Fellowship Program Description with Application Instructions
The University of Minnesota announces its 2026-2027 Research Fellowship Program in Neuromodulation.
Graduate ● Postdoctoral ● Resident/Clinical Fellow
One year Fellowships to start in the Summer or Fall 2026
Deadline to Apply is 5:00 PM (CT) on Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Recipients will be notified by mid-April 2026
Awards are for one year and may be applied to stipend, benefits, tuition (in the case of student trainees), and enterprise assessment. Funds are for up to $65,368 for graduate students, up to $86,066 for postdoctoral trainees, and up to $91,465 for clinical fellows/residents).
Program Description
Fellowships are funded by the Discoveries and treatments for brain conditions core area of the Minnesota Discovery, Research, and InnoVation Economy initiative (MnDRIVE). Fellowships will be awarded to outstanding graduate (doctoral) students, postdoctoral trainees, and residents/clinical fellows pursuing basic, translational, or clinical research in neuromodulation.
Neuromodulation
Neuromodulation is a transdisciplinary field focused on treating neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders with technological interventions at the neural interface that are non-destructive, reversible, and adjustable. Neuromodulation research integrates basic science, engineering, and clinical disciplines to yield new insights into brain function and develop therapeutic innovations that include electrical, magnetic, optogenetic, and ultrasound technologies. Fellowship applications using purely pharmaceutical interventions and genetic manipulation will NOT be considered responsive to this call for applications.
Note: If you are unsure if your research project meets the requirements of the fellowship call, please contact Karrie Molitor ([email protected]) to check prior to submission.
MnDRIVE
MnDRIVE is a landmark partnership between the University and the state of Minnesota. Discoveries and treatments for brain conditions, a MnDRIVE core area of research and partnership, addresses complex and debilitating brain-related disorders by leveraging university and state investments in medicine and engineering and extending our vibrant partnerships with medical device industries in Minnesota.
Learn more about the MnDRIVE Discoveries and Treatments for Brain Conditions core
Learn more about MnDRIVE here
Criteria for Selection
UPDATED POLICY: Previous recipients of a MnDRIVE Neuromodulation Research Fellowship are NOT eligible to apply. There will also be no fellowship renewals. Fellowship must begin no later than Fall 2026 and must not be under any additional funding. There will be limited fellowship awards given to recipients belonging to the same lab/personal investigator.
Fellowship recipients will be selected based on academic record, clinical record (for residents/clinical fellows), prior research training, experience and productivity, the training plan during the fellowship and its alignment of the training experience with the goals of the MnDRIVE initiative, relevance of the proposed research to the field of neuromodulation, quality of the proposed project (rationale, design, rigor), innovation and potential impact of the project, and the timeline and feasibility of the project. Applicants working on projects with industry partners and/or commercial potential are especially encouraged to apply.
Graduate Fellowships: We seek outstanding doctoral students with strong undergraduate and graduate school records whose thesis research is focused on neuromodulation for brain conditions and nervous system disorders.
Postdoctoral Fellowships: We seek outstanding postdoctoral trainees who are planning on, or already working with, University of Minnesota faculty mentors on neuromodulation research at the University of Minnesota. Upon starting the fellowship at the University, a recipient must be a postdoctoral trainee in a job classification reflective of that role (e.g., recipients must have a PhD at the time they start the fellowship; PhDs in professional positions at the University are not eligible for the fellowship).
Residents/Clinical Fellowships: We seek outstanding MDs interested in working in the field of neuromodulation. To be eligible for the fellowship, applicants should have an MD or MD/PhD, be a resident or fellow in a Board of Regents approved residency or clinical fellowship program at the University of Minnesota, and have a current license to practice medicine in Minnesota or a Minnesota Board of Medicine Residency permit by the award period.
The University of Minnesota is an affirmative action/equal opportunity educator and employer.
Application Instructions
There are three parts to the application, all must be completed and submitted no later than 5:00 PM (CT) on Wednesday, January 14, 2026.
REQUIRED: Please include headings on each page with your name, program or department, mentors name, and the page number. The document should follow the following NIH guidelines: 11 point font size, Arial font text, 0.5 margins size, and single line spacing.
PART 1. Online fellowship application form.
Applicant should complete the online fellowship application form, which calls for the following required information:
- Applicant name and contact information (telephone, email, current and permanent address).
- University of Minnesota faculty mentor contact information (this will be the faculty mentor under whose direction the applicant will work should the applicant receive a fellowship) - name, phone, email, position, department.
- Names and contact information of two individuals OTHER THAN the FACULTY MENTOR who will write LETTERS OF REFERENCE on behalf of the applicant.
