Whitehall Fndn. for early career researchers in Neurobiology
Award: $100,000 annually for 2-3 years for Research Grants. $30,000 for Grants-in-Aid
Deadline: October 1, 2026*
Interested? Notify [email protected] for more information. All LOI documents will be due to our office no later than Sept.25.
*Three application windows in a calendar year.
Overview
Funder seeks to support basic research in neurobiology, defined as follows: Invertebrate and vertebrate (excluding clinical) neurobiology, specifically investigations of neural mechanisms involved in sensory, motor, and other complex functions of the whole organism as these relate to behavior. The overall goal should be to better understand behavioral output or brain mechanisms of behavior.
There are two opportunities:
Research Grants: available to investigators that meet all of the Foundation’s eligibility requirements and are working at accredited institutions in the United States. Applications will be judged on the scientific merit and the innovative aspects of the proposal as well as on the competence of the applicant. Research grants of up to three years will be provided. A renewal grant with a maximum of two years is possible, but it will be awarded on a competitive basis. Research grants will not be awarded to investigators who have already received, or expect to receive, substantial support from other sources, even if it is for an unrelated purpose. The maximum budget is $100,000 per year for the two- and three-year research grants.
Grants-in-Aid: designed for researchers at the assistant professor level who experience difficulty in competing for research funds because they have not yet become firmly established. All applications will be judged on the scientific merit and innovative aspects of the proposal, as well as on past performance and evidence of the applicant’s continued productivity. Grants-in-Aid are awarded for a one-year period and do not exceed $30,000.
Applicants for the Grants-in-Aid program are reviewed and ranked together with the traditional research grant program. This program is not a pre-requisite to a two- or three-year research grant.
Important Information
Eligibility is now restricted exclusively to researchers at the Assistant Professor level with a preference for those just beginning their careers.
The Foundation does not support research focused primarily on disease(s) unless it will also provide insights into normal functioning.
The majority of the applications received are for a three-year Research grant.
If you are considering an application in which you are the Principal Investigator, please ensure you meet PI eligibility requirements.
Process
This is a two-step application process.
- The Letter of Intent (LOI/step 1) is managed by the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations.
- If you would like to apply, email [email protected] for more details and an LOI worksheet.
- Submit the completed LOI worksheet by Sept. 25.
If invited to submit a full proposal (step 2), it will be managed by the Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA).