Limited Submission Opportunity: Schmidt Science Polymaths 2026
URL: https://www.schmidtsciences.org/schmidt-science-polymaths/
OBJECTIVES
The Schmidt Science Polymaths program aims to encourage the best “polymath” scientists to expand their research portfolios by exploring a substantive disciplinary shift after achieving tenure or equivalent status. Polymaths is intended for awardees to explore new ideas across disciplines that use new technologies and insights that are generally too new or risky to garner regular support.
Specifically, Polymaths looks for the most promising and innovative researchers who have a track record of thinking across disciplinary boundaries and who have recently achieved tenure (within the past 3 years). Focusing on the 3 year period after tenure or tenure-equivalency enables the award to reach professors at a time in their careers when academic freedom is maximized but often not fully realized. Academic freedom is directly related to position permanence in this context, and is therefore an important requirement for this award.
FUNDING INFORMATION
Up to $500,000 per year for up to 5 years ($2,500,000 total).
ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS
Candidates must:
- Have achieved tenure or equivalent status within the past 3 years (between January 1, 2022 and August 10, 2025);
- Have a remarkable record of accomplishment in mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, and/or engineering,
- Have a demonstrated history of pursuing and publishing results in more than one field,
- Have a desire and plan to expand their research portfolios by exploring a substantive disciplinary or methodological shift, but have not yet launched such shifts,
- Demonstrate a need for additional funding to enable new experiments, explorations, or shifts in research directions.
INTERNAL SELECTION PROCESS
BU can forward up to 2 nominees. Interested investigators should submit the following materials via InfoReady Review by: 7/10/2025
- Short Questions outlined in InfoReady Review application
- 2-page Research Plans Summary describing the substantive disciplinary or methodological shift you would like to pursue but have not yet done so, and explaining your need for additional funds to pursue these plans (please do not present a budget in this summary)
- Up-to-date CV
A faculty committee will review internal proposals and select nominees. The Office of Research and Foundation Relations will coordinate with the selected nominees to submit nominations by 8/10/2025.
DEADLINES
Internal Materials Due: Thursday, July 10, 2025 by 11:59 pm ET
Anticipated Notification Date: Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Nominations Due: Sunday, August 10, 2025