Open Call – Burroughs Wellcome Fund – Career Award at the Scientific Interface

Aug 8, 2022 | Awards & Funding, Research

To: All Divisional Faculty and Researchers
From: Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations
Subject: Funding Opportunity

The Office of Foundations Relations is pleased to share this open call for Letters of Intent from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund. 

UCSC Contact: Samantha Forde | forde@ucsc.edu
Funder: Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF)
Opportunity: Career Awards at the Scientific Interface
LOI Deadline: September 1, 2022

Overview

Recognizing the vital role cross-trained scientists will play in furthering biomedical science, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund developed the Career Awards at the Scientific Interface. The target group are researchers who have transitioned from graduate work in the physical/mathematical/computational sciences or engineering into postdoctoral work in the biological sciences.

Candidates are expected to draw from their training in a scientific field other than biology to propose innovative approaches to answer important questions in the biological sciences. Tackling key problems in biology requires scientists trained in areas such as chemistry, physics, applied mathematics, computer science, and engineering. Proposals that include deep or machine learning applications of artificial intelligence are particularly encouraged. Special consideration will also be given to proposals that investigate the connection between climate change and human health.

Please click here for a list of FAQ.

Eligibility

These awards are open to U.S. and Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or temporary residents. Highlights:      

  • Candidates are expected to draw from their training in a scientific field other than biology to propose innovative approaches to answer important questions in the biological sciences.
  • Candidates must hold a Ph.D. degree in one of the fields of mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science, statistics, or engineering.
  • Candidates whose Ph.D. is in biochemistry/biophysics/ biology/cell biology/etc. may be eligible if significant accomplishment or competence in one of the areas of mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science, statistics, or engineering can be shown. Work must be interdisciplinary and make use of nonbiological approaches.
  • Candidates must have completed at least 12 months but not more than 60 months of postdoctoral research by the date of the full invited application deadline.
  • Candidates who are not titled “postdoctoral” fellows may be eligible if (1) work experience equals at least 12 months, but not more than 60 months of postdoctoral research experience, including time as, for example, a research associate, or non-tenure track research faculty, and (2) all other eligibility requirements are met.
  • Candidates cannot hold nor have accepted, either in writing or verbally, a faculty appointment as a tenure track assistant professor at the time of application.
  • Candidates must be committed to a full-time career in research as an independent investigator at a North American degree-granting institution.
  • Candidates must have at least one first-author publication, including papers on which “first authorship” is shared.

Please click here for a full list of eligibility criteria.

Award Amount & Terms

BWF’s Career Awards at the Scientific Interface (CASI) provide $500,000 over five years to bridge advanced postdoctoral training and the first three years of faculty service.

Indirect costs may not be charged against the grants.

The Postdoctoral/Fellowship Portion of the Award 

Year 1: $70,000

Year 2: $70,000

  • Should last a minimum of one year and a maximum of two years.
  • Provides maximum salary support of $55,000 in year one and $60,000 in year two.
  • Requires that any equipment purchased by the award recipient be transferable to the institution providing the faculty appointment.
  • Encourages award recipients to use funds for advanced course work in biology (at any institution).
  • Allows the unpaid balance of the postdoctoral portion of the award to be added to the faculty portion of the award if an award recipient moves to a faculty position in less than two years.

The Faculty Portion of the Award 

Year 3: $120,000

Year 4: $120,000

Year 5: $120,000

  • Will be $500,000 minus the portion used during the postdoctoral year(s).
  • Normally will be five years minus the postdoctoral portion of the award.
  • Up to 20 percent of the annual amount may be applied towards the named investigator’s salary, including fringe benefits.
  • Allows awardees demonstrating adequate progress to be granted no-cost extensions up to the time they are reviewed for tenure.

 Timeline

  • September 1, 2022                         Letter of Intent (LOI) applications due
  • November 21, 2022                        Invitation to submit a full proposal
  • January 6, 2023, 4:00 pm EST.     Full proposal due
  • April 25-26, 2023                            Finalist interviews
  • By June 1, 2023                              Notice of award
  • July 1, 2023                                     Award start date
  • June 30, 2028                                 Award end date

Special Requirements

Please notify the Office of Foundation Relations if you are interested in applying to this opportunity (cfr@ucsc.edu). For support developing your LOI, please contact the Research Development Specialist (RDS) assigned to your unit or send a request to resdev@ucsc.edu.  If invited to submit a full proposal, please submit a proposal intake form prior to UCSC’s internal Institutional Deadlines. Your RDS can also help you develop your proposal.


Call sent: August 8, 2022

The Office of Foundation Relations is a unit of University Relations. The FR team creates and maintains mutually beneficial, long-term relationships with private organizations, matching grant initiatives with educational and research programs and centers. FR supports faculty and staff to identify and approach these and other private foundations and corporations for funding, to assist in strategic positioning of the grant application, and to facilitate funder campus visits.

For a list of recent funding opportunities, please visit the FR website.  FR Calls for Funding

If you have any questions or comments, please contact cfr@ucsc.edu