Brief Description:

The three-year Award supports newly independent faculty engaged in basic biomedical research. Investigators in the physical sciences (physics, chemistry and engineering) whose projects focus on biomedical science are also encouraged to apply.
Clinical research will not be funded.

Description:

Application Information:

Please fill out the online form and attach the following documents as a single PDF:
Summary of proposed research (limit 2 pages including images. A third page may be used for references)
Nominating letter signed by your department or division head.
NIH Biosketch, including past and pending sources of funding. For current funding include abstract and specific aims and indicate if there is any overlap with your proposal. (Limit 5 pages).

Style Requirements:

11pt font or larger.
No more than 6 lines per inch.
Color images are allowed, however any copies will be printed in Black and White.

Eligibility Criteria:

1. Applicants must be full-time faculty who have received or will receive their first independent faculty appointment on or between July 1, 2018 and December 1, 2020.

2. If an Applicant has been on medical or family leave, or if research was interrupted for other reasons, this period of absence does not count towards eligibility. Please address any gaps in work history in the Personal Statement on the Biosketch. The Department or Division Chair’s letter must also confirm the leave of absence as well as applicant eligibility.

3. The Applicant’s level of independence is critical. The Department or Division Chair’s letter must be very clear about the Applicant’s autonomy. Space, start-up package, and institutional commitment will be used in evaluating independence. Although it is expected that a national search will have been conducted for this position, candidates may have been promoted within their current institutions. If the Applicant was promoted internally, the Chair must clarify why a national search was not conducted.

4. In addition to describing the Applicant’s qualifications, the Department or Division Chair must explain how the institution will contribute to the Applicant’s research career.

5. United States citizenship is not required.

Current, Pending and Post Award Funding

Applicants are ineligible if, at the time of application, they have combined federal and non-federal funding totaling $500,000 or more in direct costs in either of the first two years (12/1/20- 11/30/21or 12/1/21 - 11/30/22) of the three-year Smith Award. This figure refers to external funding only and not an Applicant’s start-up package, other intramural support or the Smith Award.
Applicants are also ineligible if they were previously or are currently a Principal Investigator or Co-P.I. on an R01, P01, Pioneer Award, New Innovator Award or similar large awards from other federal agencies or national foundations.

Pending Federal and Non-Federal Support

Applicants who have pending R01s or other large applications to the NIH and other agencies are encouraged to submit proposals to the Smith Family Foundation.
If notified on or prior to 9/1/2020 that they have been successful in securing federal or nonfederal grant support which, when combined with other support, totals $500,000 or more in direct costs in either of the first two years of the Smith Award, applications to the Program will be ineligible for review. Notification of funding after 9/1/20 will not impact eligibility for a Smith Family Award.

Review Criteria:

The HMS Foundation Funds Committee advises department heads, mentors, and candidates to be particularly aware of the committee's selection criteria when making nominations:

A technically feasible research proposal
Applicants with the potential to successfully carry out the research described in the proposal
Relevance of the proposal to the mission of the foundation award
Career trajectory
Letter of support and institutional commitment to the applicant
Publications
Current funding

Additional Information, Related Websites, and Proxy Instructions:

HMS Quad faculty only. HMS faculty at the affiliated hospitals must apply through their primary institution.

Contact Information:

For questions about this application, please contact Clare Lamont at clare_lamont@hms.harvard.edu

Search Filters:

Institution

Harvard Medical School (Quad)
Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM)

Position

Assistant Professor

Type of Competition

Limited Submission

Discipline

Basic Science

Type of Award

Career Development