Early Career Awards - Foundations Tim Wuchter Director, Foundation Relations Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations, University Advancement April 27, 2017

Overview The following foundations have annual early career awards and competitions: Rita Allen Foundation McKnight Foundation Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation David and Lucile Packard Foundation Brain & Behavior Research Foundation Pew Charitable Trusts Burroughs Wellcome Fund Research Corporation for Science Advancement Concern Foundation Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Camille & Henry Dreyfus Foundation Searle Funds Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Simons Foundation Greenwall Foundation Alfred P. Sloan Foundation William T. Grant Foundation Smith Richardson Foundation W. M. Keck Foundation Thrasher Research Fund Esther A. and Joseph Klingenstein Fund Whitehall Foundation

Foundation Awards and Competitions Focus on science, engineering, and medical research although a few target the humanities, education, and social sciences. Typically have very specific eligibility requirements. Always review these requirements thoroughly. Also typically have very specific application procedures. Again, always review the application procedures thoroughly. Are extremely competitive. Have expert review panels to evaluate proposals. Often are institutionally limited and require a nomination by the institution.

Institutionally Limited Foundation Awards and Competitions Institutionally limited foundation awards and competitions are coordinated out of the Office of the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies. Procedure: http://vprgs.msu.edu/institutionally-limited-application-procedure Procedure Overview Announcements, including internal and external deadlines, will be posted to http://vprgs.msu.edu/funding-opportunities/institutionally-limited Pre-proposals will be required for EACH limited submission program. Pre-proposals must be submitted electronically to limited@msu.edu. Pre- proposals will be reviewed by an ad hoc review committee, and this committee will make recommendations to the VPRGS regarding which applications are allowed to go forward. PIs, chairs, and deans will be notified of the outcome of the pre-proposal selection process by e-mail. PIs of approved proposals are required to confirm intent to submit a full proposal by sending an e-mail to limited@msu.edu within 2 working days. If confirmation is NOT received within 2 days, the review committee will recommend a new candidate. Once confirmation is received, candidates not selected will be notified. OSP will be informed of the candidates selected to submit full proposals.

Foundation Awards and Competitions with Upcoming Deadlines (May thru September)

Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation Beckman Young Investigator Award Deadlines: LOI (August 2017) / Proposal (January 2018) – Specific deadline dates have not yet been announced. Institutionally Limited: NO Funding Level: $750,000 over 4 years Focus Disciplines/Areas: Chemical and Life Sciences Description: Provides research support to the most promising young faculty members in the early stages of their academic careers in the chemical and life sciences, particularly to foster the invention of methods, instruments and materials that will open up new avenues of research in science. Eligibility Note: Open to those within the first three years of a tenure-track position, or an equivalent independent research appointment, in an academic or non-profit U.S. institution that conducts research in the chemical and life sciences. More Information: http://www.beckman-foundation.org/programs/beckman-young-investigators-program-information

Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation Arnold O Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation Arnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Fellows Deadlines: Proposal (September 2017) – Specific deadline date has not yet been announced. Institutionally Limited: NO Funding Level: $63,300 - $77,000 (based upon years of postdoctoral research experience) for a two-year appointment with possibility of renewal for a third and final year Focus Disciplines/Areas: Chemical and Life Sciences Description: Supports postdoctoral scholars with the highest potential for success in an independent academic career in chemistry and the life sciences to assist in their transition from “mentored yet independent” postdoctoral projects to an independent, tenure-track position. These individuals are expected to become the next generation of leaders and innovators in science, engineering, and technology. Eligibility Note: At the time of application, applicants with more than 36 months of postdoctoral experience (cumulative) in a research lab, or who are more than 5 years from their PhD, MD, MD/PhD, are not eligible to apply. More Information: http://www.beckman-foundation.org/programs/beckman-postdoctoral-fellows

Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Awards at the Scientific Interface Deadlines: Preproposal (September 6, 2017) / Proposal (January 10, 2018) Institutionally Limited: NO Funding Level: $500,000 over 5 years Focus Disciplines/Areas: Interface between the physical/computational sciences and the biological sciences Description: Fosters the early career development of researchers who have transitioned or are transitioning from undergraduate and/or graduate work in the physical/mathematical/computational sciences or engineering into postdoctoral work in the biological sciences and who are dedicated to pursuing a career in academic research. Eligibility Note: Candidates must have completed at least 12 months but not more than 48 months of postdoctoral research by the date of the full invited proposal deadline and must have at least one first-author publication. More Information: http://www.bwfund.org/grant-programs/interfaces-science/career-awards-scientific-interface

