Grants are made to institutions on behalf of the named award recipients. The institutions are responsible for disbursing the funds and for maintaining adequate supporting records and receipts of expenditures. Indirect costs may not be charged against the grants.

Award recipients must provide BWF with an annual progress report, and institutions must provide an annual financial report, using forms provided by BWF. Continued funding will depend on both the timely submission of these reports and their favorable review by BWF and its program advisory committee.

Award recipients may obtain funds from other sources for research in the same or similar areas as that conducted under these grants, so long as there is no conflict with meeting the terms of BWF’s award. Award recipients may not hold concurrent BWF awards or NIH K99/R00 awards.

The support allocated for research is under the control of the award recipient and may be used flexibly for such items as equipment, consumable supplies, travel to scientific meetings, and laboratory personnel working with the award recipient. Prior approval by BWF is required when, within an award year, purchases of equipment exceed $20,000 or travel costs exceed $8,000.

During the award period, unused research funds may be carried over to the succeeding year. Any unused funds held by institutions when grants expire or are terminated must be returned to BWF, unless the Fund has granted prior permission to retain the funds. Award recipients may receive a no-cost extension of up to 24 months; requests explaining why an extension is needed must be submitted in writing at least four months prior to the end of the award.

For award recipients in the U.S., the administrative fee is intended to cover the cost of medical insurance and other benefits, such as retirement. For award recipients in Canada, the fee is to be used as a contribution to the employer’s benefit plan.

BWF acknowledges that most postdoctoral fellows will receive offers from and will move to new institutions to begin their independent research careers; therefore, this award is “portable.” Written approval from BWF is required, however, in order for the grant to be transferred to the new institution. Requests must be received at least four months prior to any move, and approval will be based on whether the move will enhance the award recipient’s scientific growth and development, and whether the hiring institution demonstrates adequate commitment to the award recipient’s career. Award recipients who change institutions may take with them any equipment or supplies purchased under the award, as well as the balance of any unused award funds.

When hiring a BWF award recipient to a tenure-track faculty position, the hiring institution must state in writing its intention to support an application for permanent residency if requested by the award recipient and if the permanent residency would take effect during the period of employment by the institution.

BWF prefers that award recipients do not move from one institution to another during their three years of faculty service. Special training opportunities that require faculty-level award recipients to spend up to a year away from their base institution may be considered; award recipients must submit to BWF a written request that explains why the training is needed.

Scientific publications or presentations that result from these awards must acknowledge the award recipient’s receipt of a Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award at the Scientific Interface. Copies of journal articles and other publications should be sent to BWF along with the annual progress report.

Award recipients should follow their institutions’ patent, copyright, and intellectual property policies regarding discoveries that result from research conducted under these awards. Award recipients are expected to adhere to all federal, state, and local regulations regarding the participation of human subjects, and the use of animals, radioactive and hazardous materials, and recombinant DNA in their research projects. BWF expects that appropriate federal, state, and local guidelines with regard to scientific misconduct are in place and enforced at all institutions with which BWF award recipients are affiliated.

Award recipients should share scientific findings in a timely manner via the standard means of scientific communication, including publications and/or presentations in scientific forums. BWF encourages, but does not require, that awardees publish in open access journals.  BWF will not retain any rights to published results, intellectual property, or patents that result from the research.