Welcome to the application for the Mistletoe Research Fellowship!

The Momental Foundation is excited to bring you this opportunity to apply for our research funding and training initiative. At Momental, we believe your STEM PhD training presents deep value to society and to institutions of all kinds. However, we recognize that this is an era of decreased tenure-line positions and stiff competition for grants and industry positions. Whether you wish to stay in academia or want to pursue a career outside a traditional research environment, new approaches are needed to improve outcomes and fully invest in the potential of early career researchers like you.

We envisioned the Mistletoe Research Fellowship not only to provide both research funding to support early-career innovation in science and engineering but also to provide critical training in communication, interdisciplinarity, collaboration, and project management.

All Mistletoe Research Fellows are awarded a USD $10k unrestricted Unfettered Research Grant for their own university-based research. All Research Fellows also join the MRF Startup Collaboration program, requiring a time commitment comparable to enrollment in a single doctoral-level course. In this remote professional training program, Research Fellows form interdisciplinary online teams and develop an R&D proposal in collaboration with social impact startups.

In the 2023-2024 cycle, the Momental Foundation will award up to 36 fellowships to postdoctoral fellows and advanced PhD candidates from our cohort of elite partner universities. In prior years, applications number in the range of 250 (2020 COVID low) to 450 (more typical cycle). Awards are contingent upon successful university verification of full-time enrollment/employment and current visa status. That said you have much more control over your outcomes than you think!

***For the best chance of acceptance to the Mistletoe Research Fellowship, we strongly recommend early submission of your application. This will help us to quickly identify any issues (missing recommendation) and work with you to get them resolved before the deadline.***

Before you begin, please have the following information and documents available:

  • Provide names and email addresses for two faculty members who will submit a recommendation on your behalf. Recommenders should be academics who have worked with you in a supervisory role. Recommenders will receive a secure link to complete your recommendation on our platform. Please ask your recommenders to add all information they wish to include ONLY on our online form, as we CANNOT accept emailed letters of recommendation or any other recommendation formats that differ from our own form.
  • A current copy of your academic Curriculum Vitae in PDF format.
  • A Research Statement (600 words, single spaced, 12pt font, PDF format). This is a condensed version of what you may have prepared for the academic job market. This statement provides a readable "big picture" summary of research accomplishments and current work and a realistic and compelling agenda for the future direction and potential of your work.
  • You will be asked to provide the name and email address of your PhD advisor / postdoc advisor. Your advisor will receive a secure link asking them to confirm 1) that you meet the criteria to participate and 2) have their permission to participate.

Our selection committee looks forward to receiving your application!

The Momental Foundation

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