Award

Apply to Internal Competition // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1

Limiting Language
One nominated candidate per eligible institution is accepted per year

Program Overview
The Rita Allen Foundation Scholars program funds basic biomedical research in the fields of cancer, immunology, and neuroscience, as well as pain, through the Rita Allen Foundation Award in Pain. The Rita Allen Foundation Scholars program has supported more than 200 scientists since 1976. The program embraces innovative research with above-average risk and groundbreaking possibilities. Scholars have gone on to win the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, the National Medal of Science, the Wolf Prize in Medicine and the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences.

Full sponsor guidelines are linked here. 

Award Amount
Scholars can receive up to $110,000 per year for a maximum of five years. Recipients of the Award in Pain can be granted $50,000 per year for up to three years.

Eligibility
To be eligible for a Rita Allen Foundation Scholars Award, candidates must either apply through the Scholars Award in Pain or be nominated by an eligible institution and have completed their training and provided persuasive evidence of distinguished achievement or extraordinary promise in research in one of the relevant fields (cancer, immunology, neuroscience. or pain). United States citizenship is not a requirement; however, awardees must be legally employed at the time of application at a U.S. degree-granting or research institution that is an invited participant in the Rita Allen Foundation Scholars Program. Awards are made to the 501(c)(3) organization; awards are not made to an individual. Scholars must perform research at a non-profit institution in the U.S. during the entire period of Rita Allen Foundation support.

Institutions should consider the following when considering whom to nominate for the Rita Allen Foundation Scholars program: 

• Candidates should be independent investigators in the early stages of their careers and research. 
• The caliber of early-stage investigators suggests nominees would be appointed to tenure-track positions at their respective institutions. 
• It is preferable that candidates be in the first three years of their tenure track. (This is taken into consideration in the rating of applications by the Scientific Advisory Committee.) 
• A senior postdoc should not be a candidate; wait until s/he is in a tenure-track position, as described. 
• Associate professors should not be candidates. 
• Candidates must have received committed startup funds from their respective institutions. 
• Candidates must have lab space from their institutions. 

Rita Allen Foundation Scholars may not accept an award from the Beckman Young Investigator Program, Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences, Searle Scholars Program, or Vallee Scholars Program that would take effect beginning in year one of the RAF award. Rita Allen Scholars may apply for awards from these organizations that would take effect beginning in year two of the RAF award. Other sources of funding also may influence selection. 

Limit: 1 // Tickets Available 0 

A. Sur (Molecular and Cellular Biology) 

Limiting Language 
The University of Arizona is invited to nominate 1 individual to apply.

Program Description
Full sponsor guidelines are linked here.

The Searle Scholars Scientific Advisory Board is primarily interested in the potential of applicants to make innovative and high-impact contributions to research over an extended period of time.

Applicants for the 2027 competition (awards which will be activated on July 1, 2027) are expected to be pursuing independent research careers in biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, immunology, neuroscience, pharmacology, and related areas in chemistry, medicine, and the biological sciences.

Applicants should have begun their appointment as an independent investigator at the assistant professor level on or after May 1, 2025. The appointment must be their first tenure-track position (or its nearest equivalent).

Institutions which do not have tenure-track appointments should consult with the Scientific Director of the Program regarding eligibility of selected applicants PRIOR to nominating such individuals.

The Searle Scholars Program does not ordinarily support purely clinical research but has supported research programs that include both clinical and basic components. Potential applicants who are unsure if their research is appropriate for our Program are encouraged to examine the research interests of present and former Searle Scholars on this website.

Applicants who were nominated for awards in the previous competition year but were not awarded may still meet the eligibility criteria for the current competition. Institutions should consult with the Scientific Director of the Program regarding renomination of such individuals.

Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 0

M. O'Haire (Veterinary Medicine) 

Limiting Language 
Brain Research Foundation is pleased to invite your institution to nominate one senior faculty member to submit a Letter of Intent for the 2027 Scientific Innovations Award (SIA).

Objectives
The objective of the SIA is to support projects that may be too innovative and speculative for traditional funding sources but still have a high likelihood of producing important findings. It is expected that investigations supported by these grants will yield high impact findings and result in major grant applications and significant publications in high impact journals.  

Eligibility 
The nominated candidate must be a full-time associate professor or full professor at a US academic institution that was invited directly by BRF via email, working in the area of studies of brain function in health and disease. Current major NIH or other peer-reviewed funding is preferred but evidence of such funding in the past three years is essential. Studies should be related to either normal human brain development or specifically identified disease states. This includes molecular and clinical neuroscience as well as studies of neural, sensory, motor, cognitive, behavioral and emotional functioning in health and disease. The grant proposal must detail a new research project that is not funded by other sources. This grant is not to be used as bridge funding.

Investigators at institutions that are affiliated with a medical school or university are eligible to apply only through the institution where they hold a full-time faculty position. 

