Fellowship Program

As we aspire to help generate the world’s most effective and widely adopted methods and resources for detecting and deterring the use of performance enhancing substances, the PCC recognizes the need to support scientists who invest their time and talent in anti-doping research. The Fellowship Program represents the PCC’s investment in the future of the anti- doping science community. The program supports qualified scientists who have completed a PhD program and who demonstrate strong interest and potential for long-term contribution to the fields of anti-doping science. By cultivating ethical leadership and ongoing commit​ment to research, the Fellowship Program helps ensure the continuation of standard​s established by today’s anti-doping experts.

The PCC provides two Fellowship Tracks for young PhD researchers:

1. The Laboratory Track

This track is ideal for candidates wishing to pursue a career within an anti-doping laboratory setting. The two-year program provides the unprecedented opportunity to gain practical knowledge from a WADA-accredited laboratory and expert mentors and use that knowledge to conduct research that supports the anti-doping field.

  • In the first year, the PCC Fellow will spend at least three months in an approved WADA-accredited lab, supporting existing lab research and learning about the intricacies and existing approaches for sample testing and analysis.
  • During the remainder of the first year and the second year, the PCC Fellow will refine the initial project proposal based on his/her experiences in the WADA-accredited lab and conduct supporting research either at the WADA-accredited laboratory or at the fellow’s home institution.
  • In exceptional circumstances, the PCC would consider a request for a third year of support. In these rare cases, the PCC will cover a portion of the third-year salary and overhead, up to $37,500 USD per year. The institution in which the fellow conducts research (either WADA-accredited lab or home institution) will be required to match the amount and may decide to apply to the PCC to continue the Fellow’s initial research or involve the fellow on other priority anti-doping projects.

If the fellowship is granted, the fellow will receive a $60,000 USD per year stipend in each of the first two years. The institutions in which the research will be conducted would be paid overhead in the amount of $15,000 USD in addition to the salary stipend. The maximum amount provided by the PCC for each two-year Fellowship will be $150,000 ($75,000/year). Either the WADA-accredited laboratory or the fellow’s home institution will still be eligible to apply for other research project funds from the PCC.

2. The Research Track

This track provides support for young investigators wishing to perform academic research related to the anti-doping field under the mentorship of an experienced researcher, including the opportunity for site visitation at a WADA-accredited lab, and funding for travel to relevant anti-doping conferences. This track is ideal for candidates wishing to contribute to a high-quality anti-doping research project within an academic (non-WADA laboratory) setting. Research Track Fellowship status may be requested for one to three years, concurrent with the length of the research project in question.

  • The research project in question may be fellow or mentor led, meaning potential fellows may apply to the PCC independently with an idea for a project and support of a mentor, or they may apply in conjunction with a PCC grant applicant (mentor) to contribute to existing research.
  • If applying in conjunction with an existing project application, the application for the fellow and the research grant must be provided during the same grant cycle. If applying using this process, the mentor should request funding for the individual within the grant application. Additionally, the fellow should submit an application for PCC Fellowship indicating support for working on this project. In order to become a PCC Fellow, both the research grant and Fellowship application must be approved.
  • The research may occur at any academic or laboratory setting of the fellow’s choosing, pending PCC approval of the mentor and facilities.
  • The fellow is highly encouraged to take advantage of an optional 1-2 week PCC supported site visit to a WADA-accredited lab, designed to provide additional context for how their current or future research may be applied in a real-world setting.

If the fellowship is granted, the fellow will receive a $60,000 USD per year stipend in each of the first two years, along with $10,000 USD for equipment and supplies, and $5,000 USD which can be used to travel and attend approved anti-doping conferences. The institutions in which the research will be conducted would be responsible for overhead in addition to the salary stipend. The maximum amount provided by the PCC for each two-year Fellowship will be $150,000 ($75,000/year). The fellow’s host institution will still be eligible to apply for other research project funds from the PCC.

Candidate Eligibility

  • Candidates must have a PhD in a physical, biological/medical science, or pharmacology discipline such as:
    • Biochemistry
    • Pharmacology
    • Endocrinology
    • Statistical modeling
    • Protein chemistry
    • Analytical chemistry
    • Toxicology
    • Hematology
    • Molecular and cell biology
    • Physiology
    • Metabolism
    • Proteomics
    • Mass spectrometry
    • Analytical techniques
    • Immunological assay and chromatography techniques
  • Candidates must demonstrate an interest in anti-doping but may have limited experience with research in the field.
  • Candidates must demonstrate an excellent research and academic background.
  • Laboratory Track candidates must contact and confirm the support of one or more of the WADA-accredited laboratories (contact information included below) in formulating their proposal. The candidate should select the WADA-accredited laboratory at which they desire to conduct their research.
  • Research Track candidates must contact and confirm the support of established researchers in formulating their proposal.
  • Candidates should explain the value they will provide to the WADA-accredited lab and/or anti-doping movement during their experience and if relevant include their approach to collaborating with the lab if they choose to return to another institution to conduct research during the Laboratory Track program.

