Vilcek Foundation Accepting Applications from Immigrants Working in Biomedical Science

Calling all biomedical scientists working in biochemistry, bioengineering, bioinformatics, biophysics, cancer research, cell biology, chemical biology, computational biology, developmental biology, endocrinology, epidemiology, human disease, immunology, infectious diseases, microbiology, neuroscience, physiology, stem cell research, or virology!

NEW YORK, March 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Applications for the 2026 Vilcek Foundation Prizes for Creative Promise in Biomedical Science are being accepted now through June 9, 2025. These $50,000 prizes are given each year to three early- to mid-career immigrant scientists living in the United States who have made outstanding contributions to their field. 

"Receiving the Vilcek Prize is an incredible honor, a milestone in my scientific and personal journey from a town in Poland to one of the greatest scientific centers in the United States," says Tomasz Nowakowski, winner of the 2024 Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Biomedical Science. "I am deeply grateful to [foundation founders] Jan and Marica Vilcek for their vision to promote the careers of so many immigrant scientists who strive to make game-changing discoveries in biomedical sciences, and who recognize the United States as the best place to do the most exciting science."

The Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise in Biomedical Science are a part of the Vilcek Foundation Prizes program, which celebrates immigrants and their contributions to arts, culture, and biomedical research in the United States.

"Immigrant scientists like evolutionary biologist Harmit S. Malik or Nobel Prize winner Katalin Karikó are continually at the forefront of innovation in the United States," says President of the Vilcek Foundation Rick Kinsel. "Our aim in awarding the Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise in Biomedical Science is to support auspicious early-career immigrants who are conducting groundbreaking research in human health, development, and treatment. We hope to underscore the need for their work in our society and bolster their impressive careers."

Eligible applicants must not be more than 38 years old and have lived in the United States for at least four years. Additionally, applicants must have earned a doctoral degree, hold a full-time position at an academic institution or other organization, have co-authored at least one publication, and have at least one publication as corresponding author.

All applications will be reviewed after the close of the open call on June 9, 2025. Prizewinners will be selected for the rigor and impact of their work in relevant scientific research by a jury of biomedical science experts appointed by the Vilcek Foundation. Recipients will each receive an unrestricted cash award of $50,000, a commemorative trophy, and will be nationally promoted by the Vilcek Foundation.

Interested applicants can apply and learn more about the Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise Biomedical Science through the Vilcek Foundation website. All questions about the Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise or the application process can be sent to [email protected].

About the Vilcek Foundation

The Vilcek Foundation raises awareness of immigrant contributions in the United States and fosters appreciation for the arts and sciences. The foundation was established in 2000 by Jan and Marica Vilcek, immigrants from the former Czechoslovakia. The foundation's mission was inspired by the couple's respective careers in biomedical science and art history. Since 2000, the foundation has awarded over $15 million in prizes and grants. The Vilcek Foundation is a private operating foundation, a federally tax-exempt nonprofit organization under IRS Section 501(c)(3). To learn more, please visit vilcek.org.

Contact
Shelby Roller
The Vilcek Foundation
212-472-2500
[email protected]

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SOURCE The Vilcek Foundation