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Graduate Student Fellowships for Alternatives to the Use of Animals in Science

The 2024-25 Grant Cycle is now closed. Applications for the 2025-26 Grant Cycle will be accepted beginning in January 2025.

IFER Graduate Fellowships support projects that advance the development, validation, or implementation of human-relevant, non-animal methodologies in research, testing, or education. Funding is directed toward innovative scientific methods with the potential to replace animal models while improving scientific outcomes. 

Special consideration will be giving to proposals demonstrating a strong likelihood of replacing or significantly reducing animal use in research.

Eligibility:

Applicants must be graduate students enrolled in a degree program with at least one year remaining until program completion at the time the fellowship begins. Students whose projects utilize human cell lines, stem cells, computational models, and other non-animal methods in place of animal models are encouraged to apply.

Fellowship Application

Application Process

  1. Pre-Proposal Submission: Submit your application by the deadline.
  2. Review: IFER’s Scientific Advisory Board evaluates applications for innovation, alignment with IFER’s mission, and scientific merit.
  3. Invitation for Full Proposal: Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal.

Pre-Proposal Application Requirements:

The online portal will guide you through the submission process. Be prepared to provide:

Applicant Information:

  • Current graduate program (university, department, degree type, and anticipated graduation date).
  • Academic background (degrees earned, institutions attended, and major/area of study).
  • Relevant certifications, awards, or professional experience.

Mentor Details:

  • Mentor’s name, position, and affiliation.
  • Mentor’s ORCID number and biosketch or CV.

Project Summary:

  • Title and abstract of the proposed research.
  • Clear description of objectives, methods, and potential outcomes.
  • Impact statement explaining how the project will replace or reduce the use of animals.

Supporting Documents:

  • Relevant reference publications (up to five, with DOIs or PDFs for non-open-access papers).
  • Any supporting data or preliminary findings (if available).

Ethical Research Commitment:

  • Indicate if you have conducted or plan to conduct animal experiments during graduate studies and provide details if applicable.
  • Highlight relevant training in humane science or non-animal methods.

Travel Grants for Fellows

Current fellows are eligible to receive grants to offset the costs of traveling to present their projects at national and international conferences.

Learn More

Current Recipients

We are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024-25 IFER Graduate Fellowships for Alternatives to the Use of Animals in Science.

View Current Recipients

Past Recipients

Check out our showcase of past recipients of the IFER Graduate Fellowships for Alternatives to the Use of Animals in Science.

View Past Recipients