Class of 2026 · Inaugural Cohort
Prognica Research Fellows Program
A six-month, fully-funded global fellowship for researchers who want to take a computational prediction all the way to an experimental answer.
- 6
- Month programme
- 10
- Fellows per cohort
- $12,000
- Est. value / Fellow
- 3
- Funded validation awards
Applications open 01 Aug 2026
Applications Deadline 30 Aug 2026
Why this fellowship matters
A prediction nobody validates is not a result.
Computational drug discovery has never been more accessible, and its output has never been harder to trust. Screening campaigns produce ranked lists that nobody has the bench time to test. Multi-omics studies produce biomarker candidates that never reach an assay. The gap is not compute or method - it is the step where a prediction meets an experiment, and most researchers cannot fund that step.
Fellows receive six months of complimentary access to the full Prognica platform - autonomous asset discovery, in-silico evaluation, commercial and clinical modelling - alongside guided onboarding, methodology support and publication support. For up to three Fellows per cohort, the programme also funds the part that usually stops: wet-laboratory validation of their own computational result, run in our laboratory with them.
Fellowship benefits
Everything a Fellow receives
Every Fellow receives the full set of benefits below for the duration of the programme - provided at no cost to selected Fellows.
Six months complimentary platform access
Full, priority access to the Prognica platform for the entire six-month term - Autonomous Asset Discovery, the In-Silico Evaluation Suite, Market & Commercial Insight, Clinical Operations and Business Development. No usage caps, all modules unlocked, and the same evidence layer our own scientists work from.
Dedicated onboarding programme
A structured, hands-on onboarding with guided setup, data-migration assistance and a plan tailored to your project, so you are productive from the first week.
Advanced training sessions
Live, expert-led sessions on virtual screening design, molecular dynamics and free-energy calculation, ADMET and liability prediction, multi-omics integration and clinical variant interpretation - including recordings, materials and worked examples you keep for life.
Research methodology support
One-to-one guidance on study design, power and sample size, quality control, applicability domains, negative controls and analysis planning - the parts reviewers ask about, addressed before you run the work rather than after.
Wet-laboratory validation award
Up to three FellowsThe programme's distinguishing benefit. Up to three Fellows are awarded funded bench time in our laboratory to test their own computational result - target validation, PCR/qPCR assay development, protein expression or cell-based readouts, scoped with them and run by the translational biology team. Indicative award value: $8,000 per Fellow.
Priority technical support
Fast-track support for the full duration of the fellowship, with faster response times and direct help resolving data, pipeline and analysis issues as they arise.
Priority feature requests
A direct line to the platform team, with Fellow input given priority consideration on the product roadmap.
Publication support
Editorial and methods support to turn results into a publication-ready manuscript - figure preparation, reproducible supplements, methods and limitations sections, and guidance toward peer-reviewed submission.
Certificate of Fellowship
An official, verifiable Certificate of Completion recognising your participation and the work you accomplished.
Fellowship recognition badge
A digital credential for your CV, LinkedIn and academic profiles, verifying your standing as a Prognica Research Fellow.
Co-authored publications and case studies
The opportunity to co-author peer-reviewed publications, or to contribute to Prognica research case studies that put your work in front of the wider scientific and industry community.
Access to the research community
Membership of the Fellows network - a peer community for collaboration, feedback and lasting professional connections across disciplines and countries.
Access to future collaborations
Priority consideration for future research partnerships, advanced fellowships, advisory roles and collaborative projects with Prognica and its partners.
Total estimated fellowship value: $12,000 per Fellow
Rising to $20,000 for Fellows awarded wet-laboratory validation. Provided at no cost to selected Fellows.
Who can apply
Open across the career spectrum
The fellowship welcomes researchers working - or wanting to work - in drug discovery, multi-omics, molecular diagnostics or translational biology. Applicants from under-resourced settings are strongly encouraged to apply.
- PhD candidates
- Postdoctoral researchers
- Clinical researchers (MBBS, MD, residents)
- Faculty members
- Early-career investigators
- Independent researchers
* Exceptional independent researchers are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Research areas of interest
Where Fellows focus - and cross boundaries
Projects that pair a computational question with an experimental one are an especially natural fit, but strong proposals across our capability are encouraged. Interdisciplinary research is warmly welcomed.
- AI target identification and prioritisation
- Drug repurposing
- Virtual screening and hit discovery
- Molecular dynamics and free-energy calculation
- Lead optimisation, ADMET and liability prediction
- Multi-omics integration and analytics
- Biomarker discovery and validation
- Clinical bioinformatics and variant interpretation
- Transcriptomics and proteomics
- Companion diagnostics and liquid biopsy
- PCR/qPCR assay design and validation
- Biomedical knowledge graphs and literature-scale evidence
- Trial design, feasibility and digital twins
- Health economics and access for novel assets
Selection
Transparent, merit-based, and globally representative
Every application is read by the programme team and scored by two independent reviewers against the same rubric.
