HS Chau Women in Enterprising Science Program
The Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI) just launched the HS Chau Women in Enterprising Science (WIES) Program, an exciting new program working to promote gender equity in bio-entrepreneurship. The Innovative Genomics Institute is a collaborative institute between UC Berkeley and UC San Francisco co-founded by Nobel Laureate Dr. Jennifer Doudna around the concept of using genome engineering to solve humanity’s greatest problems in health, climate, and sustainable agriculture.
The WIES program is open to both current UC Berkeley professors and to postdoctoral fellows working on solutions to real-world problems that are committed to supporting gender equity in biotechnology and are interested in developing their ideas commercially for the benefit of the public. The postdoc part of the program is open to anyone that is eligible to work in the US and wants to come to UC Berkeley. If selected for the program they will be hired as a UCB postdoc (provided they are eligible to be a postdoc at Cal).
For Phase I: 12 month appointment
For Phase II: An additional 18 months
Phase I: A cohort of up to four Fellows will be selected through an application process (application, reviews, interviews) for a 12-month appointment. The Fellows will either be appointed a postdoctoral fellowship (Postdoctoral Fellow) or, if current UCB faculty, will receive funding support (Faculty Fellow). Each participant will receive approximately $150,000 worth of combined salary, benefits, programming, and scientific supplies to help them on their journey, and will engage in a variety of exciting learning opportunities and networking events. Each Fellow will be assigned mentors and advisors who can provide guidance on scientific and business practices by meeting with them on a regular basis throughout the first year.
Phase II: At the end of Phase I, up to two Fellows may be selected as WIES Entrepreneurs and may receive $1,000,000 directly from a third-party funder to support their private entrepreneurial activities. WIES Entrepreneurs will continue to receive mentorship for an additional 18 months and are also expected to participate in advising the next WIES cohort.
- Must hold a Ph.D. in a relevant field. Postdoctoral Fellows cannot have more than four years of postdoctoral experience.
- Must be eligible to work in the United States.
- Must be eligible for a postdoctoral position or be a current UCB faculty member.
- If applying for the Postdoctoral Fellow position, the candidate cannot have previously been in a tenured or tenure-track position.
- Must reside in or have the ability to relocate to the San Francisco Bay Area to be able to participate in the program at the UC Berkeley campus.
- All participants in Phase I will become UCB employees or maintain their existing UCB employment, subject to UCB patent and other applicable Intellectual Property policies. Eligibility for this program is subject to the University of California’s Nondiscrimination policy. The University of California, in accordance with applicable Federal and State law and University policy, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer related or genetic characteristics), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or service in the uniformed services.
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