Fund Details
Smith Family Award for Excellence in Biomedical Research 2018 - FAS Competition
Award Duration
3 years
Maximum Award Amount
$300,000
Sponsor Deadline
7/27/2018

Brief Description:

The Smith Family Award for Excellence in Biomedical Research supports promising junior faculty who are beginning to establish their own independent laboratories and research programs.  The mission of the program is to launch the careers of newly independent biomedical researchers with the ultimate goal of achieving medical breakthroughs.  Applications focus on all fields of biomedical science and may also be submitted by investigators in physics, chemistry and engineering.

Description:

The Smith Family Award for Excellence in Biomedical Research supports promising junior faculty who are beginning to establish their own independent laboratories and research programs.  The mission of the program is to launch the careers of newly independent biomedical researchers with the ultimate goal of achieving medical breakthroughs.  Applications focus on all fields of biomedical science and may also be submitted by investigators in physics, chemistry and engineering.

Application Information:

This is a limited submission opportunity and FAS will select two nominees to submit full proposals to the foundation. FAS pre-proposals must be submitted by June 21, 2018 by 5:00PM by clicking the Apply button on the top right corner of this page. 

This competition is enabled to allow administers to apply on behalf of applicants as proxies. Before beginning an application, proxies will be asked to locate their Principal Investigator in HUFP. If your PI is not registered in HUFP, please ask them to create their profile using their HarvardKey. Proxies should never "Add User" in HUFP.

Pre-proposals must include the following materials uploaded as separate documents:
  1. Description of proposed research (Limit two pages. A third page may be used for references and graphics.)
  2. Nomination letter from department chair. The letter should:
    • Confirm the applicant’s faculty appointment, date training was completed, any leaves of absence, and research independence
    • Discuss the applicant’s qualifications to conduct the proposed research and potential to carry out independent research
    • Provide any comments regarding strength of Applicant’s research project and/or academic accomplishments
  3. Biosketch (current NIH format)
Nominees will submit full proposals to the foundation by July 27, 2018.  All full proposals must be submitted to the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) for review at least five business days in advance of the sponsor deadline.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Applicants must be within the first two years of their first independent faculty appointment. Eligible candidates will have received this appointment on or between July 1, 2016 and December 1, 2018.  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.
  • Applicants are not eligible if they have combined federal and non-federal funding totaling $500,000 or more in direct costs at any time during either of the first two years of Smith Family Award funding (December 1, 2018 through November 30, 2020).  This figure refers to external funding only and not an applicant’s start-up package, other intramural support or the Smith Award.
  • Applicants are not eligible if they were previously or are currently a PI or co-PI on an NIH R01, P01, Pioneer Award, New Innovator Award or equivalents from federal agencies such as the NSF or DOD.  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. 

Review Criteria:

The Smith Family Award Scientific Review Committee uses the following criteria to evaluate applications.
  • A clearly stated hypothesis, based on sound precedents and supported by relevant literature
  • Objectives that are technically feasible and personnel who are qualified to carry out the proposed research
  • Project’s scientific merit and the applicant’s familiarity with the pertinent literature and the work of other investigators in his/her field of study
  • Applicant’s potential to carry out independent research and clear ability to develop a sound research plan
  • Applicant’s level of independence and Institutional commitment to her/him

Additional Information, Related Websites, and Proxy Instructions:

This competition is enabled to allow administers to apply on behalf of applicants as proxies. Before beginning an application, proxies will be asked to locate their Principal Investigator in HUFP. If your PI is not registered in HUFP, please ask them to create their profile using their HarvardKey. Proxies should never "Add User" in HUFP.

Additional information can be found on the Smith Family Award website. 

Recent FAS recipients of the Smith Family Award include Mansi Srivastava (OEB 2016), Ya-Chieh Hsu (SCRB 2014), David Cox (MCB 2013), Ethan Garner (MCB 2012), Emily Balskus (CCB 2011), John Rinn (SCRB 2008), and Tobias Ritter (CCB 2008). 

Please direct any questions regarding this award or the nomination process to Erin Hale (617-496-5252, erin_hale@fas.harvard.edu) or Susan Gomes (496-9448, susan_gomes@harvard.edu). 

Search Filters:
Institution
  • Faculty of Arts and Sciences
    Position
    • Assistant Professor
      Type of Competition
      • Limited Submission
        Discipline
        • Basic Science
        • Clinical Science
        • Engineering
        • Life Science
          Type of Award
          • Career Development
          • Early Career
          • Research
            Begin Accepting Applications Date:
            6/05/2018
            Deadline Date (EST Time Zone):
            6/21/2018 5:00 PM