Updated September 26, 2026
Early Career Research Grants for New Faculty
Open research grants for early career faculty, new investigators, and first-time PIs. A live list of federal and foundation funding, updated as deadlines change.
The first major grant is the hardest one to win, and 2026 has made it harder. NIH support for early stage investigators fell meaningfully over the last two funding years, success rates at several institutes have dropped, and many universities have tightened startup packages and bridge funding at the same time. New faculty are competing for fewer federal awards exactly when their careers depend on landing one.
Featured grants
Updated automatically from Atom's grant databaseNew Investigator Grant
The New Investigator Grant from the Medical Research Foundation of Oregon funds early-career faculty to launch independent biomedical research programs in Oregon.
New Investigator Research Grants
The Charles E. Kaufman Foundation's New Investigator Research Grants fund early-career Pennsylvania scientists for innovative basic research in biology, chemistry, and physics.
New Investigators Research Grant
The New Investigators Research Grant from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation funds early-career researchers for innovative, clinically relevant studies in audiology and speech-language pathology.
The good news is that a wide range of funders reserve programs specifically for researchers in their first years of independence. Federal mechanisms like the NSF CAREER program and the NIH career development series continue to run on their regular cycles, and many foundations offer early career awards that draw far smaller applicant pools than the big federal competitions. Several private funders have also expanded their payouts in 2026 to help cover federal gaps, which makes this an unusually good moment to look beyond the agencies you already know.
This collection gathers open funding opportunities available to early career researchers: new faculty, first-time PIs, and scientists transitioning to independence. Eligibility windows matter here more than anywhere else, since most early career programs cap the number of years since your terminal degree or first faculty appointment. Check each listing's eligibility details before you plan a submission.
New Investigator Research Grants
Supports early-career researchers in conducting original, mentored research on spinal deformity to foster independent scientific inquiry and innovation.
New Investigators Research Grant
Funds one-year preliminary research in audiology or speech-language pathology for early-career investigators to generate pilot data and launch impactful research careers.
Early-Stage Investigator
The Early-Stage Investigator grant from the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium supports new faculty in building space-related research capacity and generating preliminary data for future NASA-aligned projects.
New Investigator Research Grant Program
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's New Investigator Research Grant Program funds early-career scientists conducting innovative research on leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes.
Transition to Independence Grants
The American Society of Nephrology's Transition to Independence Grants support early career nephrology researchers in establishing independent research programs in kidney biology and disease.
Early Career Researcher Innovation Grants
The Early Career Researcher Innovation Grants from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention fund innovative suicide prevention research by early career scientists with required mentorship.
Early Career Investigator Program
Supports early-career researchers conducting innovative basic, translational, or clinical research to improve canine health, with funding for both pilot and larger-scale projects.
Research Scholar Grant
The RSNA Research Scholar Grant funds early-career radiology faculty in North America to develop independent research and collect preliminary data for future studies.
INSPIRING NOVEL SCIENTIFIC EXPLORATION
The INSPIRING NOVEL SCIENTIFIC EXPLORATION grant from the Pittsburgh Foundation funds fundamental, interdisciplinary science research in biology, chemistry, and physics at Pennsylvania higher education institutions.
Competitive Renewal Grants for Career Starter Awardees
Competitive Renewal Grants for Career Starter Awardees support Knights Templar Eye Foundation investigators in extending data-backed research on children’s eye diseases toward independent research careers.
Engineering Research Initiation
This NSF grant supports early-career engineering researchers at non-R1 institutions to help them start and grow their research careers.
BBRF Independent Investigator Grants
This grant funds mid-career scientists to advance innovative research in brain and behavior disorders, bridging the gap to major, long-term research programs.
Investigator Award
The Investigator Award from the Rheumatology Research Foundation supports early-career faculty in pioneering independent research on rheumatic diseases.
Limited Competition: Small Grant Program for NHLBI Career Development Recipients (Clinical Trial Optional)
This upcoming NHLBI grant will offer small grants to current or recent career development awardees to help them advance their research and transition toward independent funding.
FIRST Awards
Nebraska EPSCoR's FIRST Awards support early-career faculty in launching research programs and building competitiveness for NSF CAREER grants.
Early Career Professionals Grant in Aid
This grant supports early career AP-LS members in innovative psychology-law research by providing funding, mentorship, and opportunities for advancing new lines of inquiry in the field.
IBRO Rising Stars Awards
The IBRO Rising Stars Awards support early career neuroscientists globally in establishing new independent labs, prioritizing those from diverse or underrepresented backgrounds.
Frequently asked questions
It depends on the funder. Most programs define it by years since your terminal degree or first independent faculty appointment, commonly within 5 to 10 years. NIH uses a specific Early Stage Investigator definition. Check each listing's eligibility window.
The NSF CAREER program and NIH career development awards are the major federal options. Private programs such as the Sloan Research Fellowships and foundation young investigator awards are highly regarded and often draw smaller applicant pools.
Some do. Several prestigious awards are limited submissions, where your university can nominate only one or two candidates. Contact your research development office early to learn the internal deadline.
Usually, yes, though some awards restrict concurrent funding or require a minimum percentage of effort. Review each program's rules on overlap before applying.