Applicant will also upload a PDF document to the application containing the following sections in the order shown:
Project Title and Summary - (Limit = 1/2 page, 11 pt Arial font)
Statement of Project Significance - (Limit = 1 to 4 sentences, 11 pt Arial font) The applicant should provide a BRIEF general STATEMENT of the PROJECT'S SIGNIFICANCE - Explain in a language appropriate for the general public. For example: Dr. Garcia's patient-centered research on targeting deep brain stimulation within the subthalamic nucleus will lead to improved treatment for the cardinal motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
Statement of Relevance to Minnesota - (Limit = 1 to 5 sentences, 11 pt Arial font) Applicant should provide a brief statement of the potential of the fellowship research and training to contribute to the health and quality of life of the citizens of Minnesota and/or the economic vitality of the state. Use language that is Minnesota-focused and appropriate for the general public. This should specifically emphasize the relevance of the proposed research and training to the citizens of the state of Minnesota.
Status of IRB or IACUC Approvals - (Limit = 1 to 5 sentences, 11 pt Arial font) Applicant should indicate the status of IRB and/or IACUC protocols (or indicate that IRB or IACUC protocols are not required for the proposed project). If protocols are not yet submitted, or do not yet have approval, the applicant should indicate the anticipated dates for 1) submitting an IRB or IACUC protocol and 2) attaining final approval.
Project Specific Aims - (Limit = 1 page, 11 pt Arial font) The specific aims page should provide: a brief introduction to the problem or issue addressed by the project, rationale for the experiment(s), statement of the primary goals and/or question(s) of the project and overall project hypotheses, a brief description of each aim with a corresponding rationale, brief summary of methods, and hypothesis(s).
Research Methods and Approach - (Limit = 1 page, 11 pt Arial font) The research methods and approach should provide a summary of the experimental design of the aims, approach used to address the specific hypotheses (with an emphasis on how neuromodulation will be used) and statistical plan for the analyses of the data. Briefly provide anticipated outcomes and interpretations, as well as any alternative outcomes and interpretations.
References Cited - (Limit = 1 page, 11 pt Arial font) Provide a list of references for your work listing the citations that were referenced in the Specific Aims and Approach sections.
Optional Supplemental Information - (Limit = 1 page, 11 pt Arial font) One figure or table with a corresponding caption that supports the Project Specific Aims or Research Methods and Approach.
Statement of Training Plan - (Limit 1 page, 11 pt Arial font) Describe what new knowledge, skills, and techniques the applicant will acquire through the fellowship, and how these will advance the applicant's career aspirations. For Resident/Clinical Fellow Applicants, the statement of training should also describe the clinical training plan for the award period.
Timeline, Key Milestones and Deliverable(s) - (Limit = 1/2 page, 11 pt Arial font) The timeline with key milestones in the award period should be described or illustrated (with anticipated dates of IRB/IACUC submission and approval dates indicated if IRB/IACUC protocol approval has not yet been obtained), and, in 1 or 5 sentences, applicant should clearly state the project Deliverable(s) expected at the end of the award period.
Industry Partner and Role - (Limit = 1/2 page, 11 pt Arial font) Applicant should indicate whether there is an industry partner. If there is an industry partner, applicant should identify the business partner and the name(s) of the person(s) at the business specifically involved with the project. The applicant should also describe the industry partner's role in the project. The industry partner will also be required to submit a letter of confirmation (see part 3 for more details).
Pathway to Commercialization - (Limit = 1/2 page, 11 pt Arial font) Applicant should indicate whether there is a pathway to commercialization for the project. If so, the applicant should briefly describe that pathway.
Applicant Biosketch - (No page limit, 11 pt Arial font) The applicant should provide a biosketch that includes previous education, honors/awards, research experience, publications, conference abstract titles, course list (including grades), and IP (e.g., disclosures/patents). Biosketches must be like the NIH sample which includes a personal statement and scholastic performance with grades listed (see NIH biosketch sample below). Also, please include any additional information that you would like to share with the review committee.
NIH Biosketch Format Pages, Instructions, and Samples
NIH Biosketch Sample
PART 2. Letters of Reference from two professional references. Applicant should arrange for a Letter of Reference to be submitted by each of Two professional references (other than the proposed faculty mentor on the fellowship award) who can comment on the applicant’s qualifications and research potential (Limit = 2 pages). Letter writers should submit letters by email to [email protected] no later than January 14, 2026.
PART 3. Letter of Confirmation from proposed University of Minnesota (UMN) primary faculty mentor. The UMN faculty mentor should send a Letter of Confirmation that identifies the applicant, states the project title and confirms that he or she will mentor the applicant during the award period should the applicant receive a fellowship (Limit = 1/2 page). For applications with an industry partner, also include a Letter of Confirmation from the primary contact at that business. These Letters of Confirmation should be emailed to [email protected] no later than January 14, 2026.
