Searle Scholars Program

Important Notes

The program is currently operating under an anticipated deadline based on previous funding cycles. Should any changes or updates occur, a campus announcement will be issued promptly with the revised information. 

The Office of Foundation Relations is the designated institutional contact responsible for communicating with the Kinship Foundation and is collaborating with Limited Submissions on the internal downselect process.

Applicants are encouraged to contact Karen Kemirembe, PhD, Associate Director of Foundation Relations (kuk195@psu.edu), to gain insight into the Foundation’s strategic priorities, the program's specific goals, and key elements that have characterized successful applications in the past.

The Searle Scholars Program is a limited submission award program that makes grants to selected academic and research institutions to support the independent research of outstanding early-career scientists who have recently been appointed as assistant professors on a tenure-track appointment. The Searle Scholars Program supports high risk, high reward research across a broad range of scientific disciplines.

Eligibility

The Searle Scholars Scientific Advisory Board is primarily interested in the potential of applicants to make innovative and high-impact contributions to research over an extended period of time.

• Applicants for the 2027 competition (awards which will be activated on July 1, 2027) are expected to be pursuing independent research careers in biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, immunology, neuroscience, pharmacology, and related areas in chemistry, medicine, and the biological sciences.
• Applicants should have begun their appointment as independent investigators at the assistant professor level on or after May 1, 2025.
• Penn State's appointment must be the applicant's first tenure-track position.

Institutional Limit
Penn State is limited to two nominees overall, including the College of Medicine; thus, we request that departments submit no more than two nominees each for this award.

Award description 

$300,000 for a three-year period with $100,000 payable in the first year and equal sums payable in the second and third years and are subject to the receipt of acceptable progress reports. Generally, the program grants 15 new awards annually, activated on July 1 of the year of the competition.

Foundation Relations Insights

• Searle prefers projects that are unlikely to be funded by NIH because 1) the investigator is young and the goals are too ambitious, 2) the project is too novel, 3) there is no preliminary data or it is something that has been tried and others have failed at it. Excerpts from NIH reviews or comments from a program manager will strengthen a proposal.
• The Searle Scholars Program selection committee is primarily interested in the potential of the applicant to make innovative and high-impact contributions to research over an extended period of time. Potential applicants are encouraged to assess the Searle advisory board’s membership and consider projects that border their expertise. https://searlescholars.org/about/scientific-advisory-board/
• Proposed work can be unique and not funded elsewhere, or it may be a component of on-going research. Funds awarded by the Program are not intended to replace monies obtained from another funding agency but may be used to supplement on-going research.
• The Program does not ordinarily support purely clinical research but has supported research programs that include both clinical and basic components. Potential applicants who are unsure if their research is appropriate for our Program are encouraged to examine the research interests of present and former Searle Scholars on the program website (https://searlescholars.org/current-scholars/) or reach out to the appropriate institutional contacts below.
• Applicants who were nominated for awards in the previous competition year but were not awarded may still meet the eligibility criteria for the current competition. Institutions should consult with the Scientific Director of the Program regarding renomination of such individuals.
• There are no citizenship requirements but awardees must be legally employed at a United States degree granting or research institution.

This announcement provides only opportunity highlights. Please carefully review the program guidelines and the sponsor's website for any requirements and expectations related to eligibility, PI and Co-PI limits, budget, collaboration, priority research areas, letter of intent requirements, and review criteria before submitting to this internal competition.