Description

Description

At the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (Fred Hutch), we believe that innovative research, collaboration, and rigor are critical to our mission of eliminating cancer and related diseases. We are committed to pursuing discoveries, scientific breakthroughs, and healthier lives for every person in every community. As a part of this effort, we are committed to advancing and supporting the career development of the next generation of scientists.

Overview:

Fred Hutch is seeking applications for the 8th Annual Dr. Eddie Méndez Scholar Award,which recognizes outstanding postdoctoral fellows from any discipline conducting research on cancer, infectious diseases, or basic science. The award was created to recognize Dr. Méndez's commitment to cancer research and supporting early-career scientists. This award aims to build a community between postdoctoral scholars seeking academic faculty careers and scientists at Fred Hutch.

A selection committee consisting of Fred Hutch faculty will select up to eight awardees. Fred Hutch will provide an honorarium to awardees, and Fred Hutch will cover all expenses related to travel and accommodations.

Awardees will present at a scientific symposium honoring Dr. Eddie Méndez and have the opportunity to meet with Fred Hutch faculty and senior leaders. We plan this event in person on the Fred Hutch campus in Seattle on July 16-17th 2026.

The aims of this award are to:

1. Share your science and have achievements recognized by the FH community

2. Network with peer/near peers (the cohort) and Fred Hutch staff & faculty

3. Provide awardees with info about FH as a prospective faculty and/or open the door for future collaborations

Dr. Méndez, who died of cancer in 2018, specialized in treating head-and-neck cancer, an often disfiguring and debilitating disease. It was his mission to save lives and improve the well-being of cancer patients, whether through spearheading minimally invasive robotic surgery for these tumors (he was the first in Washington state to perform such surgery) or tirelessly developing new treatments in his laboratory at Fred Hutch.

Qualifications

Eligibility (at the time of application submission and symposium):

• Be a post-doctoral researcher seeking an academic faculty position.

• Be completing research that aligns with the work being pursued at Fred Hutch.

• Have plans to enter the academic job market in the Fall of 2026 or beyond.

• Have not yet entered the academic job market nor accepted a faculty position.

Qualifications: Qualified applicants will have made innovative research contributions during their postdoctoral training, be planning to pursue an academic research career, have a clear direction in their future research vision, and be conducting research that is broadly applicable to the research being pursued at Fred Hutch.

Application Instructions

Required Application Materials:

• CV

• Postdoctoral Research Narrative (1 page)

• Future Research Directions (up to 1 page)

• Personal statement (1/2 page)

• Faculty Letter of Support

Application Instructions:

Your CV

Postdoctoral Research Narrative (1 page): Please describe your postdoctoral research accomplishments. As a reminder, your application may be reviewed by someone outside your field of study.

In your research statement, please answer the following questions:

1. What is the rationale underlying your project?

2. What are the major discoveries you have made during your postdoctoral fellowship?

3. Why is your work innovative, and why are your findings significant?

4. How does your work challenge or extend existing paradigms within your field?

As this award aims to foster the development of scientists aiming to pursue an academic research career, in your research statement, please also:

Future Research Directions (up to 1 page): Describe the proposed research program you plan to pursue as a future faculty member. Please include background, rationale, research program directions and the approach you will take to accomplish them. (up to one page).

Personal Statement (1/2 page): Eddie Méndez was not only recognized as an outstanding researcher, but he was also committed to family, community, and mentorship. Please write a personal statement describing how aspects of your life experience, identity, background and/or perspective shape the scientist you are today and your aspirations for contributing to academia and the scientific research community in the future. Please provide specific examples.

Faculty Letter of Support: Please identify a faculty member with knowledge of you and your research who is willing to provide a letter of recommendation to support your application. Note that this letter of support does not need to be from your primary mentor and you will not be penalized for not having a letter from your postdoctoral mentor.

Identify the Division(s) at Fred Hutch most closely aligned with your scientific interests and research.

Dates and Location:

July 16-17, 2026

Where: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA

Additional information to follow.

Application deadline:

February 1, 2026

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, sex, age, disability (physical or mental), marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, political ideology, or membership in any other legally protected class. We desire priority referrals of protected veterans. If due to a disability you need assistance/and or a reasonable accommodation during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to Human Resources at hrops@fredhutch.org or by calling 206-667-4700.