Porter Physiology Development Fellowship

The goal of the Porter Physiology Development Fellowship is to encourage 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; and
• Opportunities for travel awards to attend the APS annual meeting, outreach and other professional services.

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) review committee accepts multiple applications from the same institution. However, if significant duplication of content between the two applications (plagiarism) 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.

Please note that unsuccessful applicants will not be provided with feedback on their application.

• NEW Porter Fellowship Application Guidelines
• RENEWAL Porter Fellowship Application Guidelines
• Porter sample application

Annual stipends under the Porter Physiology Development Fellowship Program are $28,300 and are paid to the institution in twelve installments beginning in September. There is no dependency allowance and no indirect costs are allowed. No tuition or fees will be paid by the APS on behalf of the fellow since the DEI Committee believes that graduate scholarships and other educational allowances are available at most institutions. In addition, funds for research support will be the responsibility of the training institution. A fellow may not accept private employment or another similar fellowship stipend simultaneously. 

Applicant qualifications will be reviewed by the members of the DEI Committee, which serves as the panel of researchers working as the selection committee. Awards will be rated on:

• basis of the applicant’s potential for success including academic record, statement of interest, previous awards and experiences and recommendation letters;
• applicant’s proposed training environment (including quality of preceptor); and
• applicant’s research/training plan (clarity and quality).

Applications should provide sufficient information for the reviewer to assess the focus and breadth of the research proposed and its applicability to the physiological sciences. Applicants must provide information on/documentation of their training in:

• responsible conduct of research;
• human subjects use; and
• care and use of vertebrate animals in research, as appropriate.

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. While many departments require a reasonable quantity of teaching or similar activities as part of the fellow's graduate training and development, the primary purpose of the fellowship is the scholarly development of the trainee. 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 can be submitted in January. Decisions regarding support beyond the first year will be based upon review of the renewal application and availability of funds. Graduate student membership in the American Physiological Society will be required for a second year of support.