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Klingenstein Fellowship Awards in Neuroscience

Klingenstein (Esther A. & Joseph) Fund

The Klingenstein Fellowship Awards in Neuroscience supports innovative research by early career investigators. The research should have relevance for understanding the mechanisms underlying neurological and behavioral disorders, that may lead to improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of these disorders. We recognize, however, that some of the most important contributions toward disease cures can come from basic research, without an immediate understanding of their relationship to disease, so we also support basic research.

Our hope is that our funding will seed new directions in the fellows’ research programs by providing an unencumbered addition to their regular sources of research support. Through our yearly meetings we hope to foster collaboration and mentorship between current and former fellows at different stages in their careers. We give priority to candidates who may not have received substantial funding from other private awards yet have highly promising scientific careers. We encourage neuroscientists from underrepresented and minoritized groups to apply. The Klingenstein Fellowship Awards in Neuroscience gives recognition to outstanding scientists who have made valuable contributions in their early research efforts, and who show the greatest promise for a successful research career.

Overview

The Klingenstein Fellowship Awards in Neuroscience supports early-career investigators engaged in basic or clinical research that may lead to a better understanding of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Several areas within neuroscience are of particular interest:

Cellular and molecular neuroscience. Studies of the mechanisms of neuronal excitability and development, and of the genetic basis of behavior.
Neural systems. Studies of the integrative function of the nervous system.
Translational research. Studies to improve our understanding of the causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders.

General Information

To apply for a Klingenstein Fellowship, please follow these instructions:

Applications, including three letters of recommendation, are due February 1, 11:59pm EST.
Candidates may reapply if they continue to meet the eligibility requirements.
More than one application may be submitted from an institution.

Finances

Awardees will receive $150,000 per year for three-years ($450,000 total) beginning July 1. It may be used for salary support, research assistants, equipment, or for any other purpose that promotes the scientific activities of the Klingenstein Neuroscience Fellow. The award is for the exclusive use of the Fellow and may not be used for institutional or departmental support. No provision is made for institutional overhead, but fringe benefits may be charged to the award. Payments will be made to the investigator’s institution with the understanding that the total amount of the award will be made available to the Klingenstein Neuroscience Fellow, and will be transferred (together with any purchased equipment) should the Fellow change institutions. Payments are contingent on the receipt of progress reports and determination by the Fund that the Fellow has made satisfactory progress on the project.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1️⃣ Early-Career Focus & Investigator Potential

Fellowship awards target neuroscientists in the early stages of independence, typically:

Holding a tenure track appointment or equivalent

Within about 4 years of first appointment (exact limits vary by cycle)

Showing a strong trajectory in neuroscience research

Success predictor:
✔ Demonstrate early signs of research independence — publications, first-author papers, and leadership on projects — while also articulating how the fellowship will advance your career. Corporate and Foundation Relations

2️⃣ Innovative, Rigorous Research Proposal

The Fund supports both basic and clinical neuroscience. Proposals should articulate:

A clear scientific problem or hypothesis

A rigorous experimental plan, with well-justified methods

The potential to advance understanding of neurological or psychiatric disorders (even if not immediately therapeutic)

Success predictors include:
✔ Clear, feasible research aims with appropriate preliminary support
✔ Logical sequencing of aims and measurable milestones
✔ A balance of novelty and scientific rigor that resonates with neuroscience reviewers UNT Health

3️⃣ Relevance to Mechanisms of Brain Disorders

While broad neuroscience is welcome, the fund particularly emphasizes work that could illuminate mechanisms underlying neurological and psychiatric conditions — such as neural circuitry, molecular pathways, neurodevelopment, or translational aspects of disease. UNT Health

Success predictor:
✔ Tie your proposed research to disease-relevant questions — even in basic studies — and frame the implications for understanding or ultimately treating brain disorders.

4️⃣ Gap-Filling & Program Catalysis

The fund is often described as a seed mechanism — designed to help researchers break into new scientific directions or establish an independent line of inquiry that can attract larger future support.

Success predictors:
✔ Show that the fellowship will enable novel directions, lead to major new collaborations, or generate preliminary data to support competitive future grants.

5️⃣ Alignment With Mission but Flexibility for Basic Work

The Klingenstein Fellowship supports basic neuroscience research even if it doesn’t have immediate clinical translation, as long as the work has clear conceptual relevance to understanding brain function and disorders. UNT Health

Success predictor:
✔ Justify the foundational significance of basic mechanisms — reviewers value deep mechanistic insights that lay the groundwork for later clinical advances.

6️⃣ Engagement & Future Leadership

The fellowship also aims to foster a community of future leaders in neuroscience. The fund often convenes meetings or networking opportunities for fellows, and values candidates who show promise to become influential in their field.

Success predictor:
✔ Letters of support (mentors, collaborators) that highlight leadership potential, collaborative abilities, and the applicant’s strategic vision.

🧠 How the Review Process Typically Works

Although specific review procedures aren’t public, eligible applications are evaluated by a Scientific Advisory Committee composed of experts in neuroscience. Review criteria include:

Scientific quality and innovation

Investigator qualifications and independence

Feasibility of the proposed work

Alignment with the fellowship’s goals to support early-career neuroscience research Klingenstein Philanthropies

Competitive proposals typically proceed through:

Initial submission via online portal

Peer review by neuroscientists & external reviewers

Selection by the Fund’s scientific committee

📌 Practical Tips to Improve Competitiveness

Before submission:

Confirm you meet eligibility (tenure track/equivalent, early career). Corporate and Foundation Relations

Contact program staff early with clarifying questions.

Proposal writing:

Emphasize conceptual significance and novelty.

Make the research aims clear, testable, and linked to broader neurological understanding.

Illustrate how this fellowship will catalyze your research program and future funding.

Supporting materials:

Include strong CV and publication record.

Provide mentorship and institutional support letters to contextualize feasibility and future success.

🧠 In Summary: Success Predictors

Predictor	Description
Early-career eligibility	Foundation target demographic; fosters independence. Klingenstein Philanthropies
Scientific novelty & rigor	High priority for fellowship success. UNT Health
Relevance to neuroscience mechanisms	Central to mission. UNT Health
Feasible, well-designed plan	Clear aims and methods boost confidence.
Programmatic impact	Evidence proposal will advance a line of research.
Leadership potential	Fellowship supports future leaders in neuroscience.

Specialties

Neurosciences

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for an award, investigators must hold a Ph.D. and/or an M.D., and have completed all research training, including post-doctoral training. Candidates must also meet these four qualifications at the time of the application deadline:

The candidate must have a tenure track appointment or equivalent. A letter indicating the date of appointment and the commitment of institutional resources to establish the investigator and the prospects for long-term support by the institution must be provided by an institutional official (e.g., an offer letter from the dean or department chair).
The candidate must be an independent investigator at a university, medical center, or research institute with a maximum of four years between the completion of last postdoc and the application deadline.
Applicants must have a primary tenure track position at an institution in the United States.
Applicants must inform the Esther A. & Joseph Klingenstein Fund of other sources of funding. Although there’s no strict prohibition against holding more than one fellowship at one time, the Fund may take other funding into account when deciding whether to grant an Award.

Applications will be reviewed, and selections made, by a Scientific Advisory Committee of distinguished neuroscientists.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Klingenstein (Esther A. & Joseph) Fund

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 80 8th Avenue, 14th Floor New York, NY, 10011-7159

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