Vanderbilt (VU and VUMC collaboratively) may nominate one candidate for the Rita Allen Foundation Scholars Award program for 2018. The foundation supports early career biomedical scholars doing pioneering research. This award typically provides $550,000 over five years for young investigators involved in research for the cure and treatment of diseases in the fields of cancer, immunology and neuroscience.
Eligibility criteria:
- Candidates should be independent investigators in the early stages (preferably in the first three years) of a tenure-track faculty appointment.
- Scholars may not accept a faculty development award of more than $200,000 from another funding organization for the first year of the Rita Allen Award.
Guidelines for selection:
The foundation seeks candidates of extraordinary promise with recent appointments at the faculty level and projects with above-average risk that break new ground and challenge the status quo. Rita Allen Foundation Scholars are distinguished by their bold approaches to basic scientific questions that address problems of global concern, as well as their potential for learning, leadership and collaboration.
Anyone interested in being considered as Vanderbilt’s nominee must submit the following (in PDF format) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15:
- Brief (two-page maximum) research plan including summary budget;
- Brief statement of support from department chair/center director;
- CV or NIH Biosketch
Submissions should reference the program name in the subject line of the email.
Once received, all proposals will be forwarded to an internal review committee that will choose the final nominee. The chosen nominee will submit a letter of inquiry to the foundation by the Dec. 8 deadline, and a full application is due on Jan. 19, 2018.
Visit the foundation’s website for full eligibility and application guidelines.
Any questions about this opportunity or the LSO process may be directed to LSO@vanderbilt.edu.