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

August 2026 (Letter of Intent) | January 2027 (Full Application)

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

Supports innovative, high-risk research by early-career faculty in chemistry and life sciences to develop new methods, instruments, or materials.

This is a forecasted opportunity; all dates are projected and may change.

--- ## Description The Beckman Young Investigator (BYI) Program provides substantial research funding to promising early-career faculty in the chemical and life sciences. The program aims to foster the invention of innovative methods, instruments, and materials that open new avenues of scientific research, with an emphasis on projects that are high-risk and represent a significant departure from existing research directions. Interdisciplinary proposals and those that advance the frontiers of chemistry and life sciences are strongly encouraged. The review process is designed to reduce bias by blinding applicant identities during the initial stages. --- ## Due Dates - **Letter of Intent Deadline (anticipated):** August 2026 - **Full Application Deadline (anticipated, by invitation):** January 2027 *All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates.* --- ## Funding Amount - **Award Size:** Up to $600,000 total over four years ($150,000 per year). - **Duration:** Four years, contingent on progress after the second year. - **Overhead:** No overhead or indirect costs are permitted. --- ## Eligibility - **Career Stage:** Within the first four years of a tenure-track (or equivalent independent) position at a U.S. academic or non-profit institution; tenure-track start date must be after 1/1/2021 and on or before 8/1/2025 for the 2026 cycle. - **Degree:** No more than 10 years post-terminal degree; no more than 5 years in a non-tenure track or industry position (excluding postdoc experience). - **Citizenship:** Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident by the time of the interview (spring 2027). - **Funding Cap:** No more than $225,000 in direct, annualized external research funding during any BYI program year (Aug–July) at LOI and Full Application deadlines. Start-up funds, department-wide instrumentation grants, and postdoctoral transition awards (e.g., NIH K99/R00) are excluded from this cap. - **Discipline:** Chemical and life sciences; clinical research, clinical trials, and single-target drug discovery projects are not eligible. - **Institution:** U.S. academic or non-profit research institutions; government labs (e.g., NIH, national labs) are not eligible. - **Repeat Applications:** Maximum of two lifetime submissions (including LOIs). - **Other:** Only one principal investigator per application; collaborations are allowed but must be led by the applicant. --- ## Application Process 1. **Letter of Intent (LOI):** - Submit a four-page pre-proposal (including figures and references), biosketch (foundation template), current funding chart, and electronic institutional endorsements (Chief Academic Officer and Dean or equivalent). - LOI is reviewed blind; do not include identifying information in the pre-proposal. 2. **Full Application (by invitation):** - If selected, submit a six-page proposal, updated biosketch, project timeline, budget, and additional institutional support forms. - Two letters of recommendation required: one from a field expert with no association, one from an affiliated scientist. 3. **Interview:** - Finalists present a 5-minute summary and participate in a Q&A session (virtual). - Awards are finalized following interviews. 4. **Reporting:** - Annual progress reports are required; recipients participate in the annual Beckman Symposium. --- ## Additional Information - The Foundation emphasizes inclusion and diversity, and the review process is blinded to reduce bias. - The program does not support clinical research, clinical trials, or single-target drug discovery. - Institutional endorsements are required at the LOI stage. - The application portal typically opens in June; applicants are encouraged to begin preparing materials and securing endorsements early. - Use of generative AI tools in preparing applications is permitted if disclosed and used ethically. --- ## External Links - [Program Overview & Application Portal](https://www.beckman-foundation.org/programs/beckman-young-investigator/) - [2026 Program Information Slides (PDF)](https://www.beckman-foundation.org/documents/517/2026_BYI_Program_Information_Slides.pdf) - [2026 FAQ](https://www.beckman-foundation.org/documents/514/2026_FAQ_BYI_Program.pdf) - [Letter of Intent Guidance](https://www.beckman-foundation.org/documents/515/LOI_Guidance_Document_BYI_2026.pdf) - [Recent Awardees](https://www.beckman-foundation.org/awarded-scientists/?award_program=Beckman%20Young%20Investigator) --- ## Contact Information | Name/Role | Email | Phone | Link | |----------------------|--------------------------------------|-----------------|-------------------------------------------------| | BYI Program Officer | BYI@beckman-foundation.org | +1 949-560-4329 | [Contact Page](https://www.beckman-foundation.org/contacts/) | ---

Beckman Young Investigator Program

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