Q: When do applications open/close?

A: Applications for the 2026 academic year are now closed. We anticipate sharing the 2027 call for applications in October 2026.

Q: Who is eligible to apply to the program?

A: Due to the nature of the Fellowship, applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Additionally, applicants must defend and deposit their final, corrected PhD thesis prior to the start date. For the 2026 application cycle that is September 1, 2026.

Q: I am a graduate student or current postdoc affiliated with Columbia University and/or the Zuckerman Institute, am I eligible to apply? 

A: Yes, all current Columbia students and postdocs who meet the other eligibility criteria are eligible to apply.

Q: Am I eligible to apply if I am currently a postdoc elsewhere and my PhD was conferred more than a year ago? 

A: Yes, you are still eligible to apply, though preference will be given for applicants who have completed their PhD less than one year prior to their start date. 

Q: When are letters of recommendation due?

A: The committee will start to review 2026 applications immediately after the December 2025 deadline. However, reference letters will be accepted until January 5, 2026 and will be included in the final review of your application. We encourage your recommenders to submit their letters as soon as possible after you submit your application. 

Q: Who on the Columbia faculty are eligible as potential mentors for this T32 Postdoctoral Fellowship?

A: Only the 15 Columbia University Zuckerman Institute Principal Investigators listed on the Fellowship web page are eligible to serve as potential mentors for this fellowship.

Q: Is it required for me to be in contact and/or confirm my mentor(s) prior to submitting my application?

A: While we encourage you to connect with any potential mentors you would be interested in working with, it is not required. The review committee is aware that some mentors may not respond to inquiries prior to the submission of your application. 

Q: Do I have to know for certain the faculty that I am interested in working with before submitting my application?

A: While it is not necessary to have confirmed a faculty member to sponsor you, we do require you to identify potential faculty you would like to work with. Please see the question above regarding contacting faculty. 

Q: Is it required to have co-mentors for this Fellowship?

A: Yes, the fellowship is focused on training that combines experimental and computational/theory approaches for research on sensorimotor control. We understand that most candidates will have a primary mentor in the area closest to their current research and/or expertise, and that it may require both assistance and time to find a good match for their secondary mentor. Please include mentor suggestions in your application and we will assist in the process.  

Q: Can I be co-mentored by one member of the Zuckerman Institute faculty and a faculty member from another department?

A: Opportunities for mentorship are intended to be with the 15 Principal Investigators listed on the T32 grant and Fellowship web page, exclusively.