Scientists that have previously received a BRF Scientific Innovations Award may not receive the award for a second time until five years has elapsed since the beginning date of the prior award. Grant requirements from all previous awards must be met.  Only one PI may apply per application. (Applicant may include the name of a Co-PI within or from another institution, but no additional supporting materials for the Co-PI are required, including biosketch, current grants, abstracts, etc.)

Full sponsor guidelines are linked here.

Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 0 

K. Huntoon (Neurosurgery) 

The University of Arizona Cancer Center (UACC) is coordinating this limited submission. For more information please contact: UACC-PreAward.

Limiting Language 
Each invited institution may submit one nomination: either a Translational or a V Scholar nominee.

Overview
Varied perspectives fuel innovation in cancer research. The objective of this Request for Applications (RFA) is to support exceptional, creative researchers who have navigated unique challenges to establish their careers. All scientists have personal journeys shaped by their unique experiences and perspectives, which bring valuable and potentially overlooked insights to cancer research. Applicants will be asked to describe how their unique experiences have influenced their career paths and research focus. 

No Applicants // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1

Limiting Language
Institutions may submit only one Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award nomination annually. Renominations are accepted.

Program Overview
The Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Awards Program supports the research and teaching careers of talented early career faculty in the chemical sciences. The Award, which requires an institutional nomination, is based on an independent body of scholarship attained in the early years of their appointment, as well as a demonstrated commitment to education, and provides an unrestricted research grant of $100,000.

Eligibility
The Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Awards Program is open to faculty who meet all of the following criteria:

• From academic institutions in the States, Districts, and Territories of the United States of America that grant a bachelor’s or higher degree in the chemical sciences, including chemistry, biochemistry, materials chemistry, and chemical engineering.
• Hold a full-time tenure-track academic appointment focused on the chemical sciences.
• From Ph.D. granting departments in which scholarly research is a principal activity and undergraduate education is an important component.
• Are within the first six years of their independent academic careers at the time of submission of the nomination. Experience has shown that awardees tend to be close to the end of their eligibility window, but all eligible candidates are welcome to apply.

The Foundation will consider extensions to the window of eligibility for official tenure clock stops, for reasons including but not limited to parental leave, military leave, medical leave, and the pandemic. Any exceptions should be clearly discussed at the beginning of the letter of nomination. We encourage you to reach out to programs@dreyfus.org to discuss these exceptions prior to nomination submissions.

If you feel that there are special circumstances that may apply to your nomination, please contact the Foundation office at programs@dreyfus.org.

Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 2

K. Huntoon (Neurosurgery)

The University of Arizona Cancer Center (UACC) is coordinating this limited submission. For more information please contact: UACC-PreAward.

Limiting Language
Each applicant must be nominated by their institution. Applications will only be accepted from institutions that have been invited to submit them by the Foundation (See list). Three (3) nominations per institution, including its affiliated schools, will be accepted. 

Purpose of Award

• The Damon Runyon Clinical Investigator Award supports independent young physician-scientists conducting disease-oriented research that demonstrates a high level of innovation and creativity. The goal is to support the best young physician-scientists doing work aimed at improving the practice of cancer medicine.

  The Clinical Investigator Award responds to three recognized realities:

  • Though there has never been a more pressing need or more promising time for clinical cancer research, fewer young physicians enter this area of investigation every year.
  • The number of institutions committed to training young physicians in the scientific discipline and methodologies of clinical investigation is critically low.
  • The burden of medical school debt (averaging over $100,000) discourages many physicians from pursuing clinical investigation.

  The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation’s award offers solutions to these realities. The awardee will receive financial support for three years, as well as assistance with certain research costs such as the purchase of equipment. The Foundation will also retire up to $100,000 of any medical school debt still owed by the awardee.

  The Clinical Investigator Award program is specifically intended to provide outstanding young physicians with the resources and training structure essential to becoming successful clinical investigators. The goal is to increase the number of physicians capable of moving seamlessly between the laboratory and the patient’s bedside in search of breakthrough treatments.

Eligibility

• The applicant must hold an independent Assistant Professor position or equivalent at a U.S. institution and is expected to demonstrate significant support from the home institution through a comprehensive start-up package, ample laboratory space, and protected research time, for example.
• The applicant must have received an MD, DO, or MD/PhD degree(s) from an accredited institution, completed their subspecialty training and be U.S. Board eligible.
• The applicant must hold a valid, active U.S. medical license at the time of application.
• The applicant must apply within the first four (4) years of their Assistant Professor or equivalent full-time faculty appointment (Cut-off date: July 1, 2022). Instructor, Adjunct and/or acting positions are not eligible.
• Candidates holding or awarded R01s (or R01-equivalent grants such as the DP2 and DP5) at the time of application are not eligible to apply.
• The applicant must commit to spending 80% of their time conducting research. [In rare unique circumstances, the CIA Committee may consider an applicant with a very modest reduction of 80% protected time if their Department Chair can provide a compelling reason explaining why a waiver of the 80% requirement should be granted, what percentage of effort will be guaranteed, and what safeguards will be put in place to make sure the individual’s research will not be compromised by their clinical/administrative activities.]
• The applicant is required to apply in conjunction with a Mentor who is established in the field of clinical translational cancer research, cancer prevention and/or epidemiology and can provide the critical guidance needed during the period of the award. No more than two Damon Runyon Clinical Investigators will be funded to work with the same Mentor at any given time (including Co-Mentors).
• Candidates may apply up to two times during this eligibility period.
• Only one application will be accepted from a Mentor per review session (including Co-Mentors).

