**Note, as of 5/2/25, the details/dates below are from the 2024 cycle timeline and estimated for this cycle; we are still waiting for the final details from Searle.
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 in the biomedical sciences and chemistry. The Searle Scholars Program supports high risk, high reward research. Founded in 1980, it is administered by Kinship Foundation and is funded through the Searle Funds at the Chicago Community Trust.
PROGRAM GOALS
A complete description of the Searle Scholars Program, its terms, and its eligibility requirements can be found at https://searlescholars.org/. Please continue to check this website for updates.
AWARD
Grants are set at $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.
LIMITATIONS
There is an institutional limit of one applicant per institution.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Candidates must meet the following eligibility requirements:
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 2026 competition (awards which will be activated on July 1, 2026) 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 an independent investigator at the assistant professor level on or after May 1, 2024. The appointment must be their first tenure-track position (or its nearest equivalent).
The Searle Scholars 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 this website.
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.
INTERNAL SUBMISSION PROCESS
As this is a limited submission opportunity, the Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB) will hold an internal selection competition. To be participate in this internal competition, applicants must apply via InfoReady.
Submit a Georgia Tech Internal Competition Package, as a single pdf format file, due by Monday, May 26, 2025. The package must contain:
Research Program Summary (1 page maximum) - Be sure to highlight the ways in which your research supports the Searle mission as described above.
Current CV
Email Confirmation from Chair - Please include an email confirmation from your Chair that your Chair will support your application if you are selected to represent GT in this competition.
AWARD TIMELINE
GT Internal Competition submission deadline May 26, 2025
GT Nomination: June 6, 2025
GT Faculty submission due to Searle: September 30, 2025
Interested potential nominees are encouraged to review the information about current and previous scholars to provide guidance for preparing a competitive submission to the GT internal competition.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Full program details are available here
All questions should be directed to Michelle Wong
Please note: The GT Office of Foundation Relations handles all correspondence with the Searle Scholars Scientific Advisory Board, so we ask that faculty members do not contact the Foundation directly (except in the case of questions related to eligibility criteria as noted above).
