Carnegie Science was founded in 1902 with the intent of supporting outstanding scientists who conduct research on fundamental questions. Carnegie Science now supports concentrated departments each with a specific focus, where small teams of active researchers can make significant breakthroughs.
The institution’s endowment now supports only six departments that focus on basic questions of earth, life, and space, where interdisciplinary collaboration among the nearly 80 investigators is facile and encouraged. The executive office maintains an active awareness of investigator needs and can effectively target philanthropic investments at any scale. This fund builds on the established reputation of Carnegie Science to perform unorthodox and cross-disciplinary research and allows its scientists to take further steps into uncharted territory.
PURPOSE AND FOCUS:
This fund offers several avenues to support basic research endeavors: through seed grants and endowed chairs (or fellowships, for postdoctoral scholars) to fund the investigators themselves, and through targeted support of the innovative tools, instruments, and facilities that enable their work.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE:
Any staff member of Carnegie Science (or team thereof) is eligible for support. For the seed grant portion of the fund, preference is given to the investigation of fundamental questions that through exceptionally ambitious and creative paths, are difficult to fund through traditional federal means.
APPLICATION AND REVIEW:
Funding is administered by the executive office. In the case of seed grants, proposals undergo peer review by a panel of both Carnegie Science staff and outside scientists, and award recipients report on their progress at the 1-year (halfway) and 2-year marks.
TYPE OF SUPPORT:
Multiple opportunities exist for both current-use and endowed support of either scientists or facilities. Please find details in the statement linked below, or contact Science Deputy Margaret Moerchen (mmoerchen@carnegiescience.edu).
To learn more about the program,view the Carnegie Science Full Description.