ASTRO-AAPM Physics Resident/Post-Doctoral Fellow Seed Grant

The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) and the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) jointly sponsor the ASTRO-AAPM Physics Resident/Post-Doctoral Fellow Seed Grant. This competitive seed funding program is designed to support early-career researchers working in radiation oncology physics. By collaborating on this initiative, both societies aim to promote innovation and research excellence in the field, particularly by supporting the next generation of clinical physicists and radiation oncology investigators. The primary purpose of the grant is to stimulate research that may lead to significant advances in radiation oncology. Awards are intended for Medical Physics Residents and Post-Doctoral Fellows who are embarking on physics-related research projects with a clear component focused on radiation oncology. The funding is structured to help promising researchers initiate studies that can build toward larger-scale funding or continued investigation within the field. The grant provides a maximum of $50,000 per award, with up to two recipients selected in the 2026 cycle. The funds cannot be used for indirect costs. Applicants must be active members of both AAPM and ASTRO at the time of application. They must demonstrate a long-term commitment to a research career in radiation oncology physics and be employed at institutions that have robust research and clinical development programs, as well as qualified mentors in both physics and radiation oncology. Additionally, physics residents must have institutional support that allows for dedicating at least 50% of their time to research for one year. Applications must adhere to the submission requirements outlined in the program announcement and should be submitted no later than March 11, 2026. Candidates are expected to notify the grant administrator if the same or a similar proposal is submitted to another funding source. This information is necessary for the review committee to make informed funding decisions. The funding cycle will run from July 1, 2026, through June 20, 2027. Inquiries and application submissions should be directed to grantsandfellowships@aapm.org. This initiative represents a continued investment in advancing medical physics and radiation oncology through support of early-career scientific talent.

Applicants are encouraged to inform the grant administrator if they submit the same or similar applications to multiple funding sources, as this information will be considered during the final funding decisions.