Best Chemistry Grants in Mississippi

Early-career, tenure-track chemistry faculty at degree-granting institutions in Mississippi and across the U.S. or Canada can receive US $75,000 for fundamental research through the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Research Fellowship. Focused on advancing fields like chemistry and related sciences, this two-year award supports expenses such as staffing, equipment, lab costs, travel, and summer salary.

Mississippi chemistry researchers pursuing postdoctoral work in fundamental chemical sciences or chemical instrumentation can access funding through the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation, with awards ranging from US $224,000 - US $542,000. Eligible applicants are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA recipients with recent PhDs and a committed mentor at a qualifying U.S. nonprofit institution.

American graduate students of Polish descent pursuing chemistry or related scientific fields can receive US $1,000 - US $12,000 in tuition support for full-time study through the Kosciuszko Foundation. With a mission to promote U.S.–Poland educational exchange, the foundation provides scholarships for studies at accredited U.S. institutions and English medical schools in Poland, including eligible students from Mississippi.

Early-career, tenure-track chemistry and related faculty at U.S. degree-granting institutions, including those in Mississippi, can receive $100,000 in unrestricted research funding through the Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Awards Program. With a mission to advance chemical sciences, the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation supports independent research excellence and strong commitments to undergraduate education.

Educational institutions and programs advancing children’s health, education, and STEM fields, including chemistry, can apply for US $1,000 - US $25,000 in support from Fash Foundation; organizations in Mississippi may be eligible. Funding focuses on arts and sciences benefiting children, with a primary emphasis on higher education institutions and related initiatives.

Nonprofit organizations advancing environmental initiatives such as clean energy, toxics reduction, and clean water at multi-state or national levels, including work affecting Mississippi, can seek project funding from the Roy A Hunt Foundation; awards range from US $25,000 - US $75,000. Grants support management, contracted services, education, applied research, and policy-oriented innovations that may interest chemistry-focused programs.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Mississippi communities where BASF operates can seek support for science education, environmental initiatives, and health and safety programs. With a mission to combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility, BASF Corporation provides charitable contributions that may complement chemistry-related outreach and STEM education efforts.

Organizations planning chemistry or neuroscience-related congresses and events in Mississippi can seek sponsorship funding for initiatives that offer Biogen Foundation tangible benefits like exhibits, banners, or marketing visibility. Biogen Foundation provides support to eligible entities when requests align with its disease and research interests and are submitted at least 50 days before the funding decision is needed.

Young and mid-career PIs in chemical biology at nominated institutions can apply for Ono Pharma Foundation’s Ono Initiative, with awards up to US $1,035,000 over three years for innovative chemistry–biology interface research. Mississippi-based researchers at eligible universities may be nominated through their institution’s administration to pursue transformative human health discoveries.

Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation

The Foundation was established in September 1977 by Dr. Arnold O. and Mrs. Mabel Beckman to give back to the scientific community.

“The mission of the Foundation is to support leading edge research, in the fields of chemistry and life sciences, broadly interpreted, and particularly to foster the invention of methods, instruments, and materials that open up new avenues of research and application in these sciences and related disciplines. My preference is to favor young investigators, new ideas, and a variety of projects rather than fund large, established ones of long duration.”

Current Foundation Initiatives

Today, the Foundation continues according to the vision laid out by Dr. and Mrs. Beckman:

• Supporting Young Scientists: through our annual grant programs, focused on the most promising young scientists
• Community Support activities: that promote science education and excellence in our local community
• Streamlined operations: so that we don't "spend money to give money away"

"Beckman Family" Awardee Community Support Grants

The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation’s "Beckman Family" Awardee Community Support Grants are open to all current and former Foundation grant awardees and Executive Committee members, specifically from the Beckman Scholars Program, Arnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Fellowship, Beckman Young Investigator, and Instrument Grants programs.

As a current or former Beckman awardee or Executive Committee member, if you are actively engaged as a volunteer or Board member in a youth STEM or STEAM organization in your local area, you may apply to this program for funding for a particular project with that organization.

Funding Priorities

Projects should be aligned with the Foundation’s aim of “supporting young scientists today for tomorrow’s breakthrough discoveries” and oriented toward achieving positive outcomes in at least one of the Foundation’s current funding priorities:

• Engaging youth in hands-on science and math activities to encourage curiosity and student-driven exploration and learning.
• Using technology to engage youth in STEM/STEAM.
• Promoting the Beckmans’ legacy of technology innovation and leadership amongst youth.

In addition, the following considerations should be addressed in a proposal for funding:

• Where possible, the Foundation’s contribution to a project or activity should help to build capacity within the nonprofit organization to continue the activity beyond the one-time grant.
• The Awardee/Executive Committee member should discuss how the program will increase access to STEM/STEAM opportunities for the target audience.
• The costs associated with the request should relate to a stand-alone STEM/STEAM project, event, or activity and not part of a broader program, event, or target audience outside the Awardee’s or Executive Committee member's local area.
• Youth registration to participate in the STEM/STEAM project, event, or activity should be open to all in the local area, when possible.

Process & Timeline

Grant funds are directly issued to the organization by the Foundation and include for acknowledgement an indication that the gift was made because their volunteer or Board member is a Beckman Awardee or Executive Committee member.

Requests must be submitted by the Beckman Awardee on behalf of a U.S. nonprofit 501(c)(3), or equivalent, organization exclusively serving youth in their local community. As a matter of policy, the Foundation does not provide grants to non-U.S. organizations or institutions. This program defines the terms “youth” and “youths” as individual(s) 17 years of age or younger.