The Philomathia Prize
Internal — University of California Berkeley only
The Philomathia Prize supports early-career UC Berkeley faculty pursuing highly original new, extended, or ongoing research to encourage creativity and important advances in their academic fields.
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Funder: University of California Berkeley
Due Dates: October 15, 2026, 11:59 p.m. PDT (Applications) | November 12, 2026 (College Chair nominations) | December 15, 2026 (Dean endorsements and rankings)
Funding Amounts: One $200,000 prize annually; funds must be spent within three years
Summary: Supports exceptional early-career UC Berkeley faculty pursuing highly original new, extended, or ongoing research.
Key Information: The 2026–27 cycle is limited to non-STEM disciplines and eligible Assistant Professors or recently tenured Associate Professors.
Description
The Philomathia Prize recognizes exceptional early-career faculty at the University of California, Berkeley who demonstrate distinction and promise in their academic fields. Established in 2021 through an endowment gift from the Philomathia Foundation, it supports highly original inquiry with the potential to yield important advances. The Office of the Vice Provost for the Faculty administers the application and review process.
The prize supports new research projects, extensions of existing projects, and research already underway. It aims to encourage creativity and future achievement at a critical stage in academic careers, reflecting the foundation’s commitment to improving the human condition through innovative individuals and ideas. Awarded annually to one recipient, the prize alternates between STEM and non-STEM disciplines; the 2026–27 cycle supports non-STEM work.
