BioEnginuity Impact Grant

BioEnginuity Impact Grant is sponsored by Bakar Bio Labs. Empowers doctoral students in STEM to translate research into solutions for critical societal challenges, supporting translational research with real-world impact.

BioEnginuity Impact Grant - Bakar Bio Labs BioEnginuity Impact Grant BioEnginuity Impact Grant The BioEnginuity Impact Grant empowers doctoral students in STEM to translate research into solutions for critical societal challenges.

The BioEnginuity Impact Grant supports doctoral students working in STEM fields, including life sciences, physical sciences, engineering, and/or data science, who have an interest in translating their research to solve important societal problems.

Beyond supporting translational research, the BioEnginuity Impact Grant will create a community of emerging problem solvers and provide the intellectual freedom, resources and connections to start tackling critical societal problems by translating academic research to real-world applications. Applications are now closed for the 2026 cohort, and will open again beginning January 2027.

This grant is designed to help advanced graduate students orient the last stages of their doctoral research toward greater societal impact, which may involve moving your research in new interdisciplinary directions to tackle significant 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’ or exploring steps to commercialization or industry partnerships. 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 you’ll describe how your research can benefit society in a meaningful way, and how the BioEnginuity Impact Grant will move you towards that goal. This may include plans you have for creating a startup or working with licensing to industry partners. We welcome applications from diverse problem solvers and changemakers.

Successful applicants will be part of a unique group that while continuing their dissertation research will also participate in extracurricular activities offered by Bakar Labs and QB3 including: Professional development and leadership workshops Mentoring opportunities with QB3, 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 any additional time commitment will be less than that required by a graduate-level seminar course.

Since the BioEnginuity Impact Grant will require that you focus your final two years to better understand translational research and entrepreneurship, and participate in relevant activities, you are required to submit a letter of support indicating your advisor understands the program’s focus and goals, and provide a rationale for why you and the project you are working on are an excellent match for this program.

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 supplement tuition and fees normally covered by the home department/PI. Graduate students must be in a GSR position and able to use the funds as current use funds.

Therefore they cannot be on other fellowship support or in a GSI appointment. This applies to the two years of the BioEnginuity Grant award period. The award can only be applied to GSRs whose lab position is in UC Berkeley.

Applicants should have already completed their department’s GSI teaching requirement. Applications for the next cycle will open January 4th, 2027 and close February 28th, 2027. Please contact us directly if you have questions: bioenginuityimpact@berkeley.

edu Graduate Student, BAIR Lab, Robotics Graduate Student, Keasling Lab, Bioengineering Graduate Student, Tikhomirov Lab, Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences Graduate Student, Keasling Lab, Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Student, Marqusee Lab, Biophysics Graduate Student, Gu Lab, Bioengineering Graduate Student, Gu Lab, Mechanical Engineering Graduate Student, Nomura Lab, Chemical Biology Graduate Student, Krasileva Lab, Plant & Microbial Biology Graduate Student, Sohn Lab, Bioengineering Graduate Student, Doudna Lab, Molecular & Cell Biology Graduate Student, Hellerstein Lab, Nutritional Science & Toxicology Want to learn more about the BioEnginuity Impact Grant?

BioEnginuity Impact Grant Aug 20, 2026 New Impact Grant recipients aim to translate their research into real world solutions Launched in 2023, our BioEnginuity Impact Grant helps STEM doctoral students aim their research toward the greater social good.

The grant offers students the flexibility to reimagine their research in interdisciplinary directions, commercialize their technology, or pursue industry partnerships, all with the goal of solving the world’s most pressing problems. Awardees are also supported by extracurricular offerings, including workshops, networking, and mentoring opportunities.

Our fourth cohort of fellows has demonstrated a clear commitment to tackling global challenges through collaborative research.

BioEnginuity Impact Grant Aug 19, 2024 The Next Generation of Changemakers: Announcing the Recipients of the 2024 BioEnginuity Impact Grant The Bakar BioEnginuity Hub is proud to announce the first four recipients of the BioEnginuity Impact Grant (formerly Berkeley BioEnginuity Fellowship) who will be utilizing interdisciplinary research for social good.

BioEnginuity Impact Grant Nov 30, 2023 BioEnginuity Impact Grant: Celebrating the Visionary Impact of STEM Changemakers The Bakar BioEnginuity Hub is proud to announce the first four recipients of the BioEnginuity Impact Grant (formerly Berkeley BioEnginuity Fellowship) who will be utilizing interdisciplinary research for social good.