FASEB Fellows for the Future

Empowering the Next Generation of Scientific Leaders  

Engagement in scientific societies is vital for early-career researchers’ growth and career advancement. However, many face obstacles such as limited financial support and access to conferences and leadership roles within these societies. This is especially true for scientists from historically excluded groups who often encounter additional barriers to leadership positions and cultural integration—crucial for their career retention and progression. 

Furthermore, the selection process for leadership within many societies tends to favor those with extensive experience and established networks, reinforcing the status quo and limiting diversity and inclusivity. The Fellows for the Future program is FASEB’s response to these challenges. 

View Program Benefits

About FASEB Fellows for the Future

FASEB Fellows for the Future is a 12-month cohort-based program for early-career researchers from historically excluded groups who want to become change agents to make scientific societies more inclusive. It provides mentorship, leadership training, and sponsored engagement in scientific societies’ professional development opportunities. It is funded by the National Science Foundation’s Leading Culture Change through Professional Societies of Biology (BIO-LEAPS) program.

Selected fellows will 

  • Be matched with a mentor who will champion their participation in society leadership and volunteer activities.
  • Receive leadership training and guidance on how to advocate for governance changes at the society level, including skills in meeting facilitation, conflict resolution, understanding association operational structures, and developing visionary and strategic leadership skills.
  • Engage in an exclusive virtual collaborative community with other fellows and their mentors
  • Receive a stipend to attend member society events (meetings, conferences, workshops) as well as a FASEB-hosted social gathering at annual meetings that will bring together the fellows, their mentors, and society leaders in inclusive and accessible environments

Fellows for the Future is a key part of FASEB’s pursuit of diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusivity (DEAI) in the scientific workforce. To learn more about our DEAI programs, visit here.

Eligibility

To be eligible to participate, applicants must 

  • Be a current member of at least one FASEB full member society.
  • Identify as being from a historically excluded group based on race/ethnicity, sex and gender identity, disability, and/or disadvantaged background or intersectionality of one or more of these identities. 
  • Be an early-career researcher, defined as either a senior postdoctoral scholar or within seven years of appointment to the first independent faculty/research scientist position.

Applications

Applications for the 2024 cohort are closed. Selected fellows will be announced late fall. 

Questions

For inquiries about the FASEB Fellows for the Future program, email us.  

Program Administration

The FASEB Fellows for the Future program is supported by National Science Foundation Grant #2334679. 

  • Program Director/Principal Investigator: Yvette Seger, PhD, Director of Strategic Scientific Program Advancement, FASEB
  • Co-Principal Investigator: Louis Justement, PhD, Professor of Microbiology, University of Alabama, Birmingham