The Office of Research Development (ORD) invites internal applications for the 2027 Searle Scholars Program, a prestigious limited submission opportunity supporting exceptional early-career faculty in the biomedical sciences.

This program recognizes high-potential investigators pursuing innovative and impactful research at the frontiers of biology, chemistry, and medicine.

Key Dates

• Sponsor Deadline: September 30, 2026
• Rowan Internal Deadline: August 1, 2026 (5:00 PM EST) (60 days prior to sponsor deadline)

Award Overview

• Supports independent research of outstanding early career faculty.
• Focus on high-risk, high-reward scientific innovation.
• Competitive national recognition with strong institutional prestige

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Hold a tenure-track appointment at the Assistant Professor level.
• Have begun their first independent appointment on or after July 1, 2023 (anticipated guidance; final criteria to be confirmed upon sponsor release)
• Demonstrate strong potential for independent research leadership in biomedical sciences.

Limited Submission Guidance

• Rowan University is limited in the number of nominations permitted (final allocation to be confirmed upon receipt of sponsor invitation)
• If the number of internal applicants exceeds the institutional limit, ORD will coordinate a competitive internal review process.

Internal Application Requirements

Interested faculty should submit:

1. Brief Research Summary (2 pages max) – outlining the proposed research vision and innovation.
2. NIH-style Biosketch
3. Statement of Eligibility (including appointment start date)

Submit materials to: ORD@rowan.edu by the internal deadline.

Strategic Positioning

This opportunity aligns strongly with Rowan’s continued growth in:

• Translational and biomedical research
• Early-career faculty development
• National research competitiveness and prestige positioning

Participation enables Rowan to elevate high-impact investigators while strengthening its national research profile.

Next Steps

ORD will distribute additional guidance and nomination details upon receipt of the official sponsor invitation (June 2026). Faculty are encouraged to begin preparing materials early.

For questions or to discuss competitiveness, contact the Office of Research Development at ORD@rowan.edu.

The Office of Research Development invites faculty to submit internal applications for the W.W. Smith Charitable Trust Medical Research Grant program (WWSCT). This limited submission opportunity is restricted to a total of three (3) proposals per institution; with one (1) within the Heart Disease focus area, one (1) for the Cancer focus area, and one (1) for the AIDS focus area.  Proposals must align with WWSCT’s guidelines and goals to fund basic medical research in the areas of Heart Disease, Cancer, or AIDS. Applications must be for the work of individual investigators and not for general work or research centers.

Key Program Details:

• Program Overview: WWSCT will limit budgets to costs that can be directly assigned to the research project relatively easily and with a high degree of accuracy. The WWSCT identifies and funds research projects that are unique and meritorious. They invest in promising researchers having the potential to attract larger-scale awards (e.g., NIH, NSF, AHA) subsequent to WWSCT support.

Direct costs may include salaries, travel, equipment, and supplies directly benefiting the grant-supported project. WWSCT will limit indirect costs to 10% of the budget. Note: No funds will be awarded solely for equipment.

• Funding Amount: $100,000 to $125,000 over a one-year period.
• Eligibility: 501(c)3 Organizations, located in Camden, NJ. (PI’s who have an appointment in Camden are eligible)

Internal Competition Details:

The Rowan University Foundation may serve as the lead institution on one (1) proposal for each focus area (Heart Disease, Cancer, and AIDS) for a total of three (3).  To ensure compliance with WWSCT’s submission limits, an internal competition will determine which proposals are selected for submission.

Internal Application Requirements:

1. Cover Page: Project title, names of PIs and Co-PIs, and departmental affiliations.
2. Project Summary (2 pages max):
   • First Page: The first page should answer 1) What problem you are addressing and what specific questions your research will attempt to answer, including long-range benefits in the area of health? 2) What aspect of your work is most interesting in scientific terms? 3) What aspect would be of most interest from the perspective of the general public?
   • Second Page: The second page should include the Research Plan.

3. Preliminary Budget: Estimated costs and justification.
4. PI and Co-PI Biosketches: (2 pages max per person).
5. Team Composition and Roles: Brief description of how the PI’s expertise and experience complement the project.

Submit applications via email to ORD@rowan.edu with the subject line “WWSCT Internal Submission.”

Important Dates:

• Internal Rowan University Foundation Deadline for Concepts: April 29, 2026.
• WWSCT’s Review Period/Requests for Additional Information if Necessary: April 30-May 8, 2026.
• PI is notified to submit a Full Proposal: May 15, 2026.
• W. Smith’s Deadline for Proposal Submission: July 15, 2026.

Additional Information:

Detailed program guidelines and eligibility criteria can be found in the WWSCT’s solicitation at https://wwsmithcharitabletrust.org/medical-research/.

Faculty members are encouraged to contact the Office of Research Development for guidance and resources to strengthen their submissions.

Contact Information:

Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations

Email: CFR@rowan.edu

• Forest restoration and urban tree canopy expansion
• Coastal and tidal wetlands restoration
• Living shorelines and enhanced carbon sequestration landscapes
• Urban and community green infrastructure that captures carbon and enhances resilience

• Advance interdisciplinary research that integrates ecology, engineering, social sciences, and environmental policy
• Strengthen partnerships with local governments, nonprofit organizations, and community stakeholders
• Translate theory into practice with measurable climate mitigation and resilience outcomes
• Secure significant external funding that benefits faculty research, student engagement and real-world impact

The Corporate and Foundation Relations Department has prepared a curated list of current grant opportunities for faculty and staff.  Please visit https://sites.rowan.edu/advancement/_docs/cfr-funding/cfr-funding-newsletter-october-2025.pdf. 

Contact the CFR team at cfr@rowan.edu if you are interested in applying to a listed opportunity.

Friday, November 21, 2025 | 2 p.m. (Virtual)

Rowan University’s Office of Research Development, Corporate and Foundation Relations, and the Office of Sponsored Programs invite faculty, staff, and administrators to attend our upcoming Research Administration Workshop on Friday, November 21, at 2 p.m. This virtual session will provide an overview of key aspects of research budgeting and grant administration, including pre- and post-award considerations, budget preparation, compliance, and effective grants management. Participants will gain practical insight into how to plan, manage, and sustain sponsored research while navigating institutional processes and sponsor requirements.

This collaborative workshop is open to all members of the Rowan research community interested in strengthening their understanding of the research funding lifecycle and the tools available to support successful project execution.

Please RSVP here to receive the WebEx connection details.

Get expert, low-cost support from the Rowan Statistical Consulting Group (SCG). The benefits of working with our faculty statisticians include:

• Lowering study costs by optimizing statistical methodology aligned with your research needs
• Grant and future publication preparation support related to statistical methodology and analyses, including responses to reviewer comments - shown to improve funding outcomes! 
• Peace of mind knowing that your study used appropriate and effective statistical analyses.
• Receiving an additional portion of indirect costs returned when you include a Rowan SCG statistician in your grant.

SCG faculty have expertise in a variety of fields and approaches. Examples include:

• Biostatistics: study design, data cleaning, and statistical analyses such as t-test, ANOVA, chi-square, regressions, survival analysis, modeling, multivariate analysis, meta-analysis, propensity-score matching
• Data Mining/Deep Learning/Machine Learning: dimensionality reduction, classification, clustering, decision trees, neural networks
• Platforms: SAS, R, Python, JMP, SPSS