Fred Hutch Dr. Eddie Méndez Post-Doctoral Research Symposium

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.

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 honor Dr. Méndez’s commitment to cancer research and to support early‑career scientists. The 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 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. The event will be held in person on the Fred Hutch campus in Seattle on July 16‑17, 2026.

The aims of this award are to:

• Share your science and have achievements recognized by the FH community
• Network with peer/near peers (the cohort) and Fred Hutch staff & faculty
• Provide awardees with information 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.

• 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.

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.

• CV
• Postdoctoral Research Narrative (1 page)
• Future Research Directions (up to 1 page)
• Personal statement (1/2 page)
• Faculty Letter of Support

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:

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…