Overview
Established in 2021 through a generous endowment gift from the Philomathia Foundation, the Philomathia Prize is intended to recognize exceptional early career faculty members at the University of California, Berkeley from any discipline who demonstrate great distinction and promise in their academic field. The Prize consists of an award of $200,000 to be used at the discretion of the Prize recipient.
In creating this award, the Philomathia Foundation seeks to inspire faculty in the early stages of their careers, and enable them to pursue the kind of highly original inquiry that has the potential to yield the most important advances. An award of this magnitude will recognize the promise, creativity and future potential of faculty at a critical time in their careers.
The Prize will be awarded annually and will alternate between science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines and non-STEM disciplines each year. All disciplines will be eligible for the first 2021-2022 Prize cycle. Prize recipients are allotted three years to expend their funding.
Candidates may propose new/extended research projects or propose support of research they are already engaged in. The main criteria for selection is strength of current research, but outside awards and prizes, service to campus, and teaching will also be considered by the committee.
The Philomathia Foundation has been one of Berkeley’s most generous partners for nearly two decades and is dedicated to improving the human condition through the support of innovative, forward-thinking individuals and ideas. Please see Philomathia Center at Berkeley and The Philomathia Foundation for more information on the foundation's programs.
Eligibility
Eligibility is limited to non-tenured, tenure-track Assistant Professors as well as Associate Professors and Professors of Law that have received tenure within the last four years. Associate Professors that are undergoing review to become a full Professor, or whose cases will be submitted for review in FY22, are not eligible.
Application Process
The application process consists of multiple stages: First, a brief application submitted by the applicant to their Department Chair or Professional School Dean by October 22, 2021. If nominated for the next round, the applicant will be notified on November 1, 2021, and asked to submit a more developed proposal due November 12, 2021.
December 15, 2021 is the deadline for Deans to submit their endorsements and rankings of the applications, up to the maximum allotment per Dean, to the Office of the Vice Provost for the Faculty. The Prize winner will be announced in March, and funds will be transfered later that August.
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS, October 1, 2021.
FAQs
For additional information about the application requirements, deadlines, and other details, please refer to the FAQs section at the bottom of this page.
Questions may be sent to PhilomathiaPrize@berkeley.edu