Overview
The Beckman Young Investigators Program 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.
Guidelines
Projects proposed for the BYI program should be truly innovative, high-risk, and show promise for contributing to significant advances in chemistry and the life sciences. They should represent a departure from current research directions rather than an extension or expansion of existing programs. Proposed research that cuts across traditional boundaries of scientific disciplines is encouraged. Proposals that open new avenues of research in chemistry and life sciences by fostering the invention of methods, instruments and materials will be given additional consideration. The BYI program funds promising young scientists early in their careers who have not yet received a major award from another organization.
Eligibility
The BYI program is open to those within the first three years of a tenure-track position, or an equivalent independent research appointment, at a United States academic or non-profit institution that conducts research in chemical and life sciences. Tenure Track start date for the 2019 program must be after: 8/15/2015.
NOTICE: The Foundation will be moving to a static submittal and tenure track date for our 2020 Program: Tenure Track start date for the 2020 Program: 8/6/16.
Candidates must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States at the time of application. Persons who have applied for permanent residency but have not received their government documentation by the time of application are not eligible.
There is no limit on the number of LOIs:
Because the BYI requires Institutional Endorsement, all applications must go through this site to ensure applicants' eligibility. The Vice President for Research Neil Sharkey(nas9@psu.edu) will provide the Institutional Endorsement.
For complete program guidelines and application instructions, see the Beckman Foundation website (link above).
Application Procedure to submit a Letter of Intent:
1. Set up an account with Beckman’s Online Grant System to see the full list of required documents and terms of the award. http://www.beckman-foundation.org/programs/beckman-young-investigators-program-information.
2. Once you’ve created an account, complete the Letter of Intent online.
3. Instead of sending the documents directly to Neil Sharkey for Institutional Endorsement, submit the required materials through this site.
4. Once this information has been submitted, return to the online applications and click on the “Request” Section. Enter your dean’s and Neil Sharkey’s (nas9@psu.edu) email addresses for the Institutional Endorsements. An email will be generated from within the application to the Endorsers to complete the Request.
The Office of Corporate & Foundation Relations is available to consult on proposal narrative elements and answer other foundation-related questions. Please contact Heather Winfield, Associate Director of Foundation Relations (hbw11@psu.edu or 814-863-4308) for additional support.
Foundation Relations Insights: Prior Penn State Beckman Young Investigators awardees:
Michael Axtell (2008); Consuelo de Moraes (2003); Christine Keating (2004); Michael T. Green (2004) Andrey S. Krasilnikov (2006, Biochemistry); Carsten Krebs (2005); Karl Mueller (1996); Anton Nekrutenko (2006); Scott Phillips (2009); Raymond Schaak (2006).