2016 Faculty Scholars Competition
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, & the Simons Foundation

Faculty Scholars will apply molecular, genetic, computational and theoretical approaches to fundamental problems in diverse areas of biology. Those conducting research at the interface of the biological and physical sciences are especially encouraged to apply, as are physician scientists and others studying biological questions emerging from and applicable to global human health problems, including malaria, tuberculosis, HIV, and other diseases that disproportionately affect individuals living in low resource settings. Clinical trials and research on health education, health care delivery, or health services are not eligible.

Faculty Scholars are expected to demonstrate a combination of several of the following attributes that distinguish them from other highly competent scientists in their field:

• They identify and pursue significant biological questions in a rigorous and deep manner.
• They push their chosen research field into new areas of inquiry.
• They develop new tools, methods, and resources that enable creative experimental approaches to biological questions, bringing to bear, when necessary, concepts or techniques from other disciplines.
• They forge links between basic biology or physical sciences and medicine.
• They demonstrate great promise of future original and innovative contributions.

Eligibility

• PhD and/or MD (or the equivalent)
• Tenured or tenure-track position as an assistant professor or higher academic rank
• More than 4, but no more than 10, years of post-training, professional experience. To meet this requirement, the applicant’s post-training, professional experience must have begun no earlier than June 1, 2005, and no later than July 1, 2011.
• Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-PI on at least one active, nationally competitive grant with an initial term of two or more years at some point from April 1, 2013 through July 1, 2015. Career development grants qualify. Multi-investigator grants may qualify.

Award

The sponsor anticipates making up to 70 five-year awards, with new competitions every two and a half years. Each awardee will receive a five-year, non-renewable grant of between $100,000 and $400,000 per year for five years. Actual award amounts will be based on several factors, including awardee's current external grant support. Eligible grant expenses include:

• Partial salary for faculty (up to 3 months and no more than $70,000)
• Salary for lab personnel
• Equipment
• Supplies
• Travel
•  Publications

Awardees must devote at least 50% of their total effort to the direct conduct of research.

Important Dates

ASAP                           Notify ORSP of intent to submit
July 21, 2015              UM applications due to ORSP
July 28, 2015              Applications due to HHMI
August 4, 2015           Reference Letters due to HHMI
April 2016                  Semi-finalists notified

The application must include the following documents:

• A curriculum vita, including a bibliography and a list of current research support. Must use the 2016 Faculty Scholar template provided.
• An overview of the applicant’s most significant research achievements (250 words or less).
• A summary of the applicant’s ongoing and planned research program (1,500 words or less; references and up to one page of figures are not counted toward the 1,500-word limit).
• A statement of the contribution that the applicant is uniquely poised to make to his/her research field, and, where appropriate, potential to result in new approaches to human health problems that disproportionately affect individuals living in low resource settings (not more than 250 words).
• Statements distinguishing the applicant’s current work from his or her mentors and another summarizing the applicant’s current collaborative efforts (each not to exceed 100 words).
• PDF files of three selected publications that report the applicant’s most important scientific contributions, with a focus on the most recent five years, as well as a paragraph describing the significance of each publication.

Additional notes:

• Two reference letters will be required for each applicant.
• Applicants will not receive any written comments on submitted applications.
• Applicants are asked not to embed movies in the uploaded documents included in the application.

More information:

• Faculty Scholars Competition Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) [http://www.hhmi.org/sites/default/files/Programs/Scholars/faq-faculty-scholars.pdf]
• Faculty Scholars Components of Application document (http://www.hhmi.org/sites/default/files/Programs/Scholars/application-components-faculty-scholars.pdf)