Catalyst Grants

2023 Catalyst for Discovery Program Grant Recipients

  • Jeffrey Rimer, University of Houston
    "Welch Center for Advanced Bioactive Materials Crystallization"
  • Deepak Nijhawan, Univ. of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
    "A Platform for the Rapid Discovery of Novel Small Molecules for Chemical Biology"
  • Megan Robertson, University of Houston
    "Enabling Polyolefin Circularity via Chemical Functionalization, Compatibilization, and Upcycling"
  • Michael Rosen, Univ. of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
    "Biochemical Specificity and Function of Biomolecular Condensates"

Catalyst for Discovery Program Grants

This grant program is intended to accelerate progress in fundamental chemical research by supporting research teams in Texas aimed at significant problems at the leading edge of chemistry. Annually, two grants of up to five million dollars ($5,000,000.00) each will be awarded to highly meritorious proposals. The level of support is calibrated to reduce barriers to discovery and provide flexibility in the manner of experimentation with minimal administrative burden. Invitations to submit proposals will be issued in January of each year to Texas institutions with substantial chemical research programs (external research funding in chemistry, Welch research grants, Welch endowed chairs, and PhD programs in chemistry and/or related fields). Reviews will be conducted by our Scientific Advisory Board and the top-scoring investigator teams will be invited to a secondary review by videoconference. Following a final programmatic review, awards will be announced in late July with a start date of August 1.

General Information