Screening Process

The PCC Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) will evaluate candidate applications and determine the finalists based primarily on:

  • The candidate’s qualifications, including academic credentials, quality of research conducted, relevance of background to anti-doping science, and potential for future contribution to the field.
  • The research proposal submitted, judged on the scientific merit, innovativeness, clarity of thought/writing, and likelihood of impact.
  • If returning to another institution, the mentor’s qualifications, training record, research track record, grant support, and the resources and training environment of the mentor’s institution.
  • Potential for collaboration with a WADA-accredited laboratory during the fellowship, including process for synchronizing research and connection between lab capabilities and research topic.

Research Proposal

  • Laboratory Track: Candidates must develop an initial and brief anti-doping research proposal related to one of the PCC Research Priorities that would advance anti-doping science. If the fellowship is granted, the proposal may be revised after the initial rotation.
  • Research Track: Candidates must develop an initial and brief anti-doping research proposal related to one of the PCC Research Priorities that would advance anti-doping science OR describe the role they would play in a research project being submitted for PCC funding by an existing mentor. If the fellowship is granted, the proposal may be revised after the initial rotation.
  • Candidates must receive the support and acknowledgement from the relevant mentors and institutions prior to submitting the application.
    • If the research project is to be conducted outside of a WADA-accredited laboratory (after the first three to six months for the Laboratory Track, or for the full project scope for the Research Track), the home institution and project mentor must be identified, and he or she must submit a letter supporting the proposed research and sign the application.
    • If the fellow desires to spend the full two-year fellowship associated with a WADA-accredited laboratory, the candidate must contact the lab(s) of interest in advance to understand the capabilities, cost structure, research capabilities and priorities of the lab. A project mentor from the lab must be identified and the lab must submit a letter supporting the proposed research and sign the application.

Interview Process

Laboratory Track: The highest potential fellowship applicants may be selected to interview with the PCC Scientific Advisory Board, as well as the leaders of the relevant WADA-accredited laboratories, if necessary. Each WADA-accredited laboratory will prioritize among the candidates who interviewed for the lab.

Research Track: The highest potential fellowship applicants and their mentor may be selected to interview with the PCC Scientific Advisory Board, if necessary.

Final Fellow Selection

The PCC Scientific Advisory Board and Board of Governors will make the final decision on the fellow based on the application and interview of the applicant, the commitment of the lab/institution, and the fit between the lab/institution, the applicant, and the proposed research topic.

Facility and Mentor Requirements

Facilities (including WADA-accredited labs) and Investigators wishing to participate in the PCC Fellowship Program must agree to the following conditions:

  • Institution/Mentor commits to developing long-term talent for the field of anti-doping.
  • Institution/Mentor to provide a plan to the PCC detailing how the fellow will be supported and mentored during their fellowship, whether conducting research within the lab or at the individual’s home institution.
  • Institution/Mentor to sign the final project proposal, after the initial rotation, and may propose changes to the project budget.

Application Process

The PCC Fellowship application must be received by the deadlines for one of the two grant rounds (Pre-applications: February 1st and August 1st; Full applications: March 1st and September 1st).

  • This application will include the following information:
    • Personal background information
    • Short project proposal to identify area of interest and hypothesis
    • Two letters of recommendation (Should be included in the application as uploads)
    • Mentor(s)[1] support and credentials, including:
      • Biosketch
      • A letter of support that includes a mentorship plan, training plan and committing to support the research proposal
      • Training record of previous trainees, years of training, research project, publications, and current position
      • Description of resources and environment in the mentor’s institution
    • Support and acknowledgement from the institution
      • Please note: If the research project is to be conducted outside of the WADA-accredited laboratory, the home institution must sign the application.

If the Fellow desires to spend the full two-year fellowship associated with a WADA-accredited laboratory, the lab must be identified and the lab must submit a letter supporting the proposed research and sign the application.

[1] NOTE: One of the mentors could be the Director of the WADA-Accredited Laboratory

Please contact Manager, Communications & Operations – Jocelyn Quiles at jquiles@cleancompetition.org with further questions.

Contact Information for WADA-Accredited Laboratories can be found via the WADA website:  https://www.wada-ama.org/en/resources/lab-documents/list-wada-accredited-laboratories

Apply for a Fellowship