Burroughs Wellcome Fund Investigators in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease Deadlines: Preproposal (July 14, 2017) / Proposal (November 15, 2017) Institutionally Limited: NO Funding Level: $500,000 over 5 years Focus Disciplines/Areas: Pathogenesis Description: Provides support to accomplished investigators at the assistant professor level to study pathogenesis, with a focus on the interplay between human and microbial biology, shedding light on how human and microbial systems are affected by their encounters. Eligibility Note: The ideal candidate is an accomplished investigator at the mid- to late-assistant professor level with an established record of independent research in a tenure-track position or its well-supported equivalent in non tenure-offering departments. More Information: http://www.bwfund.org/grant-programs/infectious-diseases/investigators-in-pathogenesis-of-infectious-disease

Concern Foundation Conquer Cancer Now Award Deadlines: LOI (September 2017) / Proposal (TBD) – Specific deadline dates have not yet been announced. Institutionally Limited: NO Funding Level: $60,000 per year for a maximum of 2 years. A second year of funding is not guaranteed and is based on evidence of sufficient progress based on the required progress report, availability of funds, and approval of the Concern Foundation Executive Board. Focus Disciplines/Areas: Cancer Description: Provides support to young and innovative researchers focused on cancer genetics, cancer cell biology, or cancer immunology. Eligibility Note: Candidates should be independent investigators who are at the start of their scientific career (i.e., junior faculty) and are at the level of Assistant Professor. More Information: https://www.concernfoundation.org/apply-for-grant.html

Foundation for Child Development Young Scholars Program Deadlines: LOI (June 5, 2017) / Proposal (October 10, 2017) Institutionally Limited: NO Funding Level: $225,000 or 2-3 years for research projects involving primary data collection or a combination of primary data collection and secondary data analysis $180,000 or 2-3 years for research projects solely focused on secondary data collection Focus Disciplines/Areas: Early care and education workforce and its impact on young children’s growth and development across the birth through age eight continuum Description: Supports policy and practice-relevant research focused on the early learning and development needs of the nation’s children who are growing up under conditions of economic insecurity and social exclusion. Eligibility Note: Researchers must have received their doctoral degrees within one to eight years of application submission (i.e., January 1, 2009 through June 30, 2016). Ten years for physician applicants (i.e., January 1, 2006 though June 30, 2016). A minimum of one year must have elapsed since receiving their degrees before researchers may apply. More Information: https://www.fcd-us.org/about-us/young-scholars-program/

William T. Grant Foundation Scholars Program Deadlines: Internal Deadline (May 18, 2017) / Proposal (July 6, 2017) Institutionally Limited: YES – Applicants must be nominated by their institutions; one candidate from each major division (college) of the university. Funding Level: $350,000 over 5 years Focus Disciplines/Areas: Social, behavioral, and health sciences Description: Supports promising early-career researchers in the social, behavioral, and health sciences whose studies will tackle important questions that will advance theory, policy, and practice for youth ages 5 to 25 in the United States. Eligibility Note: Candidates must have received their terminal degree within 7 years of submitting their application and must hold a tenure-track position. More Information: http://wtgrantfoundation.org/grants/william-t-grant-scholars-program

W. M. Keck Foundation Science and Engineering / Medical Research Programs Deadlines: Internal Deadline (May 12, 2017) / Concept Paper (June 23, 2017) / Phone Consultation (July 1 – August 15, 2017) / Phase I Application (November 1, 2017) / Phase II Proposal (February 15, 2018) Institutionally Limited: YES – 2 applications (1 for Science and Engineering Program and 1 for Medical Research Program) Funding Level: $2 million or less over 3 years (average $1 million) Focus Disciplines/Areas: Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, Engineering Description: Supports research projects that are distinctive and novel in their approach, question the prevailing paradigm, or have the potential to break open new territory in their field. The research projects must fall outside the mission of public funding sources. Eligibility Note: The proposed project should first have been submitted to a federal agency and been declined. Keck will want to see reviewers’ comments on why the proposal was declined. Without this feedback, it is highly unlikely that the proposal will move forward at Keck. More Information: http://www.wmkeck.org/grant-programs/research

