[Burroughs Wellcome Fund](https://www.bwfund.org)

March 12, 2026: Full application submission deadline (Career Guidance for Trainees)

$15,000 per award; one-year project; 8 awards available; no indirect costs allowed

Supports early career administrators in developing and implementing innovative career development activities for PhD scientists through a workshop and project grant.

--- ## Description The Career Guidance for Trainees program, offered by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, is designed to advance the professional development of early career administrators whose primary focus is the career development of PhD scientists. The program centers on a Project Development and Evaluation Workshop (May 19–21, 2026), where selected participants enhance their research evaluation skills and design new, impactful career-focused interventions or activities for implementation at their home institutions. Each participant receives a $15,000 grant to support their project, expands their professional network, presents results at a national meeting, and prepares a manuscript for publication. The program emphasizes creativity, strong institutional support, and diversity among practitioners, aiming to model effective and affordable approaches to improving trainees’ readiness for stable, fulfilling careers. --- ## Due Dates - March 12, 2026: Full application submission deadline (Career Guidance for Trainees) — must be submitted through ProposalCentral by 3:00 PM Eastern Time. --- ## Funding Amount - Each award provides $15,000 for project support over one year. - Eight awards are available for the 2026 cycle. - No indirect costs may be charged; funds must be used for direct project expenses, including salaries of support personnel, materials, and justified consultant costs. - Institutions are required to provide annual progress and financial reports. --- ## Eligibility - Applicants must be academic administrators at research-focused institutions in the United States or Canada, with at least 80% of their work focused on the career development of graduate students or postdoctoral fellows. - Must have held an eligible role for at least 3 years (36 months) but not more than 7 years (84 months). - Eligible institutions include accredited doctoral degree-granting institutions, research institutes, or other professionally-focused non-profits in the US or Canada (US IRS non-profit status required; Canadian equivalent not accepted). - Both non-profit degree-granting institutions and independent research institutes may apply; for-profit organizations may be involved as partners. - An individual may serve as principal investigator on only one application per cycle and may be funded up to two times. - This program does not support biomedical research projects by individual investigators. --- ## Application Process - Applications must be submitted via [ProposalCentral](https://proposalcentral.com/) by March 12, 2026, 3:00 PM Eastern Time. - Required application components: - Online data entry (proposal, applicant, institutional information, project description) - PDF attachments: CV of primary applicant, institutional letter of support, US IRS Letter of Determination (non-profit status) - The institutional signing official must review and approve the application before submission. - All signatures and approvals must be completed before the deadline; late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. - No pre-proposal or letter of intent is required. - Only complete proposals submitted through ProposalCentral will be considered. --- ## Additional Information - Participation in the full May 19–21, 2026 workshop is mandatory for award eligibility. - Selection is based on the creativity and logic of the proposed activity, strength of institutional commitment, and quality of support letters. - Awardees are expected to share project results at a national meeting and prepare a manuscript for publication. - Previous awardees and institutions may apply again, but continuations or extensions of previously funded projects are not eligible. - Progress and financial reporting is mandatory; failure to report may result in loss of funding. --- ## External Links - [Burroughs Wellcome Fund – Career Guidance for Trainees Program Page](https://www.bwfund.org/grants/career-guidance/career-guidance-for-trainees/) - [Request for Proposals (2026, PDF)](https://www.bwfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/BWF-CGT-RFP-2026_v3.pdf) - [Application Instructions (2026, PDF)](https://www.bwfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/BWF-CGT-app-instructions-2026.pdf) - [ProposalCentral Application Portal](https://proposalcentral.com/) --- ## Contact Information | Name | Role | Email | Phone | |-------------------------|-----------------------|------------------------------------------------------|-----------------| | Victoria McGovern, PhD | Senior Program Officer| [vmcgovern@bwfund.org](mailto:vmcgovern@bwfund.org) | 919-991-5112 | | Darcy Lewandowski | Program Associate | [dlewandowski@bwfund.org](mailto:dlewandowski@bwfund.org) | 919-991-5132 | | ProposalCentral Support | Technical Support | [pcsupport@altum.com](mailto:pcsupport@altum.com) | 1-800-875-2562 |

Career Guidance for Trainees

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