Since 1988, the Packard Fellowships for Science and Engineering have encouraged blue-sky thinking by providing maximum flexibility through unrestricted funds that can be used in any way the Fellows choose, including paying for necessities like child care. This flexibility allows Fellows to take risks and pursue trailblazing research, which has led to critical advancements that impact our daily lives from detecting viruses and improving our public health response to outbreaks, to gene-editing technology that is affecting how we tackle diseases, to understanding our changing climate and how animals and ecosystems will adapt. Fellows have gone on to receive the highest accolades, including Nobel Prizes in Chemistry and Physics – which includes this year’s Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, Moungi Bawendi – Fields Medals, Alan T. Waterman Awards, Breakthrough Prizes, Kavli Prizes, and elections to the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine.
The Packard Fellowships were inspired by David Packard’s passion for science and engineering and his commitment to strengthening university-based science and engineering programs in the United States. He recognized that the success of the Hewlett-Packard Company, which he co-founded, was derived in large measure from research and development in university laboratories. It was with this spirit that the Foundation launched the Packard Fellowships for Science and Engineering program 35 years ago. Since its inception, the Packard Foundation has awarded nearly $500 million to support 695 scientists and engineers from 54 universities.
“These extraordinary scholars join the community of Packard Fellows pushing the boundaries of innovation and discovery in science and engineering to make a real difference to our world,” said Dr. Richard Alley, Packard Fellowships for Science and Engineering Advisory Panel Chair and 1991 Packard Fellow. “We look forward to welcoming them to the Packard Fellows community and supporting their efforts to collaborate, learn, and create together.”
Each year, the Foundation invites 50 universities to nominate two faculty members for consideration. The Packard Fellowships Advisory Panel , a group of 12 internationally-recognized scientists and engineers, evaluates the nominations and recommends Fellows for approval by the Packard Foundation Board of Trustees. The Packard Foundation also continues to support Fellows as they undertake a variety of self-directed initiatives to support diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM through additional targeted grants.
The recipients of the 2023 Packard Fellowships for Science and Engineering are: