The Beckman Institute embodies a unique research ecosystem that is defined by an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach to scientific inquiry.

Beckman members are expected to be engaged and present members of the Beckman community. Physical presence in the space is essential to the human, in-person interactions – whether in the café, office spaces, meeting rooms or hallways – that drive innovation and discovery.

Members are also expected to adhere to Beckman's code of conduct and embrace the institute’s core values of excellence, collaboration, integrity, transdisciplinarity, exploration and diversity.

Beckman’s research portfolio falls into three themes: Intelligent Systems, Integrative Imaging, and Molecular Science and Engineering. Scientists whose work has the potential to advance interdisciplinary research both within and across these themes will have priority for space assignments within the institute.

The process for joining Beckman

The interested person should fill out an online form that includes:

• Name of Beckman Institute faculty sponsor
• Letter of support from the faculty sponsor
• Level of membership being requested
• A description of future plans and collaborations
• A letter of interest, detailing:
• Based on membership level requested, provide a listing of desired Beckman resources the faculty member hopes to use for future plans and collaborations
• A list of publications, abstracts, monographs, conference proceedings, preprints, patents and major public talks
• Submitted and obtained grant proposals

If the applicant is a non-Illinois employee pursuing a research affiliate or 0% appointment at Beckman, they should include:

• An explanation of the collaborative research they will conduct, and what resources are needded (NetID, office space, etc.)
• Do they plan to contribute to sponsored research awards? Will the research be performed at Beckman? What responsibilities will the applicant have as a research affiliate?
• What is the expected duration of the 0% appointment?

A three- member committee, made up of faculty members serving on the Beckman Institute Executive Committee, will evaluate application packages quarterly based on:

• Does the package reflect a commitment to collaborative, interdisciplinary research at Beckman and offer a plan to achieve these goals?
• Does the application support Beckman's strategic goals?

Submission deadlines are March 1, June 1, Sept. 1 and Dec. 1. Offer letters will be sent by the last business day of April, July, October and January.

Faculty membership application

Spaces available for assignment

See a list of the types of space available for both labs and offices.

List of spaces

Review of Beckman faculty members

All of Beckman’s faculty members are reviewed every three years, based on their appointment year.

Affiliate members will submit an online form the summer of their review year. Their submissions will include their publications, grant proposals, participation at and service to Beckman, mentoring work and future collaborations.

Theme leads will evaluate them on dedication to research at Beckman and whether the faculty member is upholding Beckman’s mission and core values.

A three-member committee of BIXC members will review part- and full-time faculty members using the same data and on the same criteria, collected via another form. Current review committee members are Qian Chen, Fatima Husain and Michael Oelze.

Evaluation will not include how much of the faculty member’s total research is collaborative, the faculty member’s space at Beckman, Beckman-provided investments and research expenditures at Beckman.

Part- and full-time faculty members who receive a “yellow light” recommendation, rather than a “green light,” will be asked to have a conversation with the Beckman director.

The form submission period for all faculty reviews will open the first Monday of July and close the first Monday of August. The review period will be from August to September, with final recommendations sent to the Beckman director by the first Monday of October.

Have questions about when you'll be evaluated? Email the Beckman director inbox.

Have questions? Contact us.