Research Awards: Eligibility

Please note: Applicants submitting proposals to the 2008 Research Awards will not be eligible to submit proposals to future JSMF Research Awards competitions until 2011. [Read Policy]

The 21st Century Science Award supports research projects with a high probability of contributing new knowledge. Projects submitted for funding consideration should represent ideas early in their conception, intending to break new ground, or challenge commonly-held assumptions not sufficiently supported by data.

Researchers with current grant support from JSMF are not eligible to apply to the foundation for continued support of ongoing research. If a grantee’s current funds have been fully expended and a final grant report has been received and approved by the foundation office and the proposed project represents a new research direction, the individual may initiate a new proposal following all posted guidelines.

• JSMF funds internationally. Applications must be sponsored by a nonprofit institution as defined by Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Tax Code. Institutions outside the United States should read carefully the additional information on tax requirements available here.

• There are no restrictions on the number of submissions that may be sponsored by a particular institution. However, considering the small number of grants awarded each year we do ask that institutions limit their sponsorships to proposals meeting both the letter and the spirit of the Foundation's application guidelines.

• Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows are not eligible to apply for 21st Century Research Awards. Applicants must have completed academic training and hold a position compatible with the pursuit of independent research. At most institutions this requirement corresponds to individuals at the assistant professor level and above. Senior scientists must explain, in detail, how they themselves (and not only their research assistants and post-doctoral fellows) will use the requested funds to pursue "break-out" research different from that which is ongoing in their laboratories.

We must emphasize that this is an international program for a limited number of awards. It is anticipated that competition for the awards will be intense. An international advisory review panel composed of scientists and scholars in the relevant fields will evaluate all applications that meet the eligibility requirements.