Research Scouts

Harnessing the momentum of the Research Scouts 2023 Program, up to 20 Research Scouts are selected and given 12 months to make a single award of $150,000 or two awards of $75,000 to Medical School scientists with compelling, new ideas. These awardees are known as "Scout Scholars."

In addition, Research Scouts in 2025 may opt to combine funds to support projects with especially transformative potential and require a larger sum than one individual scout can contribute. 

There is no formal RFP or grant application process. Instead, the Research Scouts leverage an online questionnaire to review ideas submitted by medical school faculty, attend Office of Research-sponsored pitch events, and/or actively seek out and identify early-stage ideas for funding through attendance at department meetings, seminars, word-of-mouth, and other avenues of their choice. 

Research Scouts receive modest discretionary funds to facilitate faculty connections and identify opportunities. 

Research Scout positions are voluntary. Department chairs and administrators are notified of their faculty members who have accepted the role of Research Scout.

The Research Scouts program does not issue RFPs or formal grant application processes. Instead, the Research Scouts leverage an online questionnaire to review ideas submitted by Medical School faculty. To prepare for the questionnaire, consider the following:

• What are you trying to do or what problem are you trying to solve?
• Why should this project be considered bold or transformative?
• Who or what would this project benefit? What is the potential significance and impact of the project?
• Why is this project important to you?

In addition to the questionnaire, Scouts will attend Office of Research-sponsored pitch events and/or actively seek out and identify early-stage ideas for funding through attendance at department meetings, seminars, word-of-mouth, and other avenues of their choice.

The Office of Research plans to host pitch events in a Shark Tank-like format, where medical school faculty can promote their ideas to a larger audience at once. Advance notice of these pitch events will be provided. Be sure to check for announcements in the Research News email newsletters. Pitch events are necessarily limited in timing and number of presenters. Therefore, those interested in becoming Scouts Scholars are strongly encouraged to submit ideas through the portal to ensure they are seen.

Scouts cannot entertain unsolicited requests or proposals, and any faculty member who approaches a Scout directly for funding will be deemed ineligible. 

A Scout Scholar is a faculty member with a primary appointment in the medical school selected by a Research Scout to receive funding for their bold idea. Research Scouts are directed to keep awards at “arm’s length”:

• Scouts cannot make awards to faculty with whom they have directly collaborated on a grant proposal (submitted or awarded) within the last five years.
• Research Scouts are discouraged from funding faculty whose research interests overlap with their own.
• Research Scouts should avoid funding members of their department (division for large departments).

In addition, the Research Scouts will not entertain unsolicited requests directly from a faculty, and any faculty who approaches a Scout for funding will be deemed ineligible.

Ideally, the types of ideas that may be funded don’t fit or are too early for traditional funding criteria and, if an idea does come to fruition, it may…

• challenge common dogma
• be potentially paradigm shifting
• transform our current understanding of or approach to a scientific concept or field
• be wildly new and visionary

Ideas should be at an early stage. Preliminary data is not required. This investment mechanism is not intended to advance research with a funding track record; it aims to spark new lines of investigation. Funding is intended to support remarkable ideas and enable our faculty the full intellectual creativity and exploration that is often hindered by traditional funding sources.

We recognize that pushing boundaries and placing bets on bold, novel ideas increases the likelihood of unexpected or negative findings. Knowledge comes in all forms, both from positive and negative results.

Research Scouts use their curiosity and ability to see exciting opportunities where others don’t to identify research ideas/projects that excite them. After discussing and conducting due diligence, the Scout may invite a faculty member, a “Prospect,” to flesh out their idea.

Projects should be scoped realistically. A Prospect, if funded, should be able to deploy the dollars quickly, and meaningful progress in testing the hypothesis should be achievable within the funding level and 18-24 months. If the Scout and Prospect mutually agree on the progress that can be made within an appropriate budget and timeline, the Scout may elect to invest in the project. If so, the Scout and Prospect will complete the short Research Scout Investment Agreement form and submit it to the Medical School Office of Research. The form includes information about the Prospect Scout Scholar, a brief description of the idea, key milestone(s)/deliverable(s) to be achieved with the investment, award amount, and attestation that the Scout and Prospect are not current or recent collaborators. The Scout Scholar, or a team member, agrees to participate in future events (lightning talks, symposia) showcasing the Scout Scholars and ideas in which the Research Scouts invested.

Research Scouts are directed to keep awards at “arm’s length”:

• Scouts cannot make awards to faculty with whom they have directly collaborated on a grant proposal (submitted or awarded) within the last five years.
• Research Scouts are discouraged from funding faculty whose research interests overlap with their own.
• Research Scouts should avoid funding members of their department (division for large departments).
• Research Scouts funding may not be used to support faculty effort.

In addition, the Research Scouts will not entertain unsolicited requests directly from a faculty, and any faculty who approaches a Scout for funding will be deemed ineligible. 

Research Scouts are outstanding scientists from diverse backgrounds and various career stages who demonstrate immense curiosity, creativity, and calculated risk-taking. Scouts have an innate tendency to support the success of others.

Nominations for Research Scouts 2025 are now closed.

Faculty who accept the nomination to be considered for a Research Scout are invited to submit a video* recording, 3 minutes or less, describing why she/he/they would make a great Research Scout. The video should showcase or provide examples demonstrating the characteristics of a Research Scout, such as intellectual curiosity, creativity, and calculated risk-taking. If a video exceeds 3 minutes, only the first 3 minutes will be viewed.

*Any medium, such as phone, Zoom, webcam, etc. can be used for the video. Videos are not expected to be professional and are intended to get to know you in a way that a paper CV does not convey. 

Submit the video and a current CV to [email protected] by 11:59 PM on Friday, November 1, 2024.

Submissions are evaluated by a review panel composed of medical school faculty and staff. Applicants are assessed on their curiosity, creativity, and risk-taking, as well as their scholarly work, mentorship, service, and diversity. Diversity includes scientific interests, disciplines, departments, career stages, gender, and racial/cultural backgrounds. Research Scouts are featured on the Office of Research website.

Faculty with a primary appointment in the Medical School. Research Scouts and Scout Scholars from 2023 can also apply to be Research Scouts in the 2025 program.

Additional questions about the Research Scouts program should be directed to [email protected].