Campus Programs

BioEnginuity Impact Grant

The BioEnginuity Impact Grant supports doctoral students working in STEM fields with an emphasis on bioconvergence — the intersection of life sciences with physical sciences, engineering, and/or data science.

Beyond supporting research, the BioEnginuity Impact Grant will create a vibrant community of emerging bioconvergence problem solvers. The BioEnginuity Impact Grant is designed to provide you with the intellectual freedom to start tackling critical societal problems by translating academic research to real-world applications.

The deadline to apply was June 14, 2024 at 5 PM PDT. Applications are now closed.

Click here to view our Impact Grant Recipients

Overview

We encourage you to orient the last stages of your doctoral research toward greater societal impact, which may involve moving your research in new interdisciplinary directions to tackle existential societal problems, for example the impacts of the climate crisis or equitable health care technologies. For some, this might mean a direct ‘reduction to practice’. For others, the impact could come from an “open source” translation. While moving towards impact is a central aspect of the Grant, no prior entrepreneurship experience is expected.

In the application process you’ll describe how your STEM/bioconvergence research can benefit society in a meaningful way, and how the BioEnginuity Impact Grant will move you towards that goal.

We welcome applications from diverse problem solvers and changemakers. Successful applicants will be part of a unique group that will continue their dissertation research, but also participate in extracurricular activities including:

Professional development and leadership workshops
Mentoring opportunities with BBH, Bakar Labs and other affiliated programs
Networking with industry experts in your area of emphasis or an area you’d like to explore

We anticipate that the additional time commitment will be less than that required by a graduate-level seminar course. However, since the BioEnginuity Impact Grant will require time outside the lab, you are required to discuss the program with your dissertation advisor prior to applying. You will need a letter of support indicating your advisor understands the program’s time commitment and goals, and providing a rationale for why you are an appropriate candidate.

Eligibility

Doctoral students going into the final two years of their PhD dissertation research are eligible. The applicant’s home department/PI will receive $40,000/year for two years to be applied towards the applicant’s current GSR appointment, to replace tuition, stipend, and fees normally covered by the home department/PI.

Deadlines

The deadline to apply was June 14, 2024 at 5 PM PDT. Please follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and X (@bioenginuityhub) for updates about the next application cycle.

Please contact us directly if you have questions: bioenginuityimpact@berkeley.edu