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Navigating the Private Funding Landscape
Thursday, December 11, 2025, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EST
Category: National Webinars

Private foundations play a unique role in supporting scientific and scholarly work, yet many early-career researchers are unsure how to begin engaging with this part of the ecosystem.

In this session, Mia Thomaidou, Ph.D., offers an introductory look at common elements of philanthropic funding, how to identify opportunities aligned with your work, and guiding principles for crafting strong initial proposals. Viewers will gain practical insight into approaching private funding as one component of a diverse and sustainable research portfolio. She shares:

  • Lessons learned during her own journey from academia to science philanthropy.
  • Challenges related to securing funding for interdisciplinary work.
  • Common features of philanthropic funding and how they differ from other sources.
  • Approaches for identifying well-matched opportunities or programs.
  • General principles that help strengthen the clarity, coherence, and competitiveness of proposals.

This session is designed for scientists who want to expand their funding toolkit, work on strengthening their competitiveness, and leverage foundation funding as a catalyst for knowledge generation, innovation, visibility, or collaboration.

WATCH THE RECORDING (You must be an AWIS member. Join today or contact [email protected] for group screening information.)

Speaker:

Mia Thomaidou, Ph.D., is a Neuroscience & Society Fellow at the Dana Foundation, where she manages a grant portfolio advancing public engagement with neuroscience and oversees a number of internal- and external-facing initiatives. Her role includes evaluating proposals, analyzing application outcomes to understand what drives success or failure, co-creating with applicants, and ensuring alignment with Foundation priorities.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Mia completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Rutgers University, School of Criminal Justice. She received her Ph.D. in behavioral neuroscience in the Netherlands and holds a B.Sc. in cognitive neuroscience from the University of Westminster in London, along with two M.Sc. degrees—in clinical neuropsychology and in criminal justice. Her interests lie at the intersection of neuroscience, criminal justice, and data science.