Funder: David & Lucile Packard Foundation
Due Dates: March 15, 2025 (Nomination) | April 20, 2025 (Application) | October 15, 2025 (Award Announcement)
Funding Amounts: $875,000 total per Fellow over 5 years ($175,000/year; 20 awards annually)
Summary: Flexible, high-value funding for early-career faculty in science and engineering to pursue innovative, high-impact research at invited U.S. institutions.
Key Information: Limited to faculty within first 3 years at 1 of 50 invited institutions; internal nomination required.
Description
The Packard Fellowships for Science and Engineering provide substantial, flexible funding to the nation’s most promising early-career scientists and engineers. The program is designed to enable bold, creative research by removing many traditional funding restrictions and paperwork requirements. Each year, 20 Fellows are selected from 50 invited U.S. universities, receiving $875,000 over five years to advance their research in the natural and physical sciences or engineering. Fellows are encouraged to pursue high-risk, high-reward ideas and to address complex scientific challenges with fresh perspectives. The program has a strong track record of supporting future leaders in science and engineering, with past Fellows earning major honors such as Nobel Prizes and election to the National Academies.
Due Dates
- January 31, 2025: Nomination requests sent to university presidents.
- March 15, 2025: Deadline for invited institutions to submit up to two nominations.
- April 20, 2025: All application materials and reference letters due via the Packard Fellows Online system.
- October 15, 2025: Awards announced; fellowship period begins.
- Annual: Research progress report due October 15 each year.
- Final: University’s financial report due December 31 of the final fellowship year.
See full award timeline
Funding Amount
- Total Award: $875,000 per Fellow, distributed over five years ($175,000/year).
- Of this, $17,500/year is allocated to the university for administrative costs; $157,500/year is for the Fellow’s research.
- Number of Awards: 20 new Fellows selected annually.
Eligibility
- Career Stage: Early-career faculty (within first three years of initial faculty appointment; for 2025, appointment must have begun between May 31, 2022 and May 31, 2025).
- Institution: Must be a faculty member at one of 50 invited U.S. institutions. See full list of invited institutions.
- Discipline: Research in natural and physical sciences or engineering (including physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology, astronomy, computer science, earth science, ocean science, and all branches of engineering).
- Not Eligible: Social sciences, clinical research, research tied to large national facilities, or applied research directly relevant to national security.
- Nomination: Each invited institution may nominate up to two faculty members per year. Self-nominations are not accepted; internal selection processes vary by institution.
Application Process
- Internal Nomination: Contact your university’s Office of Sponsored Research or Department Chair to learn about your institution’s internal nomination process.
- Nomination Submission: University president submits up to two nominations to the Packard Foundation by March 15.
- Application Access: Nominees receive login credentials for the online application system.
- Application Materials:
- Online application form (contact info, affiliations, background, honors, current support, publications)
- Research statement (max 1,400 words, plus optional figures/references)
- Four letters of recommendation:
- One from department head (or both, if joint appointment)
- Three from external referees (at least one with no supervisory/collaborative relationship)
- Submission Deadline: All materials, including reference letters, must be submitted by April 20.
- Review: Fellowship Advisory Panel reviews applications; Board of Trustees approves final selections.
- Award Notification: Recipients announced October 15.
Full application guidelines (PDF)
Additional Information
- Use of Funds: Maximum flexibility; funds may be used in any way that advances the Fellow’s research.
- Reporting: Annual narrative progress reports and a final financial report are required.
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Additional support may be available for activities that increase diversity and representation in science and engineering.
- Fellowship Meetings: Fellows are invited to annual meetings and expected to present their research.
External Links
Contact Information