External Deadline: LOI: December 1, 2025; Full Application: February 1, 2026
Instructions for electronic submission: To apply for the Vallee Scholars Program, please submit the materials requested below to this link no later than November 3, 2025, at 11:59 PM.
Budget: One-time, career development award of $400,000 is relatively unrestricted and must be spent over a period of four years or less.
Number of Applications: 1 application from WCM (not including Ithaca)
Program Description:
The Vallee Foundation recognizes that outstanding, young, independent investigators are the source for future advances in the biomedical sciences and of their need for flexible funding to conduct their research, and is looking to support exceptional, early stage, independent investigators carrying out bold and innovative basic biomedical research.
Notes:
- The Foundation has a preference for projects with a technology-development component that expands the Foundation’s research portfolio.
- Research proposal can have a translational goal, but the focus of the project must be basic biomedical research.
- Research proposed must be cutting-edge (technically and/or scientifically) and with broad impact.
- In general, awardees are assistant professors with a substantial record of independent publications and grants.
Award program website: http://www.thevalleefoundation.org/programs/yia
Eligibility
- PhD and/or MD, or other professional degrees, within twelve (12) years of terminal final degree by February 1, 2026.
- Must be in an independent tenure-track research position at WCM for six years or less by February 1, 2026.
- The Vallee Foundation has no restrictions on nominees having received other grant funding.
- Renominations are accepted as long as candidates still fit the eligibility criteria.
Application Requirements
WCM is limited to submitting 1 nominee. Due to this limitation an internal selection process will be coordinated. Chairpersons/Division Heads/Institute Directors may submit no more than one nomination from their department/division or institute.
- A 30-lines scientific abstract explaining the quantification of the applicant and fit of the project for this funding mechanism.
- Letter of support from the Department Chair, Division Chiefs, or Center/Institute Directors describing the merit of the candidate and the research. Please also include a confirmation that the candidate holds a tenure-track position. (2 pages max).
- Research proposal. The narrative should not exceed 2 pages of text including figures. The proposal should include:
- Title
- Abstract
- Specific Aims
- Brief introduction/survey of the field
- Proposed research, including preliminary results
- The proposal should also describe 2 of the most important papers published by the applicant to date and how the Vallee Foundations funding will make a difference to their research
- Complete Biosketch. Include start and completion dates of education and training; Personal statement; Positions, Scientific Appointments and Honors; Contributions to science; Scholastic performance; and Other support.
- Brief Budget
Submit the items listed above here no later than November 3, 2025, at 11:59 PM in the order listed as one PDF document using the naming convention PI last name-first initial_Vallee2026.pdf (see example below).
Example: Smith-J_Vallee2026.pdf
Past Recipients
- Basic Science
- Clinical Science
- Genetics
- Medicine
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology/Cell Biology
- Precision Medicine
- Faculty
- Junior Faculty
- New Investigator