Limited Submission Opportunity: 2023 Pew-Stewart Scholars for Cancer Research Program

This is a joint competition for VU and VUMC investigators. All investigators should follow these instructions.

Applications due March 3

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center may nominate one candidate for the Pew Charitable Trusts’ 2023 Pew-Stewart Scholars for Cancer Research Program. This program supports assistant professors of outstanding promise in science relevant to the advancement of a cure for cancer. The award provides $300,000 in flexible support—$75,000 per year for a four-year period. Not more than 8 percent of the total award may be allocated for overhead costs.

Candidates should demonstrate outstanding promise as contributors in science relevant to the field of cancer. Strong proposals will incorporate particularly creative and pioneering approaches to basic, translational and applied cancer research. Candidates whose work is based on biomedical principles but who bring in concepts and theories from more diverse fields are encouraged to apply. This program does not fund clinical trials research.

Ideas with the potential to produce an unusually high impact are encouraged. Selection of the successful candidates will be based on a detailed description of the work that the applicant proposes to undertake, evaluations of the candidate’s performance, and notable past accomplishments, including honors, awards and publications. In evaluating the candidates, the committee gives considerable weight to both the project proposal and the researcher, including evidence that the candidate is a successful independent investigator and has the skill set needed to carry out their high-impact proposal.

Pew recognizes the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in scientific progress and innovation and seeks applicants from all backgrounds. Pew encourages applications from candidates who are diverse in terms of gender, minority status and cancer research field.

This program is distinct from the Pew Biomedical Scholars Program, but candidates may apply to both internal competitions.

Eligibility criteria

• Candidates must have been awarded a doctorate in a field related to biomedical sciences or medicine.
• As of Sept. 1, 2022, candidates must hold full-time appointments at the rank of assistant professor. (Appointments such as research assistant professor, adjunct assistant professor, assistant professor research track, visiting professor or instructor are not eligible. Associate professors are not eligible.)
• Must not have been appointed as an assistant professor at any institution prior to June 13, 2018, whether or not such an appointment was on a tenure track. Time spent in clinical internships, residencies, in work toward board certification or on parental leave does not count as part of this four-year limit. (Candidates who took parental leave should note this on their internal application to make their eligibility clear.)
  • Please note that eligibility criteria have been temporarily expanded to account for COVID-related lab shutdowns and research disruptions. Please direct any questions to the program office at Pew-Stewart@pewtrusts.org.
• Qualified candidates should be conducting creative, interdisciplinary, basic or translational cancer research. Projects that are solely clinical research are not within the scope of Pew-funded research.
• The selected candidate may not be nominated more than two times in total, regardless of institution.
• Funding from the NIH, other government sources and project grants from nonprofit associations do not pose a conflict.

Internal application process

Anyone interested in being considered as Vanderbilt’s nominee must submit the following (in a single PDF) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu  by 5 p.m. on March 3: 

1. Brief research plan including summary budget (2-page max.)
2. Letter of support from department chair/center director
3. NIH Biosketch or abbreviated CV (5-page max.)

Submissions should reference “PEW-STEWART SCHOLARS” in the subject line of the email.

Following the internal review, the nominee’s name will be submitted to the Pew Charitable Trusts by May 18, 2022, and the complete application will be due Sept. 1, 2022.

Any questions about this opportunity or the LSO process may be directed to LSO@vanderbilt.edu.