Here are some frequently asked questions about the W.M. Keck Postdoctoral Fellowship:

Can I nominate a graduate student?

You can nominate a grad student only if they will complete all the requirements for their doctoral degree by the start date of the Keck Postdoctoral Fellowship. If the doctoral degree has not been conferred at the time of the application, you need to provide proof that the degree will be completed soon together with the expected date of degree conferral.

Can I nominate a researcher from my own lab?

Yes. If the nominee will stay in the same lab as the one in which they conducted graduate or previous postdoctoral work, please specify how the research project and the training and mentoring will be different

Can any faculty member submit a nomination?

All WashU faculty members who are in a biomedical field are eligible to nominate a researcher for a Keck Fellowship. In the past, this was limited to DBBS affiliated faculty, but that restriction has been since lifted.

Can a Keck Fellowship supplement other awards?

A Keck Postdoctoral Fellowship cannot be held concurrently with other funding awards (e.g., fellowships, grants). If a Keck Fellow is awarded a second funding award, the Keck Fellow will need to select which funds they will use. For more information, please consult the Keck Fellow Commitments.

What should the research statement include?

The research statement must be written by the nominee (and not the nominating faculty) and should specify the research project that will be conducted during the fellowship tenure. The focus of the project should lay within the areas of biomedical or molecular medicine research and be feasible within the fellowship timeframe. For more guidance, please consult the evaluation criteria here. Keep in mind that this document is limited to 1 page and figures or references must not be included.

Who evaluates the nomination packages?

The members of the W.M. Keck Postdoctoral Fellowship Selection Committee are all Washington University faculty conducting world-class research in biomedical fields. The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs administers the Fellowship and makes sure that no conflict of interest arises.

What is the evaluation criteria for a nomination package?

Please consult the evaluation criteria here.

Will unsuccessful nomination packages receive feedback from the Selection Committee?

Unfortunately, we cannot provide feedback for unsuccessful nomination packages.

Who are the members of this year’s Selection Committee?

The W.M. Keck Postdoctoral Fellowship uses a single-blind evaluation system, which means that the Selection Committee members remain anonymous.

Can you share a previous application as a sample?

No. We keep submissions confidential and we cannot share intellectual property without consent of their authors.

Who are the previous awardees and from which lab?

Since 1989, Keck Fellows have initiated successful careers from professors of Medicine to biotech entrepreneurs to public leaders. Consult the list of previous Keck fellows here.

Who can I contact for questions?

Direct questions to the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, at postdoc@wustl.edu.