Funding-Limited Submission – Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in the Life Sciences, Physical Sciences and Engineering, and Chemistry; November 25, 2014

The national faculty competition of the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists recognizes the country’s most promising young faculty-rank scientists and engineers in the disciplinary categories of Life Sciences, Physical Sciences and Engineering, and Chemistry. One Blavatnik Laureate from each of the three disciplinary categories will received $250,000 in unrestricted funds.

To be eligible, a nominee must:

• have been born in or after 1973,
• hold a doctoral degree (PhD, DPhil, MD, DDS, DVM, etc.),
• currently hold a faculty position at an invited institution in the United States, and
• have made significant research contributions to the life sciences, physical sciences and engineering, and/or chemistry during his/her independent career as a principal investigator.

The University of Kentucky has been invited to nominate up to three candidates, one in each of the three categories (Life Sciences, Physical Sciences and Engineering, and Chemistry). The nominator must be the institution’s President, Provost, or their official designee. Each candidate works directly with the nominator and does not fill out the Nomination Form him/herself. In addition to the online application form for each candidate, the nominator submits the names and email addresses of two recommenders who are contacted and asked to submit online letters of recommendation. Access the 2015 Blavatnik National Guidelines to view detailed, frequently asked questions, and additional information about this funding opportunity.

The Vice President for Research has been asked to coordinate UK’s nomination process. Individuals interested in submitting to this program are to send the following material electronically to the Office of the Vice President for Research at limitedsubmissions@uky.edu and a copy to their Associate Dean for Research by Tuesday, October 21, 2014:

· Candidate’s name, date of birth, primary department appointment

· Category (Life Sciences; Physical Sciences & Engineering; Chemistry) and specific discipline (use the sponsor’s eligible disciplines list)

· Rationale for nomination (1/2 page) – a statement of why the candidate should be selected based on his/her strong record of significant independent scientific contributions, early career success, and promise of sustained or accelerated progress with respect to the criteria of quality, impact, novelty and promise.

· Research summary (1/2 page).- a statement of the most significant scientific contributions and research.

· Biographical sketch (4 page maximum).

The Vice President for Research will appoint a committee to review the materials and make recommendations as to the University's nominees. All applicants will be notified of the results. Questions about the submission process may be sent to Ms. Annette Evans in the Office of the Vice President for Research (alevan4@email.uky.edu or 257-1663.)

Nominations for the 2015 competition open Tuesday, September 30 and close Tuesday, November 25. The candidates selected for nomination will be contacted to provide the required application material in sufficient time for the closing deadline.