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Career Awards at the Scientific Interface

Burroughs Wellcome Fund

Recognizing the vital role cross-trained scientists will play in furthering biomedical science, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund developed the Career Awards at the Scientific Interface. These grants are intended to foster the early career development of researchers who are dedicated to pursuing an independent faculty career in academic research. The specific target group are researchers who have transitioned from graduate training in the physical/mathematical/computational sciences or engineering into postdoctoral training in the biological sciences.

Career Awards at the Scientific Interface BWF’s Career Awards at the Scientific Interface (CASI) provide $560,000 over five years to bridge a scientist’s advanced postdoctoral training (usually within the first two years of the award) and their transition to faculty service (usually within the last three years of the award). These awards are open to U.S. and Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or temporary residents.

Scientific advances such as genomics, quantitative structural biology, imaging techniques, and modeling of complex systems have created opportunities for exciting research careers at the interface between the physical/computational sciences and the biological sciences. Tackling key problems in biology will require scientists trained in areas such as chemistry, physics, applied mathematics, computer science, and engineering.

Special Considerations Proposals that include deep or machine learning applications of artificial intelligence are particularly encouraged. Special consideration will also be given to proposals that investigate the connection between climate change and human health.

n BWF strongly encourages applications from persons who have been historically underrepresented in the research enterprise, including but not limited to: women of any ethnic or racial group; any person identifying as Black or African American, Latino/a or Hispanic American, Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, indigenous to the Pacific Islands, indigenous Canadian; persons with disabilities; persons from disadvantaged backgrounds; and individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+.

In addition to seeking participants from the historically underrepresented groups described above, BWF is also interested in increasing diversity based on characteristics such as geographical location of institution, personal experiences and background. If desired, lived experiences based on any of the characteristics mentioned in these first two bullets may be addressed in the personal statement for consideration.

BWF believes that a diverse scientific workforce is essential to the process and advancement of research innovation, academic discovery and public service. This belief is grounded in a wealth of evidence demonstrating time and again that diverse teams outperform homogeneous ones.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Exceptional early-career investigator potential ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is one of the strongest BWF success predictors.

BWF's grantmaking strategy specifically supports scientists at the beginning of their careers and provides awards designed to bridge major career transitions.

Competitive applicants should demonstrate:

Strong research trajectory
Increasing scientific independence
High-quality publications
Clear intellectual identity
Commitment to academic research
Potential to become a scientific leader
A credible path toward independent funding

For example, the Career Awards for Medical Scientists (CAMS) are designed to help physician-scientists transition from postdoctoral/fellowship training to independent faculty research.

2. Highly innovative and unconventional scientific idea ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Innovation is extremely important to BWF.

BWF deliberately funds science that can open new directions rather than simply extend well-established research programs.

Strong proposals should ideally involve:

A genuinely new hypothesis
An unconventional scientific approach
A new conceptual framework
New technology
Cross-disciplinary methodology
A previously unexplored biological mechanism
High-risk/high-reward potential

The 2026 CASI awardees illustrate this philosophy, with projects involving AI, protein design, control theory, robotics, machine learning, microbiome biology, lipid chemistry, and synthetic biology.

3. Potential for transformative scientific discovery ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

BWF is particularly interested in research that could produce a disproportionately large scientific advance.

The key question is not simply:

"Can this project produce another useful result?"

but more like:

"Could this research fundamentally change how we understand or approach an important biological problem?"

Strong proposals should explain:

What established assumption could change?
What new capability will the research create?
What previously inaccessible question will become answerable?
What scientific field could benefit?

4. Interdisciplinary research ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is especially important for the Career Awards at the Scientific Interface (CASI).

CASI specifically supports researchers transitioning from physical, mathematical, computational sciences and/or engineering into biological research.

Strong examples include:

AI + biology
Mathematics + medicine
Engineering + physiology
Physics + cell biology
Computer science + neuroscience
Chemistry + immunology
Data science + infectious disease
Engineering + regenerative medicine

The 2026 CASI recipients demonstrate exactly this interdisciplinary model.

5. Strong scientific independence from mentors ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

BWF wants to identify scientists who can develop their own scientific identity, rather than simply continue their mentor's research.

A competitive proposal should establish:

Mentor's field → applicant's distinct question → applicant's unique approach → independent research program

This is particularly important for career-transition awards.

The application should clearly identify:

What the applicant personally developed
Why the applicant is uniquely positioned to pursue it
How the research differs from the mentor's work
What future research program will emerge from the award

6. Strong publication record and evidence of scientific excellence ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

BWF programs can be extremely selective, and evidence of scientific achievement is important.

For example, CASI requires applicants to have at least one first-author publication; shared first authorship is accepted.

