Our postdoctoral scholars program provides research support and a community of mentors and peers to extraordinary Stanford postdocs advancing our understanding of the mind and brain in health and disease.
The Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute's Postdoctoral Scholar Awards support innovative, collaborative and creative postdoctoral researchers from across Stanford who are pursuing novel, multi-disciplinary approaches to understanding the workings of the mind and brain. In addition to receiving research funding, scholars meet regularly for workshops, journal clubs and other activities that allow them to learn from one another’s varied research and personal backgrounds and establish community and collaborations. These Interdisciplinary and Brain Resilience Scholars will advance our knowledge of brain health and aging.
Program Tracks
Interdisciplinary Postdoctoral Scholar Award
Since 2015, Wu Tsai Neuro's Interdisciplinary Scholars track has supported innovative young scientists with backgrounds in basic and clinical biosciences; physical sciences and engineering; social sciences and education; business, law, and the humanities to engage in cutting edge neuroscience research.
Brain Resilience Postdoctoral Scholar Award
Since 2023, the Brain Resilience Postdoctoral Scholars award of the Knight Initiative for Brain Resilience has supported trainees generating paradigm-shifting insights on the mechanisms of neurodegeneration and how to maintain brain resilience into old age.
Apply for the Postdoctoral Scholar Awards program
2026 Cohort Applications: Open June 23 - August 4, 2025
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Our Model
This program awards two years of fellowship funding and is pleased to provide parental leave. Postdoctoral scholars also receive $5,000 of discretionary research funds annually.
Mentorship
The program provides scientific and career-growth opportunities and guidance under the leadership of program co-directors and faculty mentors Professors Miriam Goodman and Liqun Luo. Scholars meet monthly with their cohort and program faculty mentors to share ideas and discuss approaches to scientific and career challenges, visit each other’s labs to learn about different research techniques and areas of study, and practice communicating their research to scientific and general audiences.
In addition, Brain Resilience Postdoctoral Scholars attend events and seminars hosted by the Knight Initiative for Brain Resilience, and are stewarded by Knight Initiative Associate Director Natasha Hussain and faculty mentor Elizabeth Mormino to learn from one another and build community around the topic of neurodegeneration and brain resilience.
The Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute Postdoctoral program brings together cohorts of postdocs representing a broad range of demographic, experiential and scientific backgrounds. Women and postdocs from groups underrepresented in the neurosciences are strongly encouraged to apply.
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Application and Eligibility Details
Carefully review the detailed information below if you are interested in applying to the Interdisciplinary Postdoctoral Scholars track or the Brain Resilience Postdoctoral Scholars track of the program.
Meet current and past scholars
Funded Interdisciplinary Postdoctoral Scholar projects
Thermosensory Control of Multimodal Behavioral Adaptation and Optimization
Temperature is a significant factor that impacts all living organisms’ behavior and physiology. With climate change driving significant shifts in environmental temperatures, it is crucial to understand the mechanism by which animals adjust their behaviors to cope with these changes.
Characterizing Goal-driven Dynamics Underlying Naturalistic Behavior
Understanding how the brain drives behavior is a key goal of neuroscience. Traditionally, the field has focused on simple behaviors, but recent research is shifting towards more naturalistic paradigms, such as navigation and foraging. This opens up exciting possibilities for studying natural behaviors and uncovering the neural mechanisms underlying them.
Oncogene-Directed Virotherapy for Brain Cancer
Despite advancements in cancer treatment, the prognosis for brain cancer patients remains poor. Glioblastoma multiforme, the most aggressive type of brain tumor, is driven by genetic mutations and overexpression of growth-promoting receptors.
Mapping Synaptic Proteomes during Learning and Memory Consolidation Using Proximity Labeling
Achieving proficiency in a specific task requires persistent practice and training. One of the most intriguing questions in neuroscience asks how such continuous engagement enables the brain to remember and retain new skills or memories effectively.
Funded Brain Resilience Postdoctoral Scholar projects
The role of the frontotemporal dementia gene product Progranulin in the homeostasis of the neurodegeneration- associated lipid Bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate
The brain relies on Progranulin, a pivotal protein, to function smoothly and maintain overall health. When Progranulin fails to perform its essential functions, it can trigger severe neurological issues. In children, a complete malfunction of Progranulin can result in Batten disease, a devastating condition characterized by rapid neurological decline.