Google Research Scholar Program 2025 for early-career Professors ($60,000 USD award)

The Google Research Scholar Program 2025 is designed to support early-career professors pursuing research in fields relevant to Google. The program offers unrestricted gifts of up to $60,000 USD to assist the advancement of the professors' research. 

Eligibility Criteria:

Academic Position: Applicants must be full-time assistant, associate, or professors at a university or degree-granting research institution at the time of application submission. Postdoctoral staff can serve only as co-Principal Investigators (co-PIs), not as primary PIs.

PhD Timing: Applicants should have received their PhD within seven years of submission (e.g., applicants in 2024 must have received their PhD in 2017 or later). Exceptions may be considered for those with delays due to industry work, parental leave, or other relevant reasons.

Application Limit: Applicants can submit one application per round and may apply a maximum of three times within the seven years post-PhD. Faculty can serve only as a PI or co-PI per round and cannot participate in multiple proposals simultaneously.

Application Timeline:

Applications Open: December 20, 2024

Application Deadline: January 27, 2025, at 11:59:59 PM UTC-12

Notification of Decisions: By June 30, 2025

Applications are currently open and must be submitted by the specified deadline. Decisions will be communicated via email by June 2025. 

For detailed information and to apply, please visit the official program page:  Google Research Application Website

How to Succeed in Getting the Google Research Scholar Program

1. Align Your Research with Google’s Focus Areas

Ensure your proposal falls within Google's areas of interest, such as computer science, engineering, machine learning, artificial intelligence, data science, and other relevant fields.

Clearly articulate how your research aligns with Google’s mission to advance knowledge and technology.

2. Demonstrate Innovation and Impact

Propose groundbreaking and impactful research ideas that can address real-world challenges.

Highlight how your work will contribute to academia, industry, or society.

3. Craft a Clear and Concise Proposal

Write a well-structured and easily comprehensible research proposal.

Include a strong problem statement, objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes.

Demonstrate how the funding will be utilized effectively.

4. Showcase Your Credentials

Highlight your academic achievements, previous research, and publications.

Include notable collaborations, awards, or grants that demonstrate your capability to execute the project successfully.

5. Collaborate if Necessary

Consider including co-PIs or collaborators to strengthen your proposal with complementary expertise.

Ensure all contributors are mentioned and their roles are clearly defined.

6. Follow Submission Guidelines

Ensure your application adheres to all eligibility criteria and submission requirements.

Submit your application before the deadline to avoid disqualification.

7. Seek Feedback Before Submission

Have your proposal reviewed by peers or mentors to ensure clarity and strength.

Address any weaknesses or gaps identified during the review.

Impact of the Google Research Scholar Program

1. Financial Support

The program provides up to $60,000 in unrestricted funding, enabling researchers to focus on their work without financial constraints.

2. Advancing Research

Recipients can drive innovative research that contributes to advancements in their field, often influencing academia and industry practices.

3. Building Credibility

Being recognized by Google enhances your professional credibility and opens doors to collaborations, conferences, and publishing opportunities.

4. Networking Opportunities

The program connects recipients with Google researchers and other leading academics, fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing.

5. Career Development

For early-career professors, this grant serves as a significant milestone, enhancing their CVs and aiding future grant applications.

6. Technological and Societal Impact

The program enables impactful projects that address critical challenges in technology and society, potentially influencing policy and innovation.

Key Tip: Focus on originality, clarity, and the potential impact of your research, and demonstrate how the Google Research Scholar Program funding will make a difference.