Assistant professors conducting innovative research in the life sciences at Cornell are eligible for the new Schwartz Research Fund Visionary Grant, which will provide $375,000 for innovative, visionary research that opens an important new line of inquiry. Applications are due Dec. 19.

Open to female faculty or faculty who enhance the diversity, equity and inclusion goals of the university, and whose research is in the life sciences, the grant will support and enable a new line of research beyond their current work. Assistant professors at Cornell in Ithaca, Geneva and Cornell Tech who are in years two through five of their appointment are eligible.

The awardee will have previously secured significant extramural funding, such as from the National Science Foundation or National Institutes of Health.

“We are excited to be able to offer this opportunity to support really innovative ideas of our faculty,” said Yael Levitte, associate vice provost for faculty development and diversity.

The Schwartz Research Fund has seeded over a dozen research projects since 2016. This opportunity will provide one early career faculty with significant resources to invest in a new direction at a larger scale.

The opportunity is made possible by support from Joan Poyner ’65 and Ronald H. Schwartz ’65, chemistry majors in the College of Arts and Sciences. They have also endowed the pilot Schwartz Research Fund award – now suspended while the Schwartz Research Fund Visionary Grant is offered.

“We are grateful to the Schwartzes for their continued generosity and commitment to supporting innovative research by our faculty,” Levitte said.

Applications should be sent along with any questions to ofdd@cornell.edu.

Lori Sonken is the communication and program manager for the Office of Faculty Development and Diversity.