I did postdoc years at institutions other than MU. How does this affect my eligibility?
We define an early-stage postdoc as having three years or less of cumulative postdoctoral experience. Postdoc years at any institution count toward the three years.
Does my mentor need to work in the NextGen building in Columbia?
No. The only requirement is that the primary mentor is a faculty member in the UM System, which includes MU, UMKC, Missouri S&T and UMSL.
Does the NextGen Fellows program select my mentor?
No, you are responsible for selecting the UM System faculty member who is the best mentor for your research.
Can I hold a postdoctoral position and an additional staff position?
No, the NextGen Postdoctoral Fellowship is a full-time position.
What should the Research Plan describe?
The Research Plan should focus on the proposed research at the UM System university of your choosing. Please note that the work must be conducted during a postdoctoral position based at that institution. If your current research reflects your future goals, you may add that within the application materials also.
How should the Biosketch be formatted?
All biosketches in the application should be in the . The complete application package should be submitted in PDF.
What should the Mentor biosketch include?
Please upload a biosketch for the primary mentor and any co-mentors. Mentoring teams may not have more than 3 individuals. While the primary mentor must be from a UM System university, co-mentors may come from a non-UM System institution.
Does this program have any requirements for the visa?
The program does not have any requirements for visa or citizenship. There are no restrictions regarding non-citizens or visa holders.
The program does not directly support the visa transfer fee. The support included for the program is outlined under “Program Benefits."
Is there any flexibility for the January 2026 start date of the fellowship?
Yes, there is flexibility for the January 2026 start date, within reason. Deviation from the January 2026 start date should be addressed in the application materials. As long as the applicant can make some commitment to participate in cohort activities, such as a monthly zoom meeting, there is flexibility.
As a graduate student, when would I start?
Late stage graduate students can apply for this fellowship if they will be in a postdoc position by January 2026. The fellowship is not available if the funding will be used during the PhD training.
Please direct additional questions to nextgen@umsystem.edu.
Reviewed 2025-05-22