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David & Lucile Packard Foundation Fellowships for Science & Engineering  

General Information

Program Description

The Packard Fellowships for Science and Engineering program invests in future leaders who have the freedom to take risks, explore new frontiers in their fields of study, and follow uncharted paths that may lead to groundbreaking discoveries. The Fellowship Program provides support for highly creative researchers early in their careers; faculty members who are well-established and well-funded are less likely to receive the award. 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 individual research that involves the Fellows, their students, and junior colleagues, rather than extensions or components of large-scale, ongoing research programs.

Limitation

Schools may submit two (2) applications for Penn’s internal competition.

Eligibility

  • Position: Must hold a tenure-track faculty position, typically as an Assistant or Associate Professor.
  • Experience: Must be within the first three years of their faculty career. Initial faculty appointments must have begun no earlier than May 31, 2021, and no later than May 31, 2024.
  • Principal Investigator Status: Must be eligible to serve as Principal Investigators, leading independent research groups with dedicated lab space.
  • Research Focus: Must be engaged in research in the natural and physical sciences or engineering. Those disciplines that will be considered include physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology, astronomy, computer science, earth science, ocean science, and all branches of engineering. The award does not support social science research, clinical research, or research associated with the design and construction of large national facilities such as accelerators and space stations and applied research of direct relevance to national security.  
  • For any sponsored research projects, the applicant must be eligible to serve as Principal Investigator for the project, unless otherwise noted in the LSO. Please see Penn’s PI Eligibility requirements to ensure you are eligible. 

Award Information

  • A total unrestricted research award of $875,000 over five (5) years.
  • Annual Distribution: $175,000 per year, with $17,500 available for administrative costs.
  • Grant Start Date: The grant begins in mid-October of the year it is awarded.
  • Progress Requirement: Funding is subject to reasonable progress in the Fellow’s research work.
  • Flexibility: Fellows have the freedom to use the funds in ways that best advance their research, with minimal restrictions and paperwork.

Limited Submission Opportunities Protocol 

What is a Limited Submission Opportunity? When a funding agency or foundation limits the number of applications Penn can submit, the OVPR manages a two-part internal review process to select the proposal that advances to the funder. 

What is the Review Process for Limited Submissions? The selection process begins at the school level, where candidates are vetted to choose a finalist for the OVPR round. Applicants must follow their home school’s deadlines and submission instructions. A committee of reviewers then recommends candidates to the Senior Vice Provost, who selects the final nominee. 

Where do I find out about limited submission opportunities on the OVPR website? The newly designed website lists LSOs. Use the filters on the left to refine your search. Opportunities are listed in summary form. Click on the title of an opportunity to see the full details. 

How do I apply? When the full detail page for the opportunity is open, click the “APPLY HERE” button at the bottom right of the screen. This starts your application process using InfoReady. Log in with your PennKey credentials. After you submit your application, InfoReady processes it for the first round of review at your school. If selected as the Penn nominee, you will be notified directly and will begin the submission process to the funder with the Office of Research Services and PennERA.