The Grass Foundation recognizes and supports efforts to use neuroscience to unite thoughtful people across various socioeconomic and geographic barriers.
The foundation invites applications for its 2024 Grass Fellowship program. Administered by the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, the fellowship program supports investigator-designed, independent research projects by scientists early in their careers, providing 14-week fellowships and support including a stipend, laboratory space, animals, equipment, and supplies for a summer in residence at MBL. In addition, the investigator, his/her spouse or legal domestic partner, and dependent children are provided housing and round-trip travel to the MBL.
Fellows will function as an intellectual and social group within the MBL scientific community while sharing space in the Grass Laboratory. In a weekly private seminar series, investigators at MBL will discuss their work with fellows. In addition, a yearly Forbes Lecturer will spend a portion of the summer in the Grass Lab interacting with fellows. Childcare benefits are available and supported by the foundation.
Supported approaches include neurophysiology, biophysics, integrative neurobiology, neuroethology, neuroanatomy, neuropharmacology, systems neuroscience, cellular and developmental neurobiology, and computational approaches to neural systems. The foundation also has a longstanding interest in epilepsy-related research. Comparative and integrative neuroscience have been of particular interest in recent years. Anthropogenic environmental impacts—including climate change, chemical and sensory pollution, and ocean acidification—may impact the brain at the cell and circuit level in poorly understood ways. In partnership with the Grass Foundation, the Kavli Foundation supports Grass Fellows who explore this area through their research related to neurobiology and changing ecosystems.
Applicants must be early-career investigators (late-stage predoctoral trainees and beyond). Those demonstrating a commitment to pursuing a research career will be given priority.