Selection process
From submission to onboarding
- 01
Application submission
Submit proposal, CV and supporting materials through the portal.
- 02
Initial review
Eligibility and completeness screening by the programme team.
- 03
Scientific evaluation
Independent scoring against the published rubric by two reviewers.
- 04
Interview
A short technical conversation with the selection committee.
- 05
Final selection
Committee selects ten Fellows; cohort balance and diversity reviewed. Validation awards are assigned at this stage.
- 06
Offer and onboarding
Offers issued; selected Fellows begin the onboarding programme.
Evaluation criteria
Scored 1–5, independently
- Research proposal quality
- Clarity, rigour, design and reproducibility plan
- Scientific merit
- Soundness and methodological strength
- Innovation potential
- Originality and novelty of the approach
- Impact potential
- Significance for health, science or society
- Research feasibility
- Realistic scope, resources and timeline for six months
- Validation readiness
- Whether the computational result leads to a testable experiment - scored only for validation-award consideration
- Publication history
- Track record relative to career stage
- Geographic diversity
- Contribution to a globally representative cohort
- Disciplinary diversity
- Contribution to a multidisciplinary cohort
Each application is independently scored 1–5 per criterion. The committee reviews aggregate scores alongside cohort balance before final decisions.
Fellowship outcomes
Tangible, career-advancing results - not just experience
Peer-reviewed publication
A publication-ready study and a clear path to a peer-reviewed paper.
Experimental validation
For award recipients, a computational result tested at the bench - with the data.
Conference presentations
Cohort showcase, plus material ready for external conferences.
Validated biomarkers and candidates
Reproducible, source-traceable outputs from real data.
Collaborative projects
New collaborations formed within the Fellows community.
Future partnerships
Priority consideration for ongoing partnerships with Prognica.
Application timeline
Key dates for the inaugural cohort
- 01 Aug 2026
Applications open
The application portal opens; the open call is published globally.
- 31 Aug 2026
Application deadline
Final date to submit complete applications and supporting materials.
- 01–12 Sep 2026
Review period
Eligibility screening and independent scientific evaluation against the rubric.
- 15–23 Sep 2026
Interviews
Shortlisted applicants meet the selection committee.
- 26 Sep 2026
Selection announcement
The ten Fellows of the inaugural cohort are announced.
- 01 Oct 2026
Programme start
Onboarding begins; the six-month fellowship commences.
- 31 Mar 2027
Programme close
Cohort showcase; certificates and credentials issued.
Frequently asked questions
Answers for prospective applicants
What is the Prognica Research Fellows Program?
A six-month, fully-funded global fellowship giving ten researchers per cohort access to Prognica's AI discovery and analytics platform, mentorship, training and publication support - and, for up to three Fellows, funded wet-laboratory validation of their computational result.
Is there any cost to participate?
No. The fellowship is fully complimentary. There is no application fee and no participation fee.
Who is eligible to apply?
PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, MBBS students, MD residents, clinical researchers, faculty members and early-career investigators. Exceptional independent researchers are considered case-by-case.
Is the fellowship remote or in person?
The programme is global and runs remotely. Onboarding, training, mentorship and the showcase are all conducted virtually so researchers anywhere can take part. Wet-laboratory validation is run by our team in our facility - award recipients do not need to travel, though visits are welcomed where practical.
Do I need prior experience with computational drug discovery?
No prior platform experience is required - onboarding and training are provided. Some experience with research data is helpful, but the programme supports a range of levels.
Do I have to apply for the validation award?
No. Validation awards are optional. Applications without a validation plan are assessed on the remaining criteria and are not disadvantaged for the fellowship itself.
Will I own my research and data?
Yes. You retain ownership of your research and data, including data generated during wet-laboratory validation. Prognica provides infrastructure, laboratory capability and support; credit and authorship for your work are yours. Fellows agree to our research integrity and data-privacy guidelines, which set out how research is conducted with integrity and how personal, clinical and participant data must be consented, protected and handled.
Who owns intellectual property arising from the work?
IP arising from a Fellow's own research question remains with the Fellow and their institution under the standard fellowship agreement. Where a result builds directly on Prognica's proprietary models or corpus, terms are agreed in writing before the work begins - never afterwards.
Can my institution or supervisor be involved?
Yes, and we encourage it. Supervisors are welcome at methodology sessions, and institutional endorsement strengthens an application.
What happens after the fellowship ends?
Fellows join the alumni network and become eligible for advanced fellowships, research partnerships, advisory roles and platform collaboration.