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Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience
Chen Institute Homepage  /  Grants  /  Call for Chen Postdoctoral Scholar Innovator Grant

Chen Postdoctoral Scholar Innovator Grant

The T&C Chen Centers for Systems Neuroscience and Social and Decision Neuroscience are delighted to announce a call for proposals for Chen Postdoctoral Scholar Innovator Grants. We invite postdoctoral scholars to submit proposals for independent experiments that will be supported by funds provided by the Centers.

Grants of up to $15K are available, with the number of awards depending on the quality of submissions.

The project must be neuro-related, conceived and driven by the postdoctoral scholar and should not be an obvious extension of other research in their lab. Proposals should not be copied and pasted from another proposal such as a PI's NIH RO1. The program is meant to fund out-of-box ideas that would not otherwise be pursued.

Collaboration between postdoctoral scholars in different labs is highly encouraged (though not a necessity). Funds are to be used for research purposes only and not for personal expenses.

Proposals should include:

  1. 3-page description of the project (including any figures)
  2. Budget justification
  3. The proposal should address how the project is distinct from ongoing research in the postdoctoral scholar's lab
  4. Form, available here, to be completed by PI(s) of sponsoring lab(s), indicating support and attesting to the origination of the project idea.
  5. Division Approval Form (DAF), available here

Submission deadline is Friday, November 15, 2024

  • Email your project description, budget and PI support form as a single pdf file to: 2025_Po.zxj44kvkeahw1rcs@u.box.com
  • Name your attached PDF file as follows: Last Name_2025
  • Your proposal will be uploaded to Box and you will receive a confirmation email from Box within a few minutes of submission. If you do not receive a confirmation email contact us directly at Chen.Inst@caltech.edu

Proposals will be reviewed by a faculty committee. Short-listed applicants will be asked to give a faculty panel a ~15 min presentation of their proposal followed by 15 min of Q&A.

If you have any questions please contact Chen.Inst@caltech.edu

Recipients will be announced on December 22, 2024.