Sponsor
Schmidt Futures
Sponsor deadline:
Internal deadline:
Deadline projected/TBC
Award Details
The Schmidt Science Polymath program aims to encourage the best “polymath” scientists to expand their research portfolios by exploring a substantive disciplinary shift soon after achieving tenure.
The Polymath program will make long-term bets on recently-tenured professors (in the last 3 years) with remarkable track records, promising futures, and a desire to explore interdisciplinary research. Each professor will be awarded $500,000 per year, paid through their institution, for up to five years to help support a research group through talent, such as three to four students or postdocs, and resources. These grants are intended to make possible the exploration of new ideas across disciplines, using emerging technologies to test risky theories that may not otherwise receive funding or support. They are not intended to relieve the researcher of pursuing other grants to continue their mainstream work, nor to be large enough to fully support a modern lab.
Nominations are by invitation to the VP Research and Innovation, and for 2023 since UBC is limited to two nominees at the initial stage, VPRI is coordinating an internal selection process through ADRs.
ADRs may suggest up to TWO nominees per Faculty, including:
- A brief rationale (200 words)
- Contact info, the nominee’s primary website link, and the nominee’s primary field of research
- Current UBC CV
We are requesting preliminary nominations from Faculties by 9 am on Monday August 14 (files to be submitted to stephanie.oneill@ubc.ca via email).
A central committee will review these and select the institution's two nominations for submission.
Once submitted and if confirmed by the agency, nominees will be invited directly to submit full applications by October 17 (TBC). Candidates will have VPRI support in finalizing their materials, which includes a detailed nomination form and short CV.
Questions? Contact Kevin McCartney, Award Nomination Development Officer kevin.mccartney@ubc.ca