[McKnight Foundation](https://www.mcknight.org)

November 2026 (support pairing request) | December 2026 (full application & reference letters)

$225,000 total over 3 years ($75,000/year); no indirect costs allowed

Supports early-career neuroscientists in launching independent, innovative research and fostering diversity and inclusion.

Forecasted dates—confirm on program page; only two applications per person lifetime.

--- ## Description The McKnight Scholar Awards are designed to support early-career neuroscientists as they establish independent research programs. The program seeks innovative, high-impact proposals that represent creative directions in neuroscience, with a strong emphasis on fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion both within laboratories and the broader scientific community. Awardees are selected through a competitive process involving written applications and interviews, with the final selection made by the Board of Directors of the McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience. --- ## Due Dates - **November 2026 (anticipated):** Deadline to request application support pairing with a previous McKnight awardee (for institutions with one or fewer prior McKnight awards) - **December 2026 (anticipated):** Full application deadline (all components due by 5 PM Central) - **December 2026 (anticipated):** Reference letters deadline (letters must be emailed to neuro@mcknight.org by 5 PM Central) *All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates.* --- ## Funding Amount - **Total Award:** $225,000 over three years ($75,000/year) - **Allowable Costs:** Salaries (including PI), fringe benefits, tuition, equipment, supplies, animal costs, technical services, etc. - **Restrictions:** No indirect costs allowed; no budget required at application stage; annual reports required for continued funding. --- ## Eligibility - Applicants must be independent investigators at not-for-profit US research institutions. - Must hold a faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor (or equivalent) for less than five years at the application deadline (exceptions for parental leave only). - For this cycle, appointment must not have started before December 1, 2020. - Must have a current official appointment as Assistant Professor (or equivalent) at the time of submission. - Non-tenure track titles (Instructor, Research Assistant Professor, Adjunct, etc.) are not eligible. - If the institution does not use professorial titles, a senior official must confirm independence and resources. - Applicants may apply only twice in their career; must not have received tenure or another McKnight Endowment Fund award. - Cannot apply for both the Scholar Award and Neurobiology of Brain Disorders Award in the same cycle. - No institutional limit on applications; multiple awardees from the same institution allowed. - Women, members of underrepresented communities, and faculty at institutions new to McKnight awards are especially encouraged to apply. --- ## Application Process - **Application Portal:** Opens August 1, 2026 (anticipated); online submission only. - **Application Components:** - Face sheet (template provided) - Research proposal (abstract + detailed 3-year plan; max 4 pages) - Diversity & Inclusion statement (1 page) - CV (max 5 pages) - List of other support (startup and external funding) - Links to 5 recent publications (including preprints) - Three confidential reference letters (emailed separately) - **Support Pairing:** Applicants from institutions with one or fewer previous awards can request pairing with a past awardee for feedback (request by November 2026). - **Selection:** Applications reviewed by committee; ~20 finalists invited for interview; decisions announced in spring, awards start June 1. - **No budget required at submission.** Indirect costs are not permitted. --- ## Additional Information - Only two lifetime applications per candidate. - Parental leave is the only accepted basis for extending the five-year eligibility window. - The program values both basic and interdisciplinary neuroscience proposals, including those from researchers new to neuroscience. - Success rate: ~10 awards per year from 50–150 applications. - No co-PIs allowed; award recognizes individual investigators. - For detailed instructions on portal account creation, see [step-by-step guide (PDF)](https://www.mcknight.org/wp-content/uploads/Instructions-to-Create-an-Account-in-New-Grantee-Portal-1.pdf). --- ## External Links - [Program Page & How to Apply](https://www.mcknight.org/programs/the-mcknight-endowment-fund-for-neuroscience/scholar-awards/how-to-apply/) - [FAQ](https://www.mcknight.org/programs/the-mcknight-endowment-fund-for-neuroscience/scholar-awards/faq/) - [Application Portal](https://bbgm-apply.yourcausegrants.com/apply/programs/cd39cfcf-d6a0-4a9a-b044-aea4a230d1b4) - [Leadership & Review Committee](https://www.mcknight.org/programs/the-mcknight-endowment-fund-for-neuroscience/leadership/) --- ## Contact Information | Name / Role | Contact | |-----------------------------|------------------------------------------------| | Joel Krogstad, Program Manager | [jkrogstad@mcknight.org](mailto:jkrogstad@mcknight.org) | | General Inquiries | [Contact Form](https://www.mcknight.org/about/contact-us/) | | Phone | +1 612-333-4220 | | Reference Letters | [neuro@mcknight.org](mailto:neuro@mcknight.org) | ---

McKnight Scholar Awards

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