Biology holds the answers to the problems we face in our society today: environmental pollution & climate change, sustainable manufacturing & global supply chains, food waste & security, emerging pathogens & point of care diagnostics. The Synthetic Biology Hive supports work with the potential to transform the way we approach these problems. We are particularly interested in proposals which initiate synthetic biology projects in areas where synthetic biology has been little used in the past. Grants will be awarded in 2 categories:

• Pioneer Awards: Projects conducted by faculty/trainees who already have experience in synthetic biology but wish to explore a new direction and inspire our community

• Research Kickstarter: Projects conducted by faculty/trainees with no previous experience in synthetic biology who would benefit from the community

 The Opportunity

Selected projects will be “adopted” by the Synthetic Biology Hive. The project will receive up to $50,000, which can be used for salary/tuition, supplies, university-allowed travel, or other relevant research expenses. SPARK award winners will also have access to technical, intellectual, and professional resources at the Hive. The intention is to support the development of the SPARK project into viable research programs.

Expectations: SPARK awards are designed to accelerate research and enhance our community. Awarded faculty and trainees are expected to (a) participate monthly “supergroup” meetings and an annual symposium at which we share our progress, challenges, insights, and expertise and (b) ethically conduct the proposed research in accordance with university guidelines. While it is in no way a requirement for funding, we are very interested in applicants who demonstrate an interest in building community and/or collaborations across labs, disciplines, or programs at HMS.

The Details

Eligibility: At least one of the applicants should be (a) a faculty member in the Systems Biology department; (b) a postdoctoral fellow in the Systems Biology department; or (c) a PhD student affiliated with the Systems, Synthetic & Quantitative Biology program.

Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Please submit by June 1 to ensure full consideration in the first round.

The Application

Application information coming soon