Supporting New Faculty With Critical Early Research Funding

In 1970, the average age of a researcher receiving their first National Institutes of Health grant was 34. By 2020, the average age had risen to 44.

Research funding is increasingly difficult to secure, especially for early-career researchers just starting their own labs. Recognizing this challenge, the PhRMA Foundation’s Faculty Starter Grants are designed to support promising young investigators within the first few years of their independence. PhF Faculty Starter Grants provide $100,000 of research project support for one year, enabling new faculty members to conduct pilot studies and gather preliminary data that underpins their efforts to secure larger grants from NIH or other agencies.

In this video, 2023 faculty awardees highlight the importance of receiving a PhRMA Foundation grant at this pivotal time in their careers.

To apply for a PhF Faculty Starter Grant, individuals (U.S. and non-U.S. citizens) must be full-time, promotion-eligible, research-intensive faculty at a PhD and/or MS degree-granting accredited U.S. university. Applicants must not have other substantial sources of research funding (e.g., no R01 or similar grants). Learn more and apply.