McKnight Scholar Award

About this program

The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience offers Scholar Awards to support innovative, potentially transformative research that advances understanding of the brain and fosters independent neuroscience careers. Applications are due online by November 3, 2026, and require a research proposal, diversity and inclusion statement, CV, other-support information, five recent publication links, and three reference letters. Eligible applicants must be independent investigators at U.S. nonprofit research institutions who hold an Assistant Professor-equivalent position, began that rank no earlier than December 1, 2021, and have not received tenure or another McKnight Endowment Fund award. Applicants may compete in no more than two rounds and may not apply concurrently for the Neurobiology of Brain Disorders Award.