Kansas Bioscience Rising Stars

The Kansas Bioscience Rising Stars Program will help retain and advance Kansas’ best and brightest bioscience scholars. While we focus on luring top researchers from around the world to Kansas, we can’t forget to recognize promising researchers already helping our universities and our economy with their work. In order to earn a designation as a rising star, researchers must have a proven track record of grant productivity and team leadership in a research environment. Honorees also must demonstrate an interest in applying research to commercial opportunities that build Kansas’ bioscience economy. Rising star scholars would be likely candidates for the National Academy of Sciences or other prominent national academic science organizations in the future.

Program Goals

  • Recognize and encourage up-and-coming scholars growing in their national reputations in their fields, who are active and demonstrate leadership in their associated professional societies, and who attract significant federal research grant support;
  • Enhance the competitiveness of already outstanding research programs that, through the leadership of a Kansas Bioscience Rising Star, will gain increased national visibility while providing direct support for continued research and commercialization; and
  • Through the research and commercialization activities of the scholar, make important, direct contributions to Kansas’ capabilities for research and innovation in the biosciences.

Eligibility

All universities and colleges located in Kansas conducting bioscience research are eligible to apply for funding under the Kansas Bioscience Rising Stars Program. To qualify for funding under this program the proposing institution must match KBA funds.

Key Evaluation Criteria

  1. Scholar’s qualifications, leadership, commitment to education, and ability to attract R&D investment, as well as the impact the scholar will have on enhancing the vitality of bioscience research at the institution.
  2. A clear and concise statement describing how the rising star will address critical statewide needs for technology commercialization in the biosciences.

Proposals submitted for funding under the Rising Stars Program will be subjected to a rigorous peer review by a panel of nationally known experts in the biosciences who live and work outside of Kansas.

Rising Star Application

“We have some very exciting life sciences companies in various stages of development here in our region, and with support from the Kansas Bioscience Authority, we have a much better opportunity to be successful and to grow and retain them here.”

- Sam Campbell, Co-founder, CritiTech