Resources

westernmachapter  central & western ma chapter 

Neuroscience Funding & Opportunities

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Biological Technologies

Department of the Navy
Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)

Department of Health & Human Services
Clinical Trial Readiness for Rare Diseases, Disorders, and Syndromes
Treating Hereditary Rare Diseases With In Vivo Precision Genetic Medicines (THRIVE)

National Endowment for the Humanities
Collaborative Research

Department of Education
Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) Program

National Science Foundation
Science of Learning and Augmented Intelligence
Chemistry of Life Processes
Collaborative Research in Computational Neuroscience
Biophotonics

National Institutes of Health
Utilizing Invasive Recording and Stimulating Opportunities in Humans to Advance Neural Circuitry Understanding of Mental Health Disorders (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
BRAIN Initiative: New Technologies and Novel Approaches for Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
BRAIN Initiative: Theories, Models and Methods for Analysis of Complex Data from the Brain (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Cellular and Molecular Biology of Complex Brain Disorders (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Forecasted funding:

Investigate Novel Therapeutic Interventions and Testing Strategies for Neurological Disorders Including to Treat, Modify and Prevent the Development of Epilepsy (estimated post date: December 19, 2025)
Centers of Excellence in Genomic Science (estimated post date: March 25, 2026)

Career Development Tools
 

Mentoring, Fellowship, & Research programs:

Research Assistant Mentoring Program (RAMP - UMass Amherst)  - aims to introduce Psychology majors, especially those from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in the field, to laboratory research early in their college careers.

Research Scholars Program (MIT) - The Research Scholars Program is a prestigious two-year, non-degree, fully funded post-baccalaureate program for outstanding recent college graduates who plan to pursue a research career in cognitive, systems or cellular neuroscience, cognitive science, computational cognitive science, computational neuroscience, or neuroengineering. This program is specifically designed to provide additional research and academic training to individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, including first-generation college students, students with disabilities, and veterans preparing to apply to PhD programs.

World Women in Neuroscience (online) - The Mentoring Program is designed to support women in neuroscience worldwide.

Mentees are matched with more senior members who can provide advise and support throughout their career.

UMass Chan Mentorship Programs (UMass Chan Medical School) - Three different mentorship programs catering to underrepresented students in the med school, nursing program, biomedical sciences; women in medicine; and Medical Scientist Training Program members.

UMass Chan Residency & Fellowship Programs (UMass Chan Medical School) - Multiple residency & fellowship opportunities in the Department of Neurology.

Gaius Charles Bolin Fellowships (Williams College) - The Bolin Fellowships are awarded to applicants from underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, those who are first-generation college graduates, women in predominately male fields, or disabled scholars; designed to promote diversity on college faculties by encouraging students from underrepresented groups to complete a terminal graduate degree and to pursue careers in college teaching.

Research Experience for Undergraduates (WPI) - The WPI REU Site in Bioengineering research offers students an opportunity to join one of many interdisciplinary research teams for a summer research project.

For more mentoring programs, internship listings, and other resources, visit the MGH Resources for Students & Young Professionals website HERE.

Outreach & Community Engagement:
WNE-MHC Golden Bear Summer Camp (Springfield) - Free summer camp at Western New England College for high school students interested in pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences, occupational therapy, and neuroscience.

Rainbow Child Development Center, Extended Learning School aged Program (Worcester & surrounding) - RCDC collaborates with nine Worcester Public Schools and provides families with affordable after school programming. The focus is an enriched, stimulating curriculum with an emphasis on homework, academic assistance, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) activities, and physical exercise from the close of school to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and school vacations.

High School Health Careers Program (UMass Chan/WSU) - This program aims to expose high school students who may be from educationally and/or economically disadvantaged backgrounds to careers in biomedical research, biotechnology, and the health professions at an early stage of their academic development. Students participate in job shadowing/internship in the healthcare and science professions and it offers them an opportunity to interact with med students, scientists, & healthcare professionals.

Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation (locations vary) - numerous volunteer opportunities (high school lab support, mentoring adult apprentices, high school career panels, life science career awareness during teaching professional development, etc)

Bio-Rad Science Ambassador Program (location depends on info provided during registration) - Participation as a Science Ambassador will place you in a classroom setting (grades 3–12) and will last about an hour. You'll demonstrate a DNA extraction experiment for students, and then guide them through the steps to perform the same experiment on their own. Bio-Rad provides materials and matches you with a class.