Investigators in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease

Investigators in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease awards provide $500,000 for accomplished investigators at the assistant professor level to study pathogenesis, with a focus on the intersection of human and microbial biology.  Candidate eligibility and institutional nomination requirements are set out below.

• Candidates will generally have an M.D., D.V.M., or Ph.D. degree. (References to degrees include all types of medical and scientific doctoral level degrees.) BWF particularly encourages human health-relevant applications from veterinary scientists.

• Candidates must have an established record of independent research and hold a tenure-track position as an assistant professor or equivalent (at the time of application) at a degree-granting institution. Researchers recently appointed to a faculty position may not have a demonstrated track record sufficient to compete successfully for this award.

• Candidates must be nominated by accredited, degree-granting institutions in the United States or Canada.

• Applications from non-tenure track investigators at tenure-offering, degree-granting institutions will not be accepted.

• Applications from institutions or departments that do not offer tenure may or may not be accepted. Please see “Institutional Nomination Guidelines” bullet five.

• Candidates must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or Canada at the time of application. Documentation of permanent resident status must be provided with the application. Permanent residents of the United States must provide a copy of their Permanent Resident Card (green card) or a copy of a current passport with an I-551 stamp. Permanent residents of Canada must provide a copy of their Landed Immigrant Status form. Persons who have applied for permanent resident status but have not received their government documentation by the time of application are not eligible.

• Candidates at the appropriate career stage who have held or are currently holding a Burroughs Wellcome Fund award must contact BWF in advance to determine eligibility for this program.

• A U.S. or Canadian institution— including its medical school, graduate schools, and all affiliated hospitals and research institutes—may nominate up to two candidates.

• To encourage applications from veterinarians, institutions that nominate a researcher who holds the D.V.M. will be allowed three nominations.

• Institutions may have a single additional nomination if they nominate a researcher working in pathogenic helminths, mycology, or reproductive science.

• BWF encourages institutions to nominate underrepresented minorities and women for this program.

• Applications from institutions or departments that do not offer tenure must demonstrate an extremely strong institutional commitment, congruent to the level of commitment that is traditionally dedicated to tenure-track hires.

• The institution must submit a statement of nomination for each candidate. In this statement, BWF expects that the institution will tangibly demonstrate its commitment to support each candidate it nominates, including the protection of 75 percent of the grantee’s time for research.

Questions regarding candidate or institutional eligibility should be directed in advance to BWF by calling (919) 991-5122.  Consult this website for a list of frequently asked questions.