Leon Levy Scholarships in Neuroscience (LLSN) 2027 | How to Apply

The Leon Levy Scholarships in Neuroscience fund a three-year postdoctoral fellowship for researchers already working at eligible institutions across New York City’s five boroughs, paying an annual stipend at 125% of the NIH postdoctoral rate. Applications close October 16, 2026, for a scholarship period beginning September 1, 2027. This one comes with a real restriction: you must already hold a full-time postdoctoral position in NYC when you apply; it isn’t a route into the city; it’s support for researchers already established there.

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About the Leon Levy Scholarships in Neuroscience (LLSN) Program

The New York Academy of Sciences built this fellowship around a specific, narrow window in a researcher’s career: the early postdoctoral years, when scientists are developing the ideas and independent research direction that will define them as neuroscientists in their own right, not just as someone’s lab member. Rather than funding a project alone, the programme is explicitly designed to build wider professional capability alongside the research itself: grant writing, budget management, community engagement, and neuroethics are treated as core parts of the Scholarship, not optional extras. The program also strongly encourages applications from women, people with disabilities, and Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, citing their continued underrepresentation across STEM fields.

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LLSN Summary

Required Applicants Eligibility

By September 1, 2027, you must:

• Hold a doctoral degree — PhD, DPhil, MD, DDS, DVM, or equivalent
• Hold a full-time postdoctoral position at an eligible institution in one of NYC’s five boroughs, and be employed there when the Scholarship begins, with the support of your proposed Research Advisor at the time you apply
• Have no more than three years of cumulative postdoctoral experience — your doctoral degree can’t be dated before September 1, 2024
• Be conducting research in neuroscience or one of its sub-disciplines throughout the Scholarship
• Meet at least one of these status criteria: US citizen, national, or permanent resident; holder of J-1 Research Scholar status or an H-1B visa valid for the full Scholarship term; DACA recipient; an Indigenous individual exercising Jay Treaty rights; holder of Temporary Protected Status; asylee; or refugee. Conditional visas are considered.

There’s no cap on how many applicants can come from a single institution or lab, but previous Leon Levy Fellowship recipients aren’t eligible to apply again.

What the Institution Needs to Be Eligible

Any accredited non-profit academic institution located within New York City’s five boroughs that conducts original neuroscience research qualifies. If your current institution isn’t yet eligible, it can still become eligible before the application period closes.

What the Scholarship Provides

Over the full three-year term, Scholars receive:

• An annual stipend at 125% of the NIH postdoctoral rate, scaled to your specific postdoctoral year
• Fringe benefits at your host institution’s standard postdoctoral rate
• A one-time $2,000 flexible technology and travel allowance
• An annual supplement of up to $10,000 to support care costs, such as dependent care
• A three-year membership to the New York Academy of Sciences, including access to a global member directory, a digital content archive, and free or discounted registration for over 100 symposia, webinars, and conferences a year
• A structured Mentorship Program, pairing you with a senior scientist outside your own research group
• Access to leadership and skills-building workshops covering science communication, grant writing, inclusive leadership, and ethics
• Ongoing access to a community of past and present Leon Levy Scholars, including a dedicated LinkedIn network
• Grant writing support from a dedicated professional

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Scholars must dedicate 100% of their time to their funded research proposal, unless they carry a clinical obligation, in which case up to 20% of their time can go toward that instead.

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Leon Levy Scholarships in Neuroscience Documents To Be Submitted

• A completed application form, covering your basic details, your neuroscience sub-disciplinary category (Cellular & Molecular, Systems, Cognitive & Behavioural, Computational, Translational & Clinical, or Other), your Research Advisor’s details, and three potential mentors
• A CV covering your education and training, employment history, honours and awards, full publication record, patents if any, research grants where you’re named PI or Co-I, scientific leadership roles, and invited talks
• A Research Proposal, capped at 1,400 words excluding references, written to be understood by any neuroscientist regardless of their sub-field — covering background and significance, your aims and timetable, your research plan, any preliminary results, and the work’s future direction and impact
• A Professional Service and DEI Statement, up to 500 words, on your outreach and professional service, ideally tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion in science
• A Career Development Plan, up to 500 words, on your short and long-term goals and how this Scholarship specifically helps you reach them
• Three Letters of Support, submitted electronically through the portal: one from your proposed Research Advisor confirming their full-term commitment to supporting you and your research, and two from other recommenders — previous advisors or collaborators — who know your most significant research contributions well

Application Process for the Leon Levy Scholarships in Neuroscience (LLSN)

1. Confirm your eligibility and institutional fit first. You need a doctoral degree dated no earlier than September 1, 2024, a full-time postdoctoral position at an eligible NYC institution, and your Research Advisor’s support already secured — this needs to be in place before you start the application itself, not something you arrange partway through.
2. Attend an information session, if you want a walkthrough before committing. Sessions are scheduled for September 15 and September 18, 2026, and both cover identical content, so one is enough.
3. Line up your three referees early. One must be your proposed Research Advisor, who has to formally stipulate their agreement to support you and your research for the full three-year Scholarship term — not just write a general recommendation. The other two should be previous advisors or collaborators who know your most significant research contributions well. All three letters are submitted electronically through the web portal to keep them confidential.
4. Draft your written materials well before the deadline. This means your CV, a Research Proposal capped at 1,400 words that’s genuinely accessible to a neuroscientist outside your own sub-field, a 500-word Professional Service and DEI Statement, and a 500-word Career Development Plan. None of these are quick same-day writes, especially the Research Proposal’s requirement to stay understandable across neuroscience sub-disciplines.
5. Complete the application form itself, including your neuroscience sub-disciplinary category, your Research Advisor’s contact details, and the names and contact information for three potential mentors.
6. Submit everything by October 16, 2026. Applications open August 21, 2026, giving you roughly two months to coordinate your referees and finalize your written materials.
7. Wait for notification. Outcomes are communicated in March 2027, with Leon Levy Scholars publicly announced in April 2027, ahead of the Scholarship period beginning September 1, 2027.

Application Deadline

Applications close October 16, 2026. Notification follows in March 2027, with Scholars publicly announced in April 2027 and the Scholarship period beginning September 1, 2027 — everyone selected is expected to be in residence in NYC by that date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply if I’m not currently working in New York City?

No, not for this specific cycle. You need to already hold a full-time postdoctoral position at an eligible institution in one of NYC’s five boroughs at the time you apply, with your Research Advisor’s support already in place. This isn’t designed to relocate researchers into the city — it’s for those already working there.

Do I need to be a US citizen to apply?

No, but your immigration status does need to fall into one of several specific categories — including J-1 Research Scholar status, a valid H-1B visa, DACA status, Temporary Protected Status, asylee, or refugee status, alongside US citizens and permanent residents. Conditional visas are also considered.

What happens if I have more than three years of postdoctoral experience?

You wouldn’t be eligible. Your doctoral degree can’t be dated before September 1, 2024, which caps cumulative postdoctoral experience at three years by the time the Scholarship begins.

Do I need to commit to full-time research with no other responsibilities?

Mostly yes — Scholars dedicate 100% of their time to their funded research proposal. The one exception is a clinical obligation, where up to 20% of your time can be allocated to that instead.

Can I apply again if I previously held a Leon Levy Fellowship?

No. Previous Leon Levy Fellowship recipients are explicitly not eligible to apply for the Scholarship program.

Disclaimer: All scholarship details, deadlines, award values, and eligibility criteria in this post were verified from official sources as of September 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official New York Academy of Sciences website before submitting your application. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with the New York Academy of Sciences.

Official Application Portal