Award Background
The Basic Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowship Award was first established in the spring of 2026 by Basic Sciences faculty member Dr. Steve Hahn and is supported by the Elvira and Edward Hahn Endowment for Basic Science Fellows. Additional support has been provided by other generous donors.
Training and developing the next generation of scientists is critical for future scientific and medical breakthroughs. By bringing new ideas and technical skills to their host laboratories, postdoctoral trainees drive technical and intellectual innovations, mentor students and greatly contribute to the research of their host institutions.
This award is to honor and support outstanding postdoctoral trainees, based primarily on their initial postdoctoral work at Fred Hutch. The award period is for a maximum of two years. Initially, the award will be made for one year. If acceptable progress is made during the first year of the award, then it will renew for a second year.
The amount available for the award is established at the beginning of each fiscal year. Over the course of the award period, $5,000 may be used to support activities of the awardee such as attending a scientific conference, taking a course, or purchasing equipment and supplies to support the awardee’s research.
2026 applications will open soon, please check back for more information.
Dr. Steve Hahn in the lab
Dr. Steve Hahn in the lab
Eligibility
Successful applicants will demonstrate outstanding creativity and productivity in their first year(s) of postdoctoral research.
Candidates should be postdoctoral trainees that meet the following eligibility criteria:
- One to three years of postdoctoral experience at Fred Hutch, and no more than three years combined postdoctoral experience as of the application deadline.
- Work in a laboratory where their mentor is a primary faculty member in the Basic Sciences Division. If they have multiple mentors, the primary mentor must be in the Basic Sciences Division.
- The Award cannot be held concurrently with another fellowship. The Award can be delayed up to four months if the candidate has an active fellowship with an upcoming end date.
- In order to maximize the impact of the Fund, postdoctoral trainees in laboratories that already have substantial levels of long-term unrestricted research funding (e.g., HHMI-funded investigators) are ineligible for the Award.
Application Materials
A summary of postdoctoral research and plans for future postdoctoral research:
- The research summary should be two single-spaced pages maximum in ≥ 11-point font.
- An additional page is allowed for figures and references.
- Submitted as a PDF.
Two letters of support:
- One letter from your postdoctoral mentor
- One letter from another faculty familiar with your postdoctoral work (not the thesis advisor)
CV including:
- Academic education
- Research experience
- Awards
- Leadership/mentoring/outreach activities
- Publications (published/preprints)
- Presentations/abstracts
The Elvira and Edward Hahn Endowment for Basic Science Fellows
Edward and Elvira Hahn were both raised on farms in Sonoma County, CA. Edward was an expert mechanic and Elvira a sharp accountant, and for many years they ran a successful auto and truck repair shop in Santa Rosa, CA. Though neither attended college, they were lifelong champions of both academic and vocational education, enthusiastically supporting the diverse pursuits of their three children and many grandchildren.