Eligibility

• To qualify for an award, investigators must hold the Ph.D. and/or M.D. degrees, and have completed all research training, including post-doctoral training. Applications will be reviewed, and selections made by an Advisory Committee of distinguished neuroscientists.
• Candidates must have a tenure track appointment or equivalent. A letter indicating the commitment of institutional resources to establish the investigator and the prospects for long term support by the institution must be provided by an institutional official (i.e. dean), including date of appointment.
• The candidate must be an independent investigator at a university, medical center or research institute and be within 4 years of completing postdoctoral training and the start of his/her tenure track or equivalent appointment (between July 1, 2018 and July 1, 2022).
• U.S. citizenship is not a requirement, but it is expected that candidates will be permanent residents of the U.S. and that their research will be carried out in U.S. institutions.
• Applicants must inform the Fund of other sources of funding. Although there is no strict prohibition against holding more than one fellowship at one time, the Fund may take other funding into account when deciding whether to make an Award.

Funding Priorities

The Klingenstein-Simons Fellowship Awards in Neuroscience supports, in the early stages of their careers, young investigators engaged in basic or clinical research that may lead to a better understanding of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Several areas within the neurosciences are of particular interest:

• Cellular and molecular neuroscience—Studies of the mechanisms of neuronal excitability and development, and of the genetic basis of behavior.
• Neural systems—Studies of the integrative function of the nervous system.
• Translational research—Studies designed to improve the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and our understanding of the causes of neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Additional Information

• Aimed at advancing cutting-edge investigations, the awards are presented to highly promising, early career scientists. At this critical juncture in young investigators' careers, when funding can be a challenge, the fellowship awards promote higher-risk, and potentially higher-reward, projects.
• No provision is made for institutional overhead, but fringe benefits may be charged to the award.