Star-Friedman Challenge for Promising Scientific Research

The application submission window for the 2024 Star-Friedman Challenge was January 10, 2024, through February 15, 2024, at 5 pm EST. View the announcement from FAS Dean Hopi Hoekstra here. Applicants will be notified of their results by the end of March 2024.

 

 

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Program Description:

The Star-Friedman Challenge for Promising Scientific Research offers opportunities for eligible faculty to seek support for new work in their research programs within the life, physical and social sciences. There are no limitations on the subject areas that may be considered, and programs that take the investigators in directions that are new for them (a “forty-five degree” turn) are encouraged. 

Established in 2013 by a generous gift to Harvard University at the suggestion of James A. Star, AB (1983), the program expanded in the 2018-19 academic year through a gift from Joshua Friedman, AB (1976), MBA (1980), JD (1982) and Beth Friedman to invite proposal submissions from Harvard Medical School (HMS), Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in addition to the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) and the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS). The Star-Friedman Challenge was previously supported by immediate-use funding; in 2020, the donors made generous new gifts to permanently endow the Challenge, ensuring that it can continue to support cutting-edge research at Harvard in perpetuity. 

Each year, award recipients are invited to refine their projects and discuss their ideas with the Harvard community at a Challenge event. A recording of the 2023 event is available for viewing. 

10th Anniversary: Star-Friedman Challenge for Promising Scientific Research

The Challenge for Promising Scientific Research: a Retrospective

 

Award Information:


Ordinarily, awards will range from $80,000-$150,000 for direct expenses. In truly exceptional circumstances, the committee may consider larger awards. Star-Friedman Challenge winners receive not only a monetary award, but access to resources at the Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning to support the development of both their visual and oral presentations for the public communication of their research at the annual Challenge event. Approximately five awards are made annually.
 

Eligibility Requirements:


This competition is open to ladder faculty members in the participating schools (HMS, HSDM, Harvard Chan School, FAS, and SEAS). In HMS and HSDM, this program is open to ladder faculty members (assistant professors, associate professors, and professors) who have primary appointments in the basic and social science departments AND whose laboratories are located on the HMS Quadrangle or at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. In the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, eligible PIs include primary Harvard Chan School ladder faculty whose research operation is based at the Harvard Chan School. This program welcomes applications for both single- and multi-investigator projects from a broad range of fields and perspectives in the life, physical, and social sciences. To qualify for a collaborative award, a project must list at least two investigators who meet these eligibility criteria. For multi-investigator projects, separate budget requests should be submitted for each lab. Only investigators based at the participating schools may request and administer this funding.


Please see a list of previous award recipients here.
 

Application Guidelines:


Applications must be submitted through the Harvard University Funding Portal. To apply, please submit:

  1. A one- to two-page proposal (one-inch margins, 11-point font or larger, PDF format) that briefly addresses the following in language accessible to a non-specialist audience:
    • What questions are you trying to answer in this project? What problem are you addressing and why is it important?
    • 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?
    • What kind of impact could your project have? How will you measure results?
    • Who will be involved in your project, and what resources will be required?
  2. A one-page appendix with graphics and/or references (optional, PDF format). This may be included in addition to the one- to two-page project proposal.
  3. Applicants must also submit a two-page biosketch (PDF format). There is no prescribed format for presenting this information, though many applicants submit an abbreviated NIH or NSF biosketch. In addition, applicants may submit a two-page biosketch for any collaborators involved in the project.
  4. REVISED IN 2024 – PLEASE READ CAREFULLY. A detailed budget (PDF format) including a 15% Assessment/Overhead* rate (applicants from all participating schools should use this rate). Awards typically range from $80,000-$150,000 in direct expenses. There is no prescribed format for presenting this information. For multi-investigator projects, separate budget requests should be submitted for each lab. Faculty are encouraged to work closely with their grant/financial administrators to develop a budget. Applicants may request funding to support any expenses related to the cost of performing research, over whatever time period makes the most sense. The award period will begin on July 1. While this funding does not expire, the committee will be looking to support projects that can attain demonstrable results within one year. Longer-term projects will need to show milestones of success upon a one-year review.

* Assessments are categorically waived on the following classes of funds: Financial aid or other student support; grants for construction; grants for equipment and instrumentation; and assessments that are limited or prohibited by law or other governmental restrictions. Capital equipment expenditures on sponsored awards are also exempt from this policy. Capital Expenditures purchased with Restricted Gifts (Funds 3xxxxxx) will continue to be assessed.

 

Evaluation Criteria:

Applications will be evaluated for their significance, innovation, potential impact, and the ability of the applicant or team of applicants to successfully carry out the project. In 2024, the review committee particularly encourages proposals that represent a new direction for the PI (a “forty-five degree” turn). Successful applications will clearly address these points in a manner accessible to the entire review committee, which draws its members from a broad range of disciplines. Highly technical proposals written for an audience of specialists are not likely to succeed in this competition.

