[Beckman Foundation](https://www.beckman-foundation.org)

June 2, 2025 (LOI opens) | August 1, 2025 (LOI deadline)

Up to $600,000 total ($150,000/year for 4 years); no overhead or indirect costs allowed.

Supports early-career faculty in chemistry and life sciences to pursue innovative, high-risk research that opens new scientific directions.

Applicants must be within 4 years of a tenure-track (or equivalent) position and have limited existing external funding.

--- ## Description The Beckman Young Investigator (BYI) Program provides substantial research support to promising young faculty in the early stages of their careers in the chemical and life sciences. The program specifically seeks proposals that are truly innovative, high-risk, and represent a significant departure from current research directions. Projects that cross traditional disciplinary boundaries and foster the invention of new methods, instruments, or materials are strongly encouraged. The program values diversity and inclusion, and employs a blinded review process to minimize bias. --- ## Due Dates - Letter of Intent (LOI) portal opens: June 2, 2025 - LOI submission deadline: August 1, 2025 (5:00 PM PDT) Invited full proposals and interviews occur after initial LOI review. --- ## Funding Amount - Typical award: $600,000 total over four years ($150,000 per year) - Funding is contingent upon demonstrated progress after year two - No overhead or indirect costs are permitted --- ## Eligibility Applicants must meet all of the following criteria: - **Position:** Within the first four years of a tenure-track (or equivalent independent research) appointment at a U.S. academic or non-profit institution conducting research in chemical or life sciences - Tenure-track start date must be on or after January 1, 2021, and on or before August 1, 2025 (for the 2026 program) - **Citizenship:** U.S. citizens or permanent residents (must have status by the interview stage, late March) - Conditional permanent residents with Form I-797 are eligible - **External Funding:** No more than $225,000 in direct, annualized external funding grants during the BYI program year (August–July) at the time of application - Start-up funds, department-wide instrumentation grants, and postdoc transition grants (e.g., NIH K99/R00) do not count toward this limit - **Career Stage:** No more than 10 years post-terminal degree; no more than 5 years in a non-tenure track or industry position (excluding postdoc) - **Other:** No more than two prior BYI applications (including LOIs) - **Institutional:** No institutional limit for LOIs; institutions with a current BYI awardee may submit additional applications - **Restrictions:** Not eligible if holding strictly clinical appointments, or if the proposal is for clinical research, clinical trials, or single-target drug discovery - **Ineligible Institutions:** Government labs (e.g., NIH, national labs) are not eligible --- ## Application Process The application process involves three main steps: 1. **Letter of Intent (LOI):** - Submit via the [online portal](https://beckman-foundation.smapply.io/prog/beckman_young_investigator/). - Required documents: - PI profile (including citizenship/permanent residency documentation) - Four-page blinded pre-proposal (including figures and references) - Biosketch (template provided) - Research Support Form (template provided) - Institutional endorsements from the Chief Academic Officer and Dean (electronic signatures) - Do not include identifying information (name, gender, institution) in the pre-proposal. 2. **Full Proposal:** (by invitation only) - Selected LOI applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal. 3. **Interview:** (by invitation only) - Finalists will be invited for an interview prior to award decisions. **Review Process:** The Foundation uses a blinded review process for LOIs to minimize bias related to personal or institutional characteristics. --- ## Additional Information - [General Guidance for LOI](https://www.beckman-foundation.org/documents/515/LOI_Guidance_Document_BYI_2026.pdf) - [2026 Program FAQ](https://www.beckman-foundation.org/documents/514/2026_FAQ_BYI_Program.pdf) - [Examples of Successful Pre-Proposals: Leibfarth](https://www.beckman-foundation.org/documents/229/Leibfarth-Beckman_LOI-blinded.pdf) | [McKone](https://www.beckman-foundation.org/documents/230/McKone-Beckman_LOI-blinded.pdf) - [Recent Recipients](https://www.beckman-foundation.org/awarded-scientists/?award_program=Beckman%20Young%20Investigator) - Mentor Office Hours are available in July for applicant support. --- ## External Links - [Program Page & Application Portal](https://www.beckman-foundation.org/programs/beckman-young-investigator/) - [Apply Online](https://beckman-foundation.smapply.io/prog/beckman_young_investigator/) - [Program Application Support & Resources](https://www.beckman-foundation.org/exhibit-and-lesson-plans/grantees-grantseekers/program-application-support/) - [Diversity & Inclusion Statement](https://www.beckman-foundation.org/about-foundation/diversity-inclusion/) --- ## Contact Information | Purpose | Contact Method | |-----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | General Inquiries | [Contact Page](https://www.beckman-foundation.org/contacts/) | | Phone | +1 949-531-0400 | | Application Support | [Application Portal](https://beckman-foundation.smapply.io/prog/beckman_young_investigator/) | ---

Beckman Young Investigator Program

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