2026 Funding Opportunities for Doctoral Students and Postdoctoral Fellows - Human Performance Alliance at Stanford University (original) (raw)

All of the following documents must be uploaded in Slideroom. Please be sure to click “submit” when all documents are complete. You should receive a confirmation email with a confirmation number after submitting.

More information about each document is provided in the sections that follow. Note the formatting requirements for the research plan and CV.

• Human Performance Research Plan (up to 4 pages, including figures, but not including the title page or references). Remember to adhere to the font and other styling information below.
• Other Support and Leveraging (if relevant)
• Short Answer Questions (up to 250 words per response)
• Curriculum Vitae (up to 2 pages). Remember to adhere to the font and other styling information below.
• Recommendation Letters (number of letters depends on applicant type)
• Academic Transcript(s) (required of doctoral students only)

1. Human Performance Research Plan (up to 4 pages, including figures, but not including the title page or references). The research plan must use 11 pt Arial font, 1 inch margins, and be single-spaced.

We are seeking proposals for research projects that will expand our knowledge of the science of human performance. Proposals for fundamental scientific exploration and translational work are welcome, and we define human performance broadly, including both physical and cognitive performance. We do not fund projects that focus on disease. We encourage projects that advance our understanding of female athlete health and performance.

We highly encourage research projects to be interdisciplinary and collaborative. This could mean that the project brings together investigators from different disciplines, likely spanning multiple schools and departments or faculty who have not previously collaborated. It may also mean that the research requires the combined knowledge, skills, and tools from at least two different fields of study or that there is an element of community-building and intellectual exchange amongst collaborators and the broader scientific community.

• Title Page should include the project title, applicant name, primary advisor, all team members’ home departments, and a brief (100 word max) summary of the project in lay language.
• We encourage you to include images and figures in your proposal.
• The plan should consist of the following sections:
  • Background and motivation
  • Specific aims
  • Proposed approach
  • Significance (especially with regards to human performance)
  • References
• Have a project with a female athlete research focus? You can be considered for the Postdoctoral Fellowship for Female Athlete Research by indicating your interest in the SlideRoom application.

**2. Other Support and Leveraging (if relevant)**Describe any sources of additional funding (present forms of tuition, stipend funding, grants etc.). Please let us know if you are applying for any other funding simultaneously.

3. Short Answer Questions (maximum of 250 words per response)

• Why are you interested in participating in this program? Include reason(s) you selected your mentor and project, and how participation in this program would impact your future career.
• We wish to welcome a cohort of fellows who have a diversity of experiences and skills. Share something about yourself or your experiences that you feel allows you to bring a unique perspective to the program.

4. Curriculum vitae (up to 2 pages in length). Your CV must use 11 pt Arial font, 1 inch margins, and be single-spaced.

5. Recommendation Letters: Asking faculty for references should be one of the first things you do for your application. We recommend giving your faculty a reminder for uploading their letters to the SlideRoom application portal to ensure you receive your letters on time.

All letters must include a statement regarding how the work relates to human performance and the interdisciplinary nature of the proposal.

6. Academic Transcript(s)

• Doctoral Students: We require an unofficial copy of your Stanford transcript including Winter 2026.
• Postdoctoral Scholars: We do not require transcripts for postdoctoral scholars.