Limit: 2 // Tickets Available: 0 

B. Kim (Materials Science and Engineering)
H. Kim (Civil and Architectural Engineering and Mechanics) 

Limiting Language
Only two nominations are allowed per institution.

Program Description
Eligibility for the Powe Awards is open to full-time assistant professors at ORAU member institutions within two years of their tenure track appointment at the time of application. If there is a question about eligibility, your ORAU Councilor makes the final determination. Only two nominations are allowed per institution.

Research must fall within one of the following five disciplines: 

• Engineering and Applied Science
• Life Sciences
• Mathematics/Computer Sciences
• Physical Sciences
• Policy, Management, or Education

Limit: 3* // Tickets Available: 1 (see below)

Life Sciences - Tickets Available: 0 
M.M. Kaelberer (Physiology)

Physical Sciences and Engineering -  Tickets Available: 0 
E. Krause (Astronomy)

Chemical Sciences - Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1

* The University of Arizona may submit three nominations, one in each of the following disciplines: Life Sciences, Physical Sciences and Engineering, and Chemical Sciences

Overview:
The Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists recognize the United States' most promising faculty-rank researchers in Life Sciences, Physical Sciences & Engineering, and Chemical Sciences. One Blavatnik National Awards Laureate in each disciplinary category will receive $250,000 in unrestricted funds, and additional nominees will be recognized as Finalists, and will receive $15,000 in unrestricted funds.

Eligibility Criteria:
The nominee must:

• Have been born in or after 1984*.
• Hold a doctorate degree (PhD, DPhil, MD, DDS, DVM, etc.).
• Currently hold a tenured or tenure-track academic faculty position, or equivalent, at an eligible institution in the United States.
• Currently conduct research as a principal investigator in one of the disciplinary categories in Life Sciences, Physical Sciences & Engineering, or Chemical Sciences.

Nomination of underrepresented populations in STEM
In spite of tremendous advancements in scientific research, information, and education, opportunities are still not equally available to all. Women, persons with disabilities, and individuals identifying as Black, American Indian, or Hispanic/Latinx continue to be underrepresented in STEM fields1,2.

The Blavatnik Awards strongly encourages all those submitting nominations to the Awards—including institutional nominators, Scientific Advisory Council members, and past Blavatnik Awards Laureates—to diversify the population of candidates nominated for this Award.

The Blavatnik Awards are proud to have honored 158 women scientists since the Awards’ inception in 2007—approximately 30% of all Blavatnik Awards recognize women. Blavatnik Awards honorees hail from 53 countries on six continents, and approximately 60% of all Blavatnik Awards honorees are immigrants to the country in which they were honored.

A more diverse scientific workforce will accelerate discovery and innovation, and the Blavatnik Awards are committed to honoring the most talented young scientists—regardless of race, ethnicity, disability status, gender, or field of study.

Limit: 2 // Tickets Available: 0

Eung-Joo Lee (ECE)

Brian Kim (MSE)

Only two nominations are allowed per institution.

These competitive research awards provide seed money for junior faculty members that often result in additional funding from other sources. The award amount provided by ORAU is $5,000. The applicant’s institution is required to match the award with at least an additional $5,000. This is a one-year grant (June 1 to May 31).

Eligibility for the Powe Awards is open to full-time assistant professors at ORAU member institutions within two years of their tenure track appointment at the time of application. If there is a question about eligibility, your ORAU Councilor makes the final determination. Only two nominations are allowed per institution.

Junior faculty members interested in applying should consult their ORAU Councilor, and visit the frequently asked questions.

Institutionally Coordinated// Limit: 1 

The National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition is proud to announce its 2024-2025 campaign to recognize Outstanding First-Year Student Advocates. The annual award campaign, inaugurated over thirty years ago, recognizes individuals on college and university campuses who serve as outstanding advocates for undergraduate first-year students. To date, we have recognized over 320 award recipients. We are able to undertake the campaign again this year with the generous continuing support of Penguin Random House.

We invite you, or someone you appoint, to nominate one person from your institution as an Outstanding First-Year Student Advocate. We encourage you to identify an individual on your campus who serves as an activist, intercessor, and/or supporter for first-year students – someone who is passionate about new students' success. Nominees may be faculty members, administrators, professional staff, or students. Please refer to the link below to submit an online nomination. The deadline for submission of nominations is June 28, 2024.  

Members and past members of our national advisory board, past award recipients, and other leaders in higher education will select ten nominees as award recipients. Two award recipients will be chosen from each of five categories based on institution type and size. The ten recipients will be honored at the 44th Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience, February 16-19, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana. We will waive all conference registration fees for award recipients.