Genentech Career Development Award for Underrepresented Minority Emerging Vision Scientists Grant

Genentech Career Development Award for Underrepresented Minority Emerging Vision Scientists Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
Amount: US $100,000
Last Updated: August 18, 2025

Summary

The Genentech Career Development Award for Underrepresented Minority Emerging Vision Scientists, offered by ARVO, supports early-career underrepresented minority investigators in establishing independent vision research programs. This two-year grant provides $100,000 for research and personnel costs, aiming to foster innovative project ideas and promising preliminary results. Successful applicants will receive strong mentorship within the eye and vision research community, facilitating career advancement and the potential for impactful scientific publications.

Overview

The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology ARVO is the largest and most respected eye and vision research organization in the world. Our members include nearly 12,000 researchers from over 60 countries. Mission ARVO advances research worldwide into understanding the visual system and preventing, treating and curing its disorders. Genentech Career Development Award for Underrepresented Minority Emerging Vision Scientists The intent of the award is to provide URM investigators who are early in their careers with an opportunity to explore novel and innovative research project ideas. The award is intended to provide resources to promote the generation of promising preliminary results that may be leveraged to catalyze success in earning additional, longer-term funding support, as well as the authorship of impactful scientific publications. The successful applicant will have strong scientific mentorship support at their home institution.  ARVO will match the recipient with a mentor outside of their home institution to provide support related to career advancement. This mentor will be a senior member of the eye and vision research community thoughtfully selected from the ARVO membership to ensure a productive, meaningful mentorship relationship. Scientific Area of Focus The fellowship will provide funding to support a well-conceived research project in any area of vision science.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Eligibility criteria will include the following:Applicant must be from historically disadvantaged backgrounds- e.g. membership in one or more of the following groups whose underrepresentation in the American Professoriate has been severe and longstanding:Alaskan Native (Aleut, Eskimo, or other indigenous People of Alaska)Black/African American/Afro-CaribbeanMexican/Mexican AmericanChicana/ChicanoLatino/LatinaNative American IndianNative Pacific Islander (Hawaiian/Polynesian/Micronesian)Puerto RicanApplicant must be within the first four (4) years of a primary academic appointmentApplicant must have a strong record of scholarly productivity and be poised to become an independent investigator. Applicant must be employed in the United States. Applicants must be a US citizen, permanent resident, or have DACA status.Applicant must be working in the field of eye and/or vision researchApplicant must have an academic appointment at the level of Instructor or Assistant Professor (or equivalent) at the time the award is made (December of the year of application)Use of fundsFunds may be used for research, including salary of research staff, student support and laboratory supplies.  The project period must commence within six months of notification of the award and be completed within two years of the start date.

Ineligibility

Candidates with an active NIH R01 or equivalent government grant are not eligible.Candidates with a current or previous ARVO Foundation career development awards are also ineligible.Applicant must not be related by blood or marriage to any current member of the awards committee, or any current officer of ARVO or the ARVO FoundationARVO and ARVO Foundation Officers, Board members and ARVO Foundation Awards Committee members are not eligible to apply for or be nominated for an award nor may they supply letters of support during their terms.Funds may not be used for purchasing major equipment (cost exceeding $5,000). No overhead fees can be assessed.The award is not transferrable to other institutions. The award cannot be used for the principal investigator’s salary.