My Annotated HHMI Gilliam Fellowship Application
By Ya'el Courtney, PhD | Stanford Postdoc, Harvard PhD in Neuroscience
Last updated: April 2026
When I was applying for the HHMI Gilliam Fellowship in 2020, I spent weeks trying to find examples of successful applications. A few generous fellows shared their materials with me one-on-one, which helped enormously, but there was almost nothing public. So most applicants end up writing their essays in a vacuum, hoping they're pointed in the right direction.
I was awarded the Gilliam Fellowship in 2021 and completed my three-year term in 2024. I've also written a detailed guide to the application. What I hadn't done until now is share the actual materials I submitted.
Here they are, annotated. I've broken my successful application into three separate pages, each one walking through the full text with commentary about what I was trying to do, why I made the choices I did, and what I'd do differently now.
A Note on What's Changed Since 2021
HHMI has updated the Gilliam application a few times since I applied. If you're using my materials as a reference, here's what's different now:
The fellowship is open to all eligible students. When I applied, each institution could only nominate a limited number of applicants. As of the 2024 cycle, any eligible PhD student can apply directly.
The research plan is shorter. Mine was five pages. The current limit is three. The core structure still applies (background, aims, approach, results, limitations), but you'll need to be much more concise than I was.
Publication metrics matter less. The current program weighs a holistic view of your contributions: teaching, mentorship, outreach, DEI work. My application already leaned this way, but it's worth knowing the shift is now formalized.
There's a new Community Engagement Allowance. Fellows receive $3,000 annually to lead community-facing science projects. You'll need to propose how you'd use it. This wasn't part of the application when I applied.
Advisors commit to a year-long mentorship course. This is a real time commitment for them, and you should talk to your advisor about it before applying together.
The 2026 cycle expands eligibility significantly. Starting September 2026, international PhD students and dual-degree students (like MD-PhDs) can apply for the first time. There's also a new postdoc pathway: PhD Fellows can apply for up to four more years of support at $80,000/year as Gilliam Postdoc Fellows, meaning the fellowship can now support a scientist for up to seven years total.
Even with these changes, what makes a strong Gilliam application hasn't really shifted. HHMI wants to see scientific excellence, a real commitment to diversity and inclusion in science, and a clear vision for how you'd use the fellowship to make an impact. My materials show one way to tell that story.
How to Use These
These are examples, not templates. Do not copy my structure, my sentences, or my stories. Reviewers read hundreds of these essays and they can spot a borrowed template instantly. Use my materials to see how specific you should get, how your personal story can connect to your professional vision, and how to write with both humility and confidence.
I also want to be upfront that this was my application in my specific circumstances. My experiences, my trajectory, and my relationship with my advisor are not yours. Your application should sound like you.
If you find these materials useful and want personalized help with your own Gilliam application, I offer one-on-one coaching for fellowship applicants. I've now helped students across many fellowship programs put together strong applications, and the Gilliam is one I know especially well.
Questions about the Gilliam Fellowship or any other STEM fellowship application? Check out my full Gilliam guide or reach out for a free consultation.
