shanahan foundation fellowship
neuroscience has a treasure trove of data waiting to be explored
The Allen Institute is a leader in collecting large-scale, standardized datasets on the mammalian brain, from the cellular to the whole-brain level, working since 2003 to refine the data collection techniques needed to understand biology’s most complex organ. Our data banks are ready and waiting. The next stage of discovery depends on experts from diverse technical backgrounds coming together to uncover new insights.
The Shanahan Foundation Fellowship at the Interface of Data and Neuroscience was created to provide freedom and flexibility to promising young scientists from diverse fields, as they work alongside neuroscientists at the Allen Institute and University of Washington. The three-year fellowship provides Ph.D.s from data science, computer science, physics, mathematics, and allied fields the guidance to pursue their own research interests with our data, with help from dedicated mentor .
- The Shanahan Family
shanahan fellowship applications
Applications for Fall 2026 will open September 15th and close December 1st, 2025.
Selected candidates will be invited to give virtual talks on February 2nd and 3rd, 2026. A subset of those candidates will then be invited for in-person interviews on March 2nd and 3rd.
Applications are now closed.
fellowship details
- 3-year program for recent Ph.D.s to explore complex data in neuroscience at the Allen Institute and University of Washington
- Neuroscience experience not needed—we’re seeking applicants with expertise in computer science, data science, engineering, mathematics, physics, and allied fields
- Designed to provide freedom to explore novel computational research areas and datasets of interest, through the Allen Institute’s vast data banks. Includes a discretionary fund for each fellow.
- Participation in the 2-week Summer Workshop on the Dynamic Brain course in the San Juan Islands
- Mentorship from leading Allen Institute and UW investigators. Fellows are hired as an Allen Institute employee with a starting salary of $106,780 annually, immigration support and benefits package
eligibility and application materials
You do not need experience in neuroscience to apply. Applicants must be scientists with a Ph.D. (or equivalent) or who will have completed their Ph.D. by the start of the fellowship. The Ph.D. should have been awarded in the last 3 years. The fellowship is appropriate for Ph.D.s in a quantitative field such as computer science, electrical engineering, physics, mathematics, or biology. They should have a strong background in statistical, computational, machine learning, or other data science methods. Up to three fellows will be selected each year. International applicants are eligible to apply and we provide immigration support.
