About the Program
The Packard Fellows program is for young faculty in the natural and physical sciences or engineering. The intent of the Fellowship Program is to provide support for highly creative researches early in their careers. Packard Fellows are inquisitive, passionate scientists and engineers who take a creative approach to their research, dare to think big, and follow new ideas wherever they lead. The Foundation emphasizes support for innovative PI-led research rather than extensions or components of large-scale, ongoing research programs.
Eighteen recipients will receive individual grants of $875,000 distributed over five years. Of the $175,000 paid each year, $17,500 is available to the university as compensation for administrative costs.
Eligibility
Candidates must be faculty members who are eligible to serve as principal investigators and are in the first three years of their faculty careers: that is, whose initial faculty appointments began no earlier than May 31, 2014, and no later than May 31, 2017. The Foundation emphasizes innovative individual research that involves the Fellows, their students, and junior colleagues, rather than extensions or components of large-scale, ongoing research programs. Eligible disciplines are: physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology, astronomy, computer science, earth science, ocean science, and all branches of engineering.
Internal Application Process
UCI may submit only two nominations; therefore, interested applicants should (via the UCI Review application system) submit the following by January 27, 2017:
- Two Page Research Statement consistent with Packard’s Guidelines,**
- Brief curriculum vita (up to 3 pages) including a list of publications in which independent contributions are identified,
- Name, Title, and Affiliated Institution of the 4 individuals who will be asked to submit letters of recommendation to Packard on the applicant’s behalf,
In lieu of a dean’s letter, the Office of Research will request a confidential letter evaluating the strength of each applicant from their department chair after the internal deadline; the application packet will be shared with the chair.
An ad hoc committee will then be convened to review the internal applications inclusive of the Chair’s evaluation. The campus must submit nominations by March 15, 2017 and the selected campus nominees will be notified prior to this deadline. The complete application packet is due to Packard on April 20, 2017.
Faculty wishing for help preparing their research statement may contact the Research Development professionals in their schools. For a consultation on whether a proposal is a “good fit” for this opportunity, please contact Roxanne Ford (fordmr@uci.edu) in Foundation Relations. |
The program guidelines are available online at https://www.packard.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/2017-Packard-Fellows-Guidelines.pdf Questions about our internal campus review process may be directed to Greg Ruth at greg.ruth@uci.edu or x4-0372.