Arc Innovation Investigator Program

Arc Innovation Investigators are faculty researchers at Arc partner universities who are awarded unrestricted funding to pursue visionary ideas in curiosity-driven science and technology development while maintaining their home university positions.

Appointment Terms

• Appointment Duration: Five-year terms (competitively renewable)
• Employment: Awardees maintain lab, employment, and appointments at home university (Stanford University, UC Berkeley, or UCSF)
• Role: Act as intellectual bridges between universities and Arc Institute

Geographic Scope

• Partner Universities: Stanford University, UC Berkeley, UCSF
• Location: Researchers maintain positions at their home universities; access to flex office and lab space at Arc headquarters (Palo Alto, CA)

Eligibility

• Current faculty at Arc partner universities (Stanford University, UC Berkeley, UCSF)
• Research proposals should be aligned with Arc's mission of understanding and treating complex human diseases
• Emphasis on innovative proposals that may be challenging to support via traditional funding sources

Scientific Focus Areas

Historical focus areas (future calls may vary):

• Human Genetics
• Technology Development
• Neurobiology
• Immunology
• Computational Science/Machine Learning
• Chemical Biology

Funding

• Annual Direct Cost Budget: $200,000
• Five-Year Total: $1,000,000 over the five-year renewable term
• Indirect Costs: Paid at negotiated rate between Arc and university (does not impact direct cost budget)
• Nature: Unrestricted funding with complete autonomy

Lab Space & Infrastructure

• Flex Space: Access to flexible office and lab space at Arc headquarters (Palo Alto, CA)
• Facilities: State-of-the-art equipment and technology
• Location: Researchers maintain primary lab/office at home university

Resources & Support

• Access to Arc's internal Technology Centers and platforms
• Access to Arc scientific core facilities
• Equipment and technology access at Arc
• University Relations and Academic Affairs team support
• Opportunity to collaborate with Arc's Core Investigators and Technology Centers
• Participation in Institute Initiatives

Community Engagement

• Expected active participation in Arc community
• Attendance at annual Investigator Retreat
• Participation in Arc's seminar series
• Encouraged to pursue collaborations with Arc scientists and other investigators

Contact

• Email: [email protected]

Application Status

• Current Status: Next call for applications not yet launched
• Sign-Up: Interested researchers encouraged to sign up to be notified when next call opens

Selection Criteria

• Scientific innovation and originality
• Research proposals that are challenging to support via traditional funding sources
• Alignment with Arc's mission of understanding and treating complex human diseases
• Fit with scientific focus areas (which may vary by application cycle)

Requirements for Awardees

• Active participation in Arc community expected
• Attendance at annual Investigator Retreat
• Presentation in Arc's seminar series
• Openness to collaborations with Arc scientists
• Lab members welcome to visit Arc to support collaborations and participate in Institute activities