The Star Family Challenge for Promising Scientific Research is open to Harvard faculty in the natural or social sciences. Once a year, a selection committee of faculty members from multiple disciplines will choose projects (up to a maximum of five annually) for awards ranging in size from $20,000 to $200,000. High-risk, high-impact projects with an interdisciplinary focus are sought, and joint submissions by researchers from the FAS and other parts of the University are welcome. 

Award recipients will present and discuss their projects with a range of scholars in multiple disciplines at a Challenge event, April 12 @ 3pm, prior to receipt of funding. Award recipients will also be required to submit a one year progress report.

Applications are confidential and will be reviewed by the selection committee only. To apply, please submit a one- to two-page proposal (one inch margins, 11 point font or larger) that briefly addresses the following:

1. Your name (and possible collaborators), departmental affiliation(s), and project title.

2. What questions are you trying to answer in this project? What problem are you addressing and why is it important?

3. How will you approach the problem, and how does your approach differ from others? How does your experience enable you to approach the problem in an innovative way?

4. What kind of impact could your project have? How will you measure results?

5. Who will be involved in your project, and what resources will be required? Please provide rough budget estimates for (a) personnel, (b) equipment, and (c) other.

Proposals should be submitted in PDF format via email to Star Family Challenge. 

Deadline to submit application: Monday, February 29, 2016 @ 5pm