In the midst of sequester cuts and years of stagnation in federal funding for science and medical research, government research grants are becoming harder to come by. But there may be some hope for younger scientists.
The Blavatnik Family Foundation and New York Academy of Sciences have launched the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists program, which will grant cash prizes of $250,000 to 3 promising scientific researchers aged 42 and younger each year. The new awards are thought to be the largest unrestricted prize of their kind.
"In contrast to the proliferation of awards aimed at renowned senior scientists, the Blavatnik Awards will recognize the value of empowering scientists when they are young and can benefit from early recognition," said Torsten Wiesel, Nobel Laureate, president emeritus of Rockefeller University, and chairman emeritus of the Academy, in a news release.
The awards program will solicit nominations from approximately 300 leading research universities, independent research institutions, and academic medical centers, which will be able to nominate an outstanding young faculty member in one of three categories: physical sciences and engineering, chemistry, or life sciences. Nominations will be accepted for the first-time awards program--to be held in September 2014--from October to December 2013.
- read the press release