Breakthrough Prizes in Fundamental Physics, Life Sciences, and Mathematics: Nomination Deadline

Breakthrough Prizes - Fundamental Physics, Life Sciences, and MathematicsNomination Deadline: April 1, 2022Review by Harvard OSP not requiredPrize Amount: varies; see below

The public nomination period for the 2023 Breakthrough Prizes in Fundamental Physics, Life Sciences, and Mathematics is now open. Nominations can be submitted to recognize major achievements in the following categories:

1. Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics ($3M; one prize) will recognize an individual(s) who has made profound contributions to human knowledge. It is open to all physicists - theoretical, mathematical, and experimental - working on the deepest mysteries of the Universe. The prize can be shared among any number of scientists.
2. New Horizons Prizes in Physics ($100,000, three prizes) will be awarded to promising early-career researchers in the field. Recipients of the New Horizons Prize will generally be no more than 12 years past their PhD. Exceptions will sometimes be made, especially in cases of experimental projects with long lead times.
3. Breakthrough Prizes in Life Sciences ($3M; up to three prizes, with one designated for work contributing to the understanding of Parkinson's Disease & Neurodegenerative Disorders) will be awarded for accomplishments in life sciences, broadly defined. Prizes are individual and should recognize a single person’s contribution to the field of life sciences, with special attention to recent developments. In exceptional circumstances, when a prize is awarded for joint work, the committee may split the prize between more than one person.
4. Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics ($3M; one prize) recognizes a single person’s contribution to the field of mathematics, with special attention to recent developments (in the last 10 years, although earlier contributions may also be considered). In exceptional circumstances, when a prize is awarded for joint work, the committee may split the prize.
5. New Horizons Prizes in Mathematics ($100,000, three prizes) will be awarded to promising early-career researchers in the field who are no more than 10 years past their PhD at the start of the calendar year in which nominations close. This requirement may be relaxed in exceptional circumstances.
6. Mirzakhani New Frontiers Prizes in Mathematics ($50,000, three prizes) will be awarded to early-career women mathematicians who have completed their PhDs within the previous two years.

Nominations:

• Anyone may nominate a candidate during the open nominations period.
• Self-nominations are not allowed.
• A valid nomination will have basic biographical information on the nominee and nominator and at least one third-party letter of recommendation.
• Candidate citations (up to 10) from a specified academic publishing database are required.
• Nominations can be made online at https://breakthroughprize.org/Nominations.

While institutional review is not required, Harvard is interested in tracking nominees and nominators are asked to provide the names of any FAS or SEAS nominees to Erin Hale at erin_hale@fas.harvard.edu.