NIH-Funded Biomedical Sciences and Teaching Postdoctoral Fellowship (INSPIRE)
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School is recruiting for the INSPIRE (IRACDA New Jersey/New York for Science Partnerships in Research and Education) postdoctoral fellowship. This NIH-funded program is designed for scientists interested in combining
biomedical research
with
active-learning teaching
and broader STEM education impact.
INSPIRE Fellows spend most of their time in mentored research at Rutgers laboratories and a portion of their time in mentored teaching at partner institutions in New Jersey and New York, including William Paterson University, New Jersey City University, and Medgar Evers College-CUNY. Typical research areas include biochemistry, biophysics, cancer biology, cell/developmental biology, computational/quantitative biology, bioinformatics, genetics/genomics, immunobiology, microbiology, molecular biology, and neuroscience.
The fellowship is especially suited to senior graduate students, new PhD graduates, and beginning postdocs who are interested in a future academic faculty career. The program highlights strong outcomes, including a high rate of fellows moving into tenure-track positions and success in securing K99/R00, F32, and foundation grants after training.
Eligibility is limited to U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Preference is given to postdoctoral fellows with 0-1 years of postdoctoral experience, though the FAQ also notes eligibility for applicants with up to 0-3 years of experience. Applicants should identify a potential research mentor and prepare a short, grant-style proposal as part of Phase 1. If needed, the program can help match applicants with an appropriate Rutgers research lab.
Funding is competitive and includes salary support on the NIH postdoctoral pay scale, healthcare coverage, and travel/supply funds. The program is recruiting for the 2025-2026 academic year and also notes a fall recruitment cycle for 2026-27. Applications are currently open, with a stated deadline of June 5 in the post and a September 1 start date mentioned for one cohort; rolling admissions may allow later consideration.
For questions, contact Program Support Coordinator Dr. Patricia Irizarry-Barreto at [email protected] or [email protected], and use the application portal to submit Phase 1.