Strong evidence includes:

First-author publications
High-quality peer-reviewed research
Important contributions to collaborative work
Awards
Competitive fellowships
Evidence of methodological expertise
A coherent scientific trajectory

The emphasis is on scientific quality and intellectual contribution, not merely the number of papers.

7. Strong potential for an independent research career ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is central to BWF's mission.

BWF describes its competitive programs as supporting scientists at key career transitions, including postdoctoral-to-faculty transitions.

A strong applicant should be able to articulate:

Where their research program is going
What niche they will establish
How the award enables independence
What major questions they will tackle next
How the award positions them for future funding

8. Scientific risk-taking with reasonable feasibility ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

BWF is more receptive than many conventional funders to bold ideas, but "high risk" does not mean "poorly designed."

The best proposal combines:

High conceptual risk + strong scientific foundation + credible execution plan

The application should explain:

Why the idea is risky
Why the risk is scientifically worthwhile
What preliminary evidence supports it
What could go wrong
Alternative approaches
What a successful result would enable

9. Strong mentor and research environment ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

For career-development awards, the research environment should clearly support the applicant's transition toward independence.

Important factors include:

Strong mentor
Appropriate facilities
Access to specialized technologies
Interdisciplinary collaborators
Protected research time
Institutional commitment
Career-development opportunities

BWF uses external advisory committees with scientific expertise to review competitive applications and make recommendations to the Board.

Specialties

Others

Eligibility Requirements

To understand the expectations of the Career Awards at the Scientific Interface program, it is important to read the eligibility requirements below, in addition to the proposal elements, terms of grant, and selection process.

The FAQs may also provide eligibility clarification. Candidates are expected to draw from their training in a scientific field other than biology to propose innovative approaches to answer important questions in the biological sciences. Examples of approaches include, but are not limited to: physical measurement of biological phenomena, computer simulation of complex processes in physiological systems, mathematical modeling of self-organizing behavior, building probabilistic tools for medical diagnosis, developing novel imaging tools or biosensors, developing or applying nanotechnology to manipulate cellular systems, predicting cellular responses to topological clues and mechanical forces, and developing a new conceptual understanding of the complexity of living organisms.

In addition to funding interdisciplinary research, a broader mission of this grant program is to support the advancement of early-career scientists as they transition from their postdoctoral training toward independent faculty roles. To support this outcome, BWF has defined the following eligibility requirements:

Degree/Role Requirements: n Candidates must hold a PhD degree in one of the fields of mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science, statistics, or engineering. This includes related areas of physical, mathematical, computational, theoretical, and engineering science. Exceptions will be made only if the applicant can demonstrate significant expertise in one of these areas, evidenced by publications, undergraduate major, or master’s degree

Candidates whose PhD is in biochemistry, biophysics, biology, cell biology, biomedical sciences, biomedical engineering, etc. may be eligible if significant accomplishment or competence in one of the areas of mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science, statistics, or engineering can be shown (i.e., papers published, advanced coursework, or undergraduate major), and if the proposal draws on that background. Work must be interdisciplinary and make use of nonbiological approaches.

n Candidates who hold an MD are eligible to apply if they hold both an MD and a PhD, and the PhD is in one of the fields of mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science, statistics, or engineering. This includes related areas of physical and computational science. Exceptions will be made only if the applicant can demonstrate significant expertise in one of these areas, evidenced by publications, undergraduate major, or master’s degree. In addition, the applicant cannot have spent more than 60 months in postdoctoral research since receipt of terminal degree. If the candidate holds an MD without also holding a PhD, the candidate is not eligible to apply to this program.

n Candidates who meet the other eligibility criteria must demonstrate that their work is truly interdisciplinary

Candidates cannot hold nor have accepted, either in writing or verbally, a faculty appointment as a tenuretrack assistant professor at the time of application – both LOI, full application, and interview. This award cannot be made to a tenure-track faculty member because it is a transition award. If a faculty position is accepted after the interview, the candidate may not start the new position until after the start date of the award.

Candidates must be committed to pursuing a full-time career in research as an independent investigator at a public or private nonprofit organization [501(c)(3) or equivalent] in the United States or Canada, including degree-granting academic institutions, research institutes, and teaching hospitals affiliated with academic degree-granting institutions. If awarded, recipients are required to devote at least 75 percent of their time to research-related activities, though it is not required that 75 percent of this time only be devoted to the BWFawarded research project.

This award is designed to help early-career scientists achieve independence. Thus, candidates are ineligible if they currently hold a position type (e.g., early independence; probationary tenure-track-like role) that permits them to function as an independent investigator in a role analogous to that of an assistant professor.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Burroughs Wellcome Fund

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 21 T.W. Alexander Drive Durham, NC 27713-2847

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