MIT HEALS Graduate Fellowships Call for Applications
Grad Fellowships information session
May 12,2025
Introduction and Research Focus
Are you ready to take your research to the next level? The MIT Health and Life Sciences (HEALS) Graduate Fellowships applications will soon open for the 2025-2026 academic year and extend through summer 2026. This highly selective fellowship program supports roughly 30 exceptional graduate students by covering full tuition, providing a competitive stipend at the MIT standard rate, and including a full year of health insurance.
What truly distinguishes the HEALS Fellowship is the unique cohort experience. As a fellow, you will become part of an interdisciplinary community that thrives on scientific exchange, innovative career development, and personalized mentorship. This is your opportunity to join a vibrant network of scholars at the forefront of health and life sciences, where groundbreaking ideas and collaborative research redefine what’s possible.
Eligibility
We are looking for bold, cross-disciplinary thinkers tackling major challenges in health and life sciences. The fellowship is open to MIT graduate students from all departments and graduate programs whose work aligns with the HEALS mission.
Be currently enrolled as a PhD student at MIT
Have completed at least one year of graduate study by September 1, 2025
HEALS Graduate Fellowship Experience
Unlike traditional fellowships, HEALS graduate fellows will be part of an intellectually vibrant and interdisciplinary cohort, with structured opportunities to collaborate, exchange ideas, and refine their scientific vision.
- Faculty-led monthly cohort meetings: Fellows will present their research, receive peer feedback, and participate in discussions on emerging topics in health and life sciences.
- Career development and mentorship: Fellows will engage with faculty, industry leaders, and alumni to expand their professional networks.
- Institute-wide symposium: Fellows will showcase their work at an MIT-wide poster session, engaging with the broader research community and incoming fellows.
- Faculty engagement: The faculty advisors for HEALS graduate fellows will meet with each other regularly to foster collaboration and support fellows’ success.
Timeline
May 1, 2025
Application Opens
June 10, 2025
Application Materials Due
June 24, 2025
Nominations Due to HEALS
July 15, 2025
Selected Fellows Notified
Sept 1, 2025 – May 31, 2026
Fellowship Period
FAQs
Application Components
- 1 page summary of prior work
- 1–2-page proposal of research planned during the course of the fellowship
- One paragraph summary describing why this proposed work fits within the overall goals and mission of HEALS
- CV
- Letter of support/recommendation from the primary graduate advisor, including a commitment by the advisor to participate in quarterly HEALS activities
- One additional letter of support/recommendation
Students upload their materials to the submission portal for review by their graduate program.
Selection Criteria
The selection committee will evaluate applicants based on:
- Scientific or engineering excellence and innovation
- Potential to impact health and life sciences
- Commitment to collaboration and constructive engagement in the cohort
- Interdisciplinary scope and creativity
We particularly encourage applications from researchers whose work does not easily fit within traditional funding mechanisms but has the potential to make significant contributions to health and life sciences.
Fellowship Expectations
Graduate fellows must commit to meeting with their cohort at monthly, ~1 hour scientific meetings. During these meetings, there will be 2-3 scientific presentations from fellows (with each fellow presenting once during the year) as well as open discussions and career development opportunities
Faculty mentors/PIs must commit to meeting with each other during the year, attending at least 3 of the 4 quarterly meetings
Both fellows and PIs must attend a final Institute-wide poster session that will highlight the fellows and their workWe particularly encourage applications from researchers whose work does not easily fit within traditional funding mechanisms but has the potential to make significant contributions to health and life sciences.
Nomination Process
Students must be nominated by the department or graduate program through which they were admitted to MIT.
Each program may nominate a limited number of students. For questions about the internal nomination process, please contact your graduate program.
Review Process
Applications will be reviewed by a faculty selection committee, chaired by Iain Cheeseman (Whitehead Institute and Department of Biology), with representation from across Schools, the College, and departments. Applications will not be shared outside of the selection committee.
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