Dr. Charles Alcock, Donald H. Menzel Professor of Astrophysics, will chair the 2024 Review Committee. Other committee members represent a range of disciplines. These reviewers were selected for their broad perspective and demonstrated capability for evaluating work in multiple fields of study. Because of the diverse nature of this committee, project descriptions should be written in language accessible to reviewers from a wide variety of fields.

2024 Review Committee:

Charles Alcock (Committee Chair), Donald H. Menzel Professor of Astrophysics, Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Richard Born, Professor of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School
Mark Hatzenbuehler, Professor of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Joscha Legewie, Professor of Sociology, Faculty of Arts & Sciences
Quan Lu, Cecil K. and Philip Drinker Professor of Environmental Physiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Masahiro Morii, Donner Professor of Science, Faculty of Arts and Science 
Daniel Nocera, Patterson Rockwood Professor of Energy, Faculty of Arts and Sciences

Reporting:

Award recipients may be requested to submit a one-year progress report.

Questions?

Please see our FAQs.

  • 2023 Star-Friedman Challenge Award Recipients

    2023 Star-Friedman Challenge Award Recipients | photographed by Tony Rinaldo

  • Professor Melani Cammett at the 2023 Star-Friedman Challenge Event

    Professor Melani Cammett at the 2023 Star-Friedman Challenge Event | photographed by Tony Rinaldo

  • Professor Matteo Mitrano at the 2023 Star-Friedman Challenge Event

    Professor Matteo Mitrano at the 2023 Star-Friedman Challenge Event | photographed by Tony Rinaldo

  • Professor Christina Warinner at the 2023 Star-Friedman Challenge Event

    Professor Christina Warinner at the 2023 Star-Friedman Challenge Event

  • Professor Richard Liu at the 2023 Star-Friedman Challenge Event

    Professor Richard Liu at the 2023 Star-Friedman Challenge Event | photographed by Tony Rinaldo

  • Professor Julia Mundy at the 2023 Star-Friedman Challenge Event

    Professor Julia Mundy at the 2023 Star-Friedman Challenge Event | photographed by Tony Rinaldo

  • Professor Vinothan Manoharan at the 2023 Star-Friedman Challenge Event

    Professor Vinothan Manoharan at the 2023 Star-Friedman Challenge Event | photographed by Tony Rinaldo

  • James A. Star and Joshua Friedman with President Bacow at the 10th Anniversary Celebration

    James A. Star and Joshua Friedman with President Bacow at the 10th Anniversary Celebration | photographed by Tony Rinaldo

  • Professors Charles Alcock and Paola Arlotta in a conversation at the 10th anniversary celebration

    Professors Charles Alcock and Paola Arlotta in a conversation at the 10th anniversary celebration | photographed by Tony Rinald

  • Star-Friedman Awardees

    2022 Challenge event

  • Presentation of Maxim Prigozhin, Assistant Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology and of Applied Physics, at 2022 Challenge event

    Presentation of Maxim Prigozhin, Assistant Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology and of Applied Physics, at 2022 Challenge

  • Noel Michele Holbrook, Charles Bullard Professor of Forestry, Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, presents project she is conducting with Fulton Rockwell, Research Scientist, at 2022 Challenge event

    Noel Michele Holbrook presents project she is conducting with Fulton Rockwell at the 2022 Challenge event

  • Stratos Idreos, Associate Professor of Computer Science, presenting at the 2022 Challenge event

    Stratos Idreos, Associate Professor of Computer Science, presenting at the 2022 Challenge event

  • Image from presentation at 2022 Challenge event by Kara McKinley, Assistant Professor of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology

    Image from presentation at 2022 Challenge event by Kara McKinley, Assistant Professor of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology

  • Jarad Mason, Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, presents project he is conducting with Daniel Nocera, Patterson Rockwood Professor of Energy, at 2022 Challenge event

    Jarad Mason presents project he is conducting with Daniel Nocera at the 2022 Challenge event

  • Kaighin McColl, Assistant Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences and Environmental Science and Engineering, presents project.

    Kaighin McColl, Assistant Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences and Environmental Science and Engineering, presents project.

  • Andrew Davies, Assistant Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, presents project at 2021 Challenge event.

    Andrew Davies, Assistant Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, presents project at 2021 Challenge event.

  • Julia Mundy, Assistant Professor of Physics, presents project at 2021 Challenge event.

    Julia Mundy, Assistant Professor of Physics, presents project at 2021 Challenge event.

  • Ya-Chieh Hsu, Alvin and Esta Star Associate Professor of SCRB, presents project at 2021 Challenge event.

    Ya-Chieh Hsu, Alvin and Esta Star Associate Professor of SCRB, presents project at 2021 Challenge event.

  • Sophie Helaine, Assistant Professor of Microbiology, presents project at 2021 Challenge event.

    Sophie Helaine, Assistant Professor of Microbiology, presents project at 2021 Challenge event.

  • Roger Fu, Assistant Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences, presents project at 2021 Challenge event.

    Roger Fu, Assistant Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences, presents project at 2021 Challenge event.