travel awards to attend the American Physiology Summit, outreach and other professional services.
Eligibility
The applicant must:
- Be a member of the APS at the time of the application.
- Be a graduate student from an underrepresented racial or ethnic background.
- Be citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. or its territories.
- Have an advisor or principal investigator (PI) who is an APS member.
APS' awards and programs specific to underrepresented groups has governing criteria defined by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIH defines underrepresented group status in the institutes' Notice of NIH’s Interest in Diversity (Section A). Underrepresented groups in basic and biomedical research are defined according to National Science Foundation/NIH criteria as:
- Black or African American
- Hispanic or Latino
- American Indian or Alaska Native
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders
Criteria
The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) committee accepts multiple applications from the same institution. However, if significant duplication of content between the two applications is suspected, the committee reserves the right to reject applications without review.
The DEI Committee will make no more than one award to applications from the same mentor/lab in a specific year. The DEI Committee also reserves the right to limit the number of awards made to applicants from the same institution in a single year.
We are unable to provide unsuccessful applicants with feedback on their applications. Please visit the following guideline documents to help prepare an application.
Location of Study
Applicants may choose institutions of higher education that offer advanced degrees in physiology. The fellow's may study or engage in research at other institutions during the award tenure if judged to be beneficial to their training.
Tenure
Fellowships are awarded for one year, with the possibility of a second year of funding if trainee progress is rated by the DEI Committee to be good. Not all renewal applications will necessarily be funded. However, a student who is not given a second year of funding may reapply to the program as a new applicant for a second year of funding.
Stipends
- Annual stipend $28,300 paid to the institution in 12 installments starting in September.
- Restrictions: No dependency allowance, indirect cost, or tuition /fees covered. Employment or simultaneous fellowships stipends are not permitted.
- Funding for research support: To be provided by the training institution. A fellow may not accept private employment or another similar fellowship stipend simultaneously.
Evaluation and Selection
Applicants are reviewed by the DEI Committee, which serves as the panel of experienced researchers. Awards are evaluated holistically based on the following key criteria:
- Applicants Potential for Success
- Academic record: evaluation of GPA, course rigor, and demonstrated growth or resilience.
- Statement of interest: Clarity of research goals and alignment with physiological sciences.
- Previous awards and experiences: Evidence of dedication to research and contributions to the physiology field.
- Recommendation letters: Strength and specify of endorsements, with emphasis on the applicant's research skills and potential.
- Training Environment Quality
- Advisory/PI quality: Evaluation of advisor's experience, mentorship record, and relevance to the applicant's proposed research.
- Institutional resources: Availability of facilities, equipment, and support to enable successful research training.
- Research/Training plan:
- Clarity and feasibility: Well-defined objectives, innovative approaches, and feasibility of the proposed research.
- Relevance to physiology: Clear alignment of the research focus with physiological sciences
- Breadth and depth: Evaluation of the research scope and its potential contribution to the field.
Applications must provide sufficient information for the reviewer to assess the focus, breadth, and depth of the proposed research and its applicability to the physiological sciences. Documentation on training in responsible conduct of research, human subjects use, and care and use of vertebrate animals (as appropriate) must also be provided.
Conditions of Award
Award contingencies will be required of the applicant’s institution. Full‐time enrollment in a program leading to the PhD in the physiological sciences is required of the fellows. Institutions are expected to supplement Porter stipends to match that of comparable level fellows according to seniority.
A complete description of progress by the fellow, a current academic transcript and a letter from the advisor (or institutional representative) certifying that the fellow is making satisfactory progress will be required in March following the initiation of the fellowship year. This is not the renewal application. A separate renewal application may be submitted in February. Decisions regarding support beyond the first year will be based upon review of the renewal application and availability of funds. Continued APS graduate student membership is required for a second year of support.
Applications are only accepted via online submission.