US researchers under the age of 42 will be able to vie for one of three annual unrestricted awards of US$250,000 in life sciences, chemistry, and physical sciences and engineering, the Blavatnik Family Foundation in New York and the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS) announced on 3 June. “We want to highlight young researchers who are doing such extraordinary and innovative work that it will incentivize other young researchers,” says NYAS president Ellis Rubinstein. Nominations from US research universities and institutions, national labs and academic medical centres will be accepted from October to December 2013. NYAS council members may nominate industry researchers.