The Searle Scholars Program is inviting eligible institutions to nominate one individual to apply for the 2026 Searle Scholars Program. The Searle Scholars Program supports high risk, high reward research across a broad range of scientific disciplines. Grants are $300,000 for a three-year term with $100,000 payable each year of the grant. Applicants 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.
Eligibility
Applicants should have begun their appointment as an independent investigator at the assistant professor level on or after May 1, 2024. The appointment must be their first tenure-track position.
Interested applicants should submit pre-proposals following the Limited Submission Pre-proposal Instructions electronically to the application system by Friday, July 25, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET. Questions should be directed to Katelyn Still.
Deadlines:
- Internal Deadline: Friday, July 25th
- Selection of Applicants: Monday, August 18th
- External Deadline: Tuesday, September 30th, 2025, at 5:00 PM CT