Sydney Brenner Research Fellowship 2026

🏛️ About the Fellowship

The Sydney Brenner Research Fellowship is an opportunity offered by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) to support scholars, journalists, and writers conducting substantial research into the history of the life sciences.

Key Details:

• Award Amount: Up to $5,000 (USD) per recipient.
• Purpose: To support direct costs of completing the proposed project, including a period in residence at CSHL.
• Facilities Provided:
  • Workspace in the Carnegie Library.
  • Full access to CSHL’s collections.
  • Assistance from archivists, librarians, and historians.
  • Opportunity to rent on-campus accommodation (if space permits).

🎁 Benefits

• Financial Support: Up to $5,000 (USD) to cover:
  • Travel, transportation, and daily expenses.
  • Archival research and other project-related costs.
• Research Resources:
  • Full access to CSHL’s collections.
  • Dedicated workspace in the Carnegie Library.
  • Support from CSHL’s historians, librarians, and archivists.
• Networking Opportunities:
  • Connect with top fellows and researchers in the field of life sciences.
• Presentation Opportunity:
  • Fellows can present their research findings to the CSHL community.
• Accommodation:
  • On-campus housing available for rent (subject to availability).

✅ Eligibility Criteria

• Open to scholars at any career stage, journalists, and writers.
• Applicants must have a strong research project related to the history of biology or life sciences.
• Proposals should be:
  • Detailed, sophisticated, and original.
  • Relevant to the CSHL collections.
• Selection is based on the quality and significance of the project.

📝 Application Process

Required Documents:

1. Completed Application Form:
   • Include names and contact information for two referees who can provide letters of recommendation.
2. Research Proposal:
   • Detailed instructions provided in the application form.
3. Selected Bibliography:
   • Titles or collections in the CSHL Library and Archives relevant to your research.
4. Budget Statement:
   • Briefly outline expenses for which support is requested.
5. Curriculum Vitae (CV):
   • Include education, employment history, areas of study, publications, and previous fellowships or grants.

Submission Instructions:

• Submit applications electronically via email to SydneyBrennerScholarship@cshl.edu.
• Attach all documents in .pdf, .doc, or .docx formats.
• Include a brief covering letter in the body of the email.
• Format the subject line as:
  “Sydney Brenner Research Fellowship application [Year] – [Your Name]”

📅 Application Deadline

• 31 August, 2026

🔗 Additional Information

• For more details about the fellowship, visit the official Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory website.
• Download the application form directly from the CSHL website.

For any further inquiries, please contact SydneyBrennerScholarship@cshl.edu.

• Each fellow will get an award of up to $5,000 (USD).
• The stipend amount can be used to support the direct costs of completing the proposed project, including a period in residence at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) in the USA.
• Brenner Fellows will receive full access to CSHL’s collections, a workspace in the Carnegie Library, and assistance from their staff of historians, librarians, and archivists during their stay.
• An opportunity to connect with other top fellows and researchers in the field of life sciences.
• If space permits, fellows may rent accommodation on campus during their stay.
• The fellowship funds can also support travel, transportation, daily expenses, archival research, and other project-related costs.
• Recipients will have the opportunity to present their research findings to the CSHL community.