Established in 2013, the Stony Brook Foundation Discovery Fund supports high-quality, discovery-driven research in engineering and the physical and life sciences. The aspirant fundraising goal for the Discovery Fund is $50 million over 10 years, to be held in a quasi-endowment managed and administered by the Stony Brook Foundation.
PURPOSE AND FOCUS:
In its inaugural year, the Discovery Fund will make a $100,000 award to a scholar in the STEM disciplines whose research project embraces risk and innovation and embodies the potential of discovery driven research—the catalyst for scientific advances. This type of high-risk, high-reward research enhances all aspects of campus culture, creating an environment where the relentless pursuit of knowledge informs the classroom and laboratory.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE:
In keeping with Stony Brook’s intention of supporting early-career faculty, the inaugural year competition will be open to tenure-track Assistant Professors as well as faculty who are no more than five years beyond tenure and promotion at the Associate Professor level.
APPLICATION AND REVIEW:
As appointed by the President of Stony Brook University, the Vice President for Research will lead the proposal review process. Initial review of concept papers will involve a multidisciplinary panel of SUNY Stony Brook Distinguished Professors, after which a small subset of applicants will be invited to submit full proposals.
Review of full proposals will involve both written and oral presentations (i.e., TED-style talks). The oral presentations will be made before a live audience of faculty, staff, community members and students and streamed live, as well as archived, on the web.
The written and oral presentations will be reviewed by a second panel of recognized distinguished scientists from across the country. Information about the finalists and panelists will be posted on the Discovery Fund website.
TYPE OF SUPPORT:
Discovery Fund awards can be used for personnel, materials and supplies, equipment, and other expenses. As the Discovery Fund increases, the scope of projects and size of awards will expand.
To learn more about the program, view the Stony Brook University Full Description or visit http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/discoveryfund/index.html