Postdoctoral Grants are awarded to individuals holding doctoral degrees (i.e., Ph.D. or M.D.) and pursuing additional training in areas directly related to infection and/or immunity. Applicants must have Ph.D. or M.D. degree when the McLaughlin fellowship starts (September 1). Applicants are ineligible if they have previously held a faculty position or have received more than 36 months of research training prior to start date of the fellowship (September 1). Postdoctoral fellowships are awarded on an employment rate of a forty-hour week (full-time) for a period of one year. Postdoctoral fellowships may not be supplemented in any fashion without prior approval by the McLaughlin Fellowship Committee; nor can faculty appointments be held within a department during their tenure as a McLaughlin Fellow. Fellowships may be renewed with the approval of the McLaughlin Fellowship Committee for one additional year.

According to the Bylaws of the McLaughlin Endowment, “fellowships shall be for research and not require any other services to the University such as routine teaching or clinical duties.” “The Fund may also support meetings, symposia, and colloquia in the area of infection and immunity.” “Expenditures of the Fund for programs other than fellowships normally shall not exceed one-third of the annual available income of the Fund.” In this regard, the McLaughlin Endowment has held local Colloquia for predoctoral and postdoctoral fellows annually for many years. The annual McLaughlin Symposia features outstanding lecturers and provides a platform for exchange of scientific information among participants. The McLaughlin Endowment is investigating new ways in which it might enhance research and training in infectious diseases and immunology, in conjunction with extramural programs.

McLaughlin pre-doctoral and postdoctoral fellows are expected to make research progress that is reported to the McLaughlin Committee at the time of fellowship renewal each year. In addition, the fellows are expected to report their observations in peer-reviewed journals. Our hope is that every fellow will develop into a productive scientist with a successful scientific career.

In an attempt to make fellowship funds extend to as many fellows as possible, all McLaughlin fellows are expected to make a good faith effort to obtain support from external agencies. The fellows that are successful in obtaining fellowships that replace over 6 months of McLaughlin support receive a bonus of $1500, and are awarded the title of “McLaughlin Scholar”. If the support obtained from the external source is less than that received through the McLaughlin Fellowship, the McLaughlin Committee will make up this salary difference.