Research Corporation for Science Advancement Cottrell Scholar Award Deadlines: Preproposal (May 1, 2017) / Proposal (July 19, 2017) Institutionally Limited: NO Funding Level: $100,000 over 3 years Focus Disciplines/Areas: Astronomy, Chemistry, Physics Description: Provides significant discretionary research funding for the very best early career teacher-scholars in chemistry, physics, and astronomy. Eligibility Note: For the 2017 proposal cycle, eligibility is limited to faculty members who started their first tenure-track appointment anytime in calendar year 2014. More Information: http://rescorp.org/cottrell-scholars/cottrell-scholar-award

Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Fellowship Award Deadlines: Application (August 15, 2017) Institutionally Limited: NO Funding Level: $231,000 over 4 years Focus Disciplines/Areas: Cancer Description: Supports the training of the brightest postdoctoral scientists as they embark upon their research careers. This funding enables them to be mentored by established investigators in leading research laboratories across the country. Eligibility Note: Candidates must apply for the fellowship under the guidance of a Sponsor—a scientist (tenured, tenure- track or equivalent position) capable of providing mentorship to the Fellow. For the August 2017 round, a candidate’s degree must have been conferred between October 15, 2016 and August 15, 2017 and the candidate must have joined the Sponsor’s lab on or after October 15, 2016. More Information: https://www.damonrunyon.org/for-scientists/application-guidelines/fellowship

Searle Funds Searle Scholars Program Deadlines: Internal Deadline (August 11, 2017) / Application (September 29, 2017) Institutionally Limited: YES – 1 nomination Funding Level: $300,000 over 3 years Focus Disciplines/Areas: Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Genetics, Immunology, Neuroscience, Pharmacology, and related areas in Chemistry, Medicine, and the Biological Sciences Description: Supports independent research of outstanding early-career scientists who have recently been appointed as assistant professors on a tenure-track appointment. Eligibility Note: Applicants should have begun their appointment as an independent investigator at the assistant professor level on or after July 1, 2016. The appointment must be their first tenure-track position (or its nearest equivalent) at an invited institution. More Information: http://www.searlescholars.net/go.php?id=1

Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Sloan Research Fellowships Deadlines: Application (September 15, 2017) Institutionally Limited: NO – But no more than 3 applicants from the same department Funding Level: $60,000 over 2 years Focus Disciplines/Areas: Chemistry, Computational or Evolutionary Molecular Biology, Computer Science, Economics, Mathematics, Neuroscience, Ocean Sciences, Physics, or a related field Description: Seeks to stimulate fundamental research by early-career scientists and scholars of outstanding promise. Eligibility Note: Candidates' most recent Ph.D. (or equivalent) must have been awarded on or after September 1, 2011 and must hold a tenure-track position at the university. Tenure track faculty positions at the candidate's institution must include a yearly teaching requirement. More Information: https://sloan.org/fellowships

Smith Richardson Foundation Strategy and Policy Fellows Deadlines: Proposal (June 23, 2017) Institutionally Limited: NO Funding Level: $60,000 Focus Disciplines/Areas: Foreign Policy, International Relations, International Security, Military Policy, Diplomatic and Military History Description: Supports junior or adjunct faculty, research associates, and post-docs who are engaged in policy-relevant research and writing to enable the recipients to research and write a book. Only single-author book projects are considered. Eligibility Note: Applicants must have a Ph.D. by the time of the application deadline. More Information: https://www.srf.org/programs/international-security-foreign-policy/strategy-policy-fellows-program/

Thrasher Research Fund Early Career Awards Deadlines: Concept (September 19, 2017) / Proposal (November 3, 2017) Institutionally Limited: NO Funding Level: $25,000 over 2 years Focus Disciplines/Areas: Pediatric Research, Children’s Health Description: Encourages the development of medical research in child health by awarding small grants to new researchers, helping them gain a foothold in this important area. The goal is to fund applicants who will go on to be independent investigators. Each project is under the guidance of a mentor. Eligibility Note: Post-doctoral researchers who received the doctoral level degree no more than three years prior to the date of submission of the Concept Paper. Physicians who are in a residency/fellowship training program or who completed that program no more than one year before the date of submission of the Concept Paper. More Information: https://www.thrasherresearch.org/SitePages/early-career-award.aspx

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