FIRST Application | Emory School of Medicine

Application Deadline: 6:00pm, February 3, 2025

FIRST will begin accepting applications December 1, 2024.

If accepted into the program, the start date for all fellowship recipients is September 1, 2025.

Eligibility

In order to qualify for this program, postdoctoral fellows must:

Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Be near graduation or have received a Ph.D. degree or equivalent
Have completed no more than 2 years prior postdoctoral training in a research laboratory
Have commitment from research mentor to support your salary for year one
Show scientific potential. This will be judged from academic record in graduate school, the recommendation of your thesis advisor and other thesis committee members, as well as your ability to explain your research during the interview and brief summary

Identify Research Mentor

Prior to submitting your online application, you must identify a research mentor that you have discussed possible research opportunities with via phone or video conference and the research mentor has agreed to fund the initial year of your fellowship. The FIRST program will fund years two through four. Failure to identify a potential research mentor prior to your application submission may result in your application not being reviewed.
Select a mentor from the Research Mentor List. If you identify a research mentor not on this list, your prospective mentor is required to submit a Research Mentor Application and be approved by the FIRST Leadership before you can be accepted into the program.

Complete the Online Application

Application components:

Complete the FIRST Application Form below
- Upload the following:
  - Curriculum vitae or NIH-style biosketch
  - A Letter addressed to the FIRST Executive Committee (2-page limit):
    1. Why you are interested in FIRST
    2. Your research experience
    3. Your interest in teaching and previous teaching experience
    4. Your career plans after fellowship training
  - DEI Statement (250 word limit)
  - Two letters of reference (under most circumstances one letter should be from your thesis advisor)*
  - A Letter from your proposed research mentor endorsing your application to the FIRST program, stating support of the FIRST goals, and indicating their commitment to support the salary and fringe benefits in the first year of the fellowship*
  - An NIH style Biosketch from your proposed research mentor illustrating commitment to mentoring and training

*Letters can be uploaded to your application form or referees can submit letters in confidence directly to the FIRST Program.

Record a 3-minute maximum video:
- Tell us about yourself and explain why you are interested in FIRST
- Send a downloadable video file via e-mail to FIRST Program. Please compress the video and adjust the video resolution as necessary.

FIRST Application Form

Interview

Based on the initial review of your application, candidates are selected for a virtual interview with various members of FIRST Leadership, FIRST Executive Committee, and current FIRST Fellows.
Additionally, if you have not met with your proposed research mentor, interview times will be set for applicants to meet with prospective mentors and lab members, and other appropriate faculty.
Interviews are 1-2 days via Zoom (during the pandemic) and are generally scheduled between March and April each year. Successful candidates will be notified third week in February if they have been selected for an interview.
Candidates will receive notification of the committee's decision during the second week of April.

Questions? Contact Angela Shennette, Senior Program Coordinator, FIRST Program.

Emory University does not discriminate in admissions or access to its programs and activities on the basis of race/color, ethnicity, national origin, religion/creed, disability, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation or veteran’s status.