University of Southern California Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025 – Fully Funded Research Opportunities
Overview
The University of Southern California Postdoctoral Fellowships offer fully funded opportunities for recent PhD graduates seeking advanced training, world-class mentorship, and access to cutting-edge research laboratories. USC, located in Los Angeles, is one of the world’s top private research universities known for its interdisciplinary excellence and state-of-the-art research ecosystem.
These fellowships support scholars in fields such as genetics, engineering, public health, cancer biology, educational innovation, neuroscience, and computational sciences.
Benefits of University of Southern California Postdoctoral Fellowships
A postdoctoral position at USC provides numerous advantages beyond funding, including:
- Participation in high-impact, grant-supported research projects
- Access to advanced laboratories, instrumentation, and research facilities
- Opportunities for interdisciplinary teamwork across USC institutes
- Guidance from globally recognized faculty mentors
- Pathways for publishing in international peer-reviewed journals
- Opportunities for teaching, leadership development, and conference presentations
- Career pathways in academia, public health, biotechnology, policy, and research-driven industries
Research Areas Covered Under USC Postdoctoral Fellowships
USC hosts an extensive research environment that supports a variety of disciplines, including:
- Public health and population science
- Cancer biology and tumor modeling
- Genetic epidemiology
- Gerontology and aging science
- Biomedical engineering
- Neuroscience and cognitive science
- Computational genomics and big-data analytics
- Educational technology and human-centered design
Available Postdoctoral Fellowships
1. Education, Aging, and Social Environment Research Fellowship
A fellowship exploring how education influences cognitive, social, and behavioral outcomes across the lifespan.
Key Features
- Two-year appointment
- Collaboration with international aging research teams
- Use of cross-national and longitudinal datasets
- Focus on gender, inequality, and social determinants
Ideal Candidates
PhDs in sociology, psychology, gerontology, economics, or public health.
2. Cancer and Genetic Epidemiology Research Fellowship
A fellowship analyzing multiethnic and population-level datasets to identify cancer risk factors.
Responsibilities
- Analyze genetic and omics datasets
- Examine cancer incidence and risk patterns
- Apply advanced epidemiological methods
Ideal Candidates
PhDs in epidemiology, genetics, biostatistics, or population science.
3. Cardiovascular Development and Gene Regulation Fellowship
A laboratory-based fellowship focusing on gene-regulatory mechanisms in cardiovascular development.
Research Areas
- Post-transcriptional regulation
- Developmental biology
- Cardiovascular disease modeling
Ideal Candidates
PhDs in molecular biology, genetics, developmental biology, or biomedical engineering.
4. Educational Technology, Social Impact, and Design Research Fellowship
A fellowship dedicated to building digital learning tools that promote equity in education.
Responsibilities
- Design curricula and prototypes
- Conduct mixed-methods research
- Evaluate user experience and learning outcomes
- Produce publications and manuscripts
- Devote 20% effort to independent research
Ideal Candidates
Researchers in education, sociology, digital learning, or human-centered design.
5. Cancer Biology and Computational Genomics Fellowship
A dual wet-lab and computational fellowship investigating tumor biology through genomic and epigenomic tools.
Research Components
- Develop cancer models
- Perform computational genomics
- Study tumor microenvironment and immunology
- Manage large-scale biological datasets
Ideal Candidates
PhDs in bioinformatics, cancer biology, genomics, or computational biology.
Eligibility
Academic Requirements
Applicants must have:
- A completed PhD or equivalent doctoral degree
- A strong academic background aligned with the fellowship field
Technical Skills
Depending on the fellowship, useful skills include:
- Statistical programming
- Quantitative and qualitative data analysis
- Laboratory assays and molecular techniques
- Computational genomics
- Simulation and modeling
- Mixed-methods research
Preferred Experience
- Peer-reviewed publications
- Experience with interdisciplinary collaboration
- Strong methodological training
Required Documents
Applicants typically need to prepare and upload the following:
- Curriculum vitae (CV)
- Cover letter explaining research interests and fit
- Research statement or summary
- Writing sample or published manuscripts
- Contact details of referees
How to Apply
Follow the steps below to complete your application:
- Identify the USC postdoctoral fellowship that aligns with your expertise.
- Prepare all required documents in PDF format.
- Read the official fellowship guidelines carefully.
- Submit your application through USC’s online job portal.
- Contact the supervising faculty member if clarity is needed.
- Follow up professionally if there is no update after several weeks.
Funding, Duration, and Expectations
- All USC postdoctoral fellowships are fully funded through research grants.
- Appointments typically last 1–2 years, with potential for extension.
- Fellows are expected to contribute to publications, presentations, collaborative work, and lab initiatives.
FAQs
Are these fellowships fully funded?
Yes, all USC postdoctoral fellowships are fully funded.
Can international applicants apply?
Yes, USC welcomes applications from qualified candidates around the world.
Are publications required?
They are not mandatory, but they significantly strengthen the application.
Is teaching experience necessary?
No, but teaching experience is considered an advantage.
Are start dates flexible?
Yes, start dates are usually arranged with the hiring faculty or laboratory.
About Scrollwell
Scrollwell works to strengthen India’s higher-education ecosystem by offering faculty development programmes, training workshops and academic resources. Since 2020, Scrollwell has trained more than 55,000 educators through live FDPs and digital literacy initiatives.
Scrollwell Plus provides verified updates on faculty jobs, grants, conferences, FDPs and research opportunities to support professional advancement for educators and researchers across India.
