Poitras Center Launches Fellowships for 50 Early-Career Psychiatric Researchers

Patricia and James Poitras ’63 have established a fellowship program to support graduate students and postdoctoral researchers engaged in mental‑health research. The initiative, administered through the university’s Office of Research, is designed to provide financial assistance and mentorship to early‑career scholars who are developing innovative approaches to understanding and treating mental‑health disorders.

Each year the Poitras Fellowship awards a stipend of $10,000 to up to five recipients, covering tuition, living expenses, and research costs. Applicants must be enrolled in a doctoral or postdoctoral program in psychology, neuroscience, psychiatry, or a related field, and their proposals should address gaps in current mental‑health knowledge or advance translational methods. The Poitras have emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, encouraging fellows to work with clinicians, data scientists, and community partners to translate findings into practice.

By investing in the next generation of mental‑health scientists, the Poitras Fellowship seeks to accelerate discoveries that can improve diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of psychiatric conditions. The program’s focus on rigorous research and practical impact aligns with the university’s broader commitment to advancing public health and fostering a pipeline of scholars capable of shaping the future of mental‑health care.