Brief Description:

The Regeneron Prize for Creative innovation recognizes and honors excellence in biomedical science conducted by graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

Description:

The Regeneron Prize for Creative innovation recognizes and honors excellence in biomedical science conducted by graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. One graduate student and one postdoctoral fellow are selected to receive the Regeneron Prize for Creative Innovation each year. Each winner receives a check for $50,000, which can be used in any way the winner chooses. In addition, winners will receive a $5,000 donation to their home institution to help support the institution’s seminar series. Finalists will be awarded $5,000, and will be asked to travel to Regeneron (at our expense) for the final on-site prize competition. Approximately 8-10 applicants for each prize will be selected for finalist status.

The research that is proposed is not necessarily meant to be conducted, nor is the prize meant as a funding mechanism for research. The prize is a cash prize to the trainee, and the trainee may use the money in any way he or she wishes. It is a personal prize for the personal use of the awardee.

The dream project proposal is a mechanism for evaluating a student's scientific clarity, elegance, precision, and creativity. There is no need for preliminary data (although it isn't prohibited), and there is no need for the student to feel limited by time or resources for the research proposed. "Out of the box" thinking is not only acceptable, but encouraged.

The proposal may wish to include a background/rationale section, a specific aims section, an experimental design/methodology section, and a caveats/conclusions section (similar to a research proposal one might prepare for a funding source). The proposal can assume that applicants have access to the rich resources and technologies available at cutting edge biotechnology companies such as Regeneron. This includes access to most equipment used in biomedical research, any necessary supplies or reagents, and advanced genetic and/or protein engineering capabilities. Some applicants may be invited to conduct their research, or related research, at Regeneron. There is, however, absolutely no requirement that they accept this invitation - the prizes will be awarded before any such offers would be made. The intent of the proposal isn't to conduct the research. It is to evaluate the applicants' research prowess.

PLEASE NOTE: If nominated, proposals submitted to Regeneron will not be confidential and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc, (and its affiliates) will not be restricted from pursuing its own research, development and commercial activities, which Regeneron may have previously initiated or may initiate in the future, including, without limitation, activities in areas relating to the subject matter of your proposal. Applicants are discouraged from disclosing or including more advanced and possibly pre-patented ideas. Applicants should discuss their proposal submission with their faculty mentor/PI before submission.

Application Information:

Each institution may nominate no more than 2 graduate students and 2 postdoctoral fellows. FAS postdoctoral fellows may apply for the nomination by submitting a brief pre-proposal online by February 4, 2019 by 5:00PM by following the Apply button at the top right corner of this page. Applicants will be asked to submit the following:

Research Proposal (two single-spaced pages) describing a "dream" project within the field of biomedical science. As a guideline, applicants should imagine what research they would do if they had access to any resource or technology. Applicants should include a description of the design of the project as well as its potential to make an impact in biomedicine. References do not need to be included within the two-page limit, but any figures, etc. should be. The proposal should clearly define a specific experiment or series of experiments, and include a rationale, basic methodology/design (citing literature is fine), and discussion of how the experiment's results would advance the field.
Acknowledgement signed by your department chair or area chair and co-signed by your faculty PI/mentor. This should be a brief, one paragraph statement signed by your department chair acknowledging the nomination. If selected as a nominee, your department chair will need to sign your nomination form and email the materials to the sponsor.
Current CV

Eligibility Criteria:

This competition is open to FAS and SEAS postdoctoral fellows within the field of biomedical science.

GSAS students interested in the graduate student nomination should contact Sheila Thomas at sthomas@fas.harvard.edu for information on seeking the Harvard nomination.

Additional Information, Related Websites, and Proxy Instructions:

Questions about this opportunity may be directed to Erin Hale (erin_hale@fas.harvard.edu, 617-496-5252) or Susan Gomes (sgomes@fas.harvard.edu, 617-496-9448).

Search Filters:

Institution

Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Position

Postdoc/Fellow

Type of Competition

Limited Submission

Discipline

Basic Science
Clinical Science
Engineering
Life Science
Translational Science
Other

Type of Award

Prize/Award

Begin Accepting Applications Date:

1/14/2019

Deadline Date (EST Time Zone):

2/04/2019 5:00 PM