Finding Funding
Though you may submit to individual fellowships, postdoctoral scholars are not eligible to serve as principal investigator (PI) on sponsored research projects. Exceptions can be made to submit proposals for fellowships or field research grants to be awarded to The Regents, when an extramural funding agency requires that the scholar originating a project also be the individual who initiates the application for funding, but only if a member of the Academic Senate or separately approved individual is identified as the Sponsoring Principal Investigator. Learn more about PI eligibility.
Pivot Funding Opportunities Database
Pivot provides a comprehensive database of funding opportunities worldwide and across all disciplines, as well as a flexible portfolio of tools to support research collaborations. Signing up for a free account using your UCSB email address gives you access to customized funding searches and deadline tracking.
ProQuest, the makers of Pivot, offer useful online training guides to assist you in creating a user profile, navigating your homepage, and finding funding. Additionally, if you would like further assistance using Pivot, please contact Kelly Pillsbury at funding@research.ucsb.edu.
GRAPES Database
UCLA's GRAduate & Postdoctoral Educational Support (GRAPES) is a free database of awards from among 625 scholarships, grants, fellowships, and postdoctoral awards.
Graduate Division
UCSB's Graduate Division maintains a list of permanent job listings, postdoc position listings and funding sources/databases.
National Postdoctoral Association
UCSB maintains a membership to the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA), making grad student and postdoc affiliate memberships free. The NPA offers resources for job announcements and career development tools.
Curated Pivot Searches
Career Resources
- Graduate Student Resource Center
- Hosts workshops of use to Postdocs, e.g. “Academic Job Market Success Series”, which includes: writing application materials, preparing for job talks, teaching demos, chalk talks
- Career Center (currently directed towards Grad Students)
- Information and links about finding academic and non-academic job announcements
- Information about crafting job application materials, interviewing and negotiating an offer
Professional Development
- Office of Instructional Development
- Offers workshops on pedagogy, designing courses and developing syllabi, flipping classrooms, etc., useful for those planning to teach.
- National Center for Faculty Development- provides workshops on writing, networking and other professional support. UCSB has a campus membership making this free to postdocs, graduate students and faculty
- Center for Science and Engineering Partnerships
- Offers a professional development series
Postdoc-ing at UCSB
- Academic Personnel
- Provides specific details about postdoctoral appointments, expectations, benefits and certain important university forms
- Grad Division
- Provides information about housing, child-care, recreation, the library, transportation, etc.