ALL ACADEMICS

SUBJECT:    Hellman Fellows Program

I am pleased to announce the 2000-2001 Hellman Fellows Program, funded through the generosity of Mr. F. Warren Hellman and the Hellman Family. The purpose of the Hellman Program is to substantially support the research and creative activities of promising assistant professors who show capacity for great distinction in their work. This is a marvelous program which can been extremely valuable to helping junior faculty establish and independent research program. I look to all of you to encourage eligible faculty to apply, and to support them in their application process.

A total of $120,000 will be available for awards during the 2000-2001 academic year. In accordance with the wishes of the Hellman family, at least two-thirds of the available funds will be awarded in the physical sciences, life sciences, and engineering, and up to one-third in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. It is anticipated that from four to six awards will be made in 2000-2001.

Eligibility: Awards are intended to assist the progress of highly promising junior faculty towards tenure. Eligible applicants are full-time, regular, non-tenured ladder rank faculty. Awards will be based on promise and need, with preference given to assistant professors who are not recipients of other young investigator awards. However, the guidelines do not preclude eligible faculty from applying for a competitive renewal of a Hellman Fellowship. Prior to receiving a Hellman Fellowship, faculty would normally be expected to have served at least two years as an assistant professor, but not yet have been recommended for tenure.

Administration of Funds: The Program stipulates that funds will be given without regard to the apparent timeliness or popularity of the field of study. Funds may not replace faculty salaries and may not therefore be used to buy release time from state-supported faculty responsibilities. Funds may be used for salary supplement in the summer, for research and laboratory equipment, research assistance, research-related travel, and other research-related expenses.

Application packets have been mailed to all eligible assistant professors. They can also be downloaded from the Hellman Fellows Program website at http://academicaffairs.ucsd.edu/faculty/awards/hellman/default.htm or contact Lillian Conat, x40098 [lconat@ucsd.edu] at my office to request an application packet. If you have any questions about the program, please contact Ilene Appel Marker at Ext. 40099. Ilene will also be contacting each Department Chair to review eligible faculty and their Hellman Fellows Program history.