Greetings,

We are excited to share this funding opportunity from the McKnight Foundation. The McKnight Scholar Awards support exceptional neuroscientists in the early stages of their careers. More information about the award can be found in the synopsis and links below. For a full list of currently open opportunities that have been announced through our office, please visit our Current Opportunities web page. As a reminder, our Research Development team is available to provide proposal development support to FAS ladder faculty.

McKnight Foundation Scholar Awards

• OSP Deadline: October 27, 2026 at 9:00 AM ET
  Departments or areas may require additional time for proposal review and submission. Please discuss a timeline with your grants administrator.
• Sponsor Deadline: November 3, 2026, at 6:00 PM ET (5:00 PM CT)
  • Letters of Reference Deadline: November 24, 2026

• Award Amount: $225,000 over 3 years ($75,000 per year)
  Funds cannot be used for indirect costs; because these are early career awards, FAS/SEAS recognizes this indirect cost limit and does not require further action, such as a waiver or direct charge of other costs.

Program Overview

The oldest of The McKnight Foundation’s research programs, the McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience is a direct legacy of founder William L. McKnight. He created the McKnight Scholars Awards in 1977 to support early career scientists focused on brain research as a means for improving the prevention, detection, and treatment of learning and memory disorders. Since its inception, the program has aimed to enable exceptional young researchers to make significant advances in neuroscience, encourage translation to clinical applications, and foster inclusive and equitable laboratory environments.

 

Awardees also join a network of leading neuroscientists and participate in the McKnight Conference on Neuroscience during and beyond the funding period. Allowable budget items include salaries and fringe benefits, tuition, equipment, supplies, animal costs, costs for technical services, etc. 

Eligibility Criteria

• Must be independent investigators at not-for-profit research institutions in the United States, holding a faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor, or equivalent.
• Must have been an Assistant Professor for less than five years at the time of the application deadline (appointment start date no earlier than December 1, 2021). 
  • The five-year limit is cumulative, so if the applicant has served as an Assistant Professor at more than one institution, the clock begins at the time of the first position even if that is not where the applicant is currently appointed. 
  • Exceptions may be made for family leave.
• Applicants to the Scholar Award may not apply in more than two rounds of competition.
• Applicants may not have overlapping active awards from the McKnight Endowment Fund.
• Applicants can no longer apply for both a Scholar Award and the Neurobiology of Brain Disorders Award in the same funding cycle. 
• The McKnight Foundation encourages PIs from neuroscience and related disciplines (such as cell biology, structural biology, etc.) to apply, as long as PIs provide insight into how their work informs broader understanding of basic neural mechanisms.

Application Materials

• Applications will be submitted via the Foundation's online application portal. Login support is available for current awardees and past applicants, as well as for new applicants. Applicants may also view general instructions about how to apply and submitting an application.
  
  • Proposal. Detailed 3-year research plan (max four single-spaced pages, 12-point font, 1-inch margins; includes abstract (max 200 words), narrative, and figures, but not references). Should represent an innovative and impactful direction for the PI's lab (not necessarily a new research line).
  • Diversity & Inclusion Statement. Half-page narrative describing from personal experience how the PI is addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion in science beyond the confines of their lab. 
  • CV. No more than five pages, including the following: applicant information; education and training; professional experience and scientific appointments; honors and awards; teaching, mentoring, and service; and a full bibliography as space allows.
  • Other Support. Includes start-up support and external funding available in support of the PI's research.
  • Publications. Titles and links to five recent publicly accessible publications, which can include pre-prints. 
  • Three References. Letters of reference from former teachers, mentors, or senior colleagues familiar with the applicant's work.
    • This year, applicants will need to submit their application first, and then the system will collect letters of reference with the email addresses provided.  

Selection Process

• The McKnight Scholar Awards Review Committee will evaluate applications.
• The Foundation typically receives between 50 and 150 applications, and anticipates inviting about 20 finalists to interview remotely with the Review Committee in March 2027. The Committee will then recommend candidates to the Board of Directors of the Endowment Fund for final decision. Ten scholars will be chosen for awards. The 2027 Scholar Awards will start on June 1, 2027.

Additional Information and Resources

 

 

 

 

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