For early career faculty to have the freedom to take risks, explore new frontiers in their fields of study, and follow uncharted paths.
The Packard Fellowships for Science and Engineering program supports promising early-career faculty in the natural and physical sciences and engineering. Designed to provide flexible, unrestricted funding, the fellowship enables bold, creative research that pushes the boundaries of discovery. The foundation prioritizes high-risk, high-reward projects led by individual researchers rather than extensions of large-scale initiatives.
Strong candidates are curious, innovative thinkers who take intellectual risks and explore new ideas. The program supports research in fields such as physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology, astronomy, computer science, earth and ocean sciences, and engineering.
The fellowship does not support research in the social sciences, clinical research, the design and construction of large national facilities (e.g., accelerators, space stations), applied research directly relevant to national security, or fields with substantial existing funding.
