New York, NY, April 3, 2017 — The Vilcek Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2018 Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise. The prizes are awarded annually to emerging immigrant professionals in biomedical science and the arts and humanities, this year recognizing the field of architecture and building arts. Three winners will be selected in each category, each receiving an unrestricted cash award of $50,000.
“The United States is a world leader in countless cultural and scientific endeavors, having been propelled to the position in part by the contributions of immigrants,” says Rick Kinsel, president of the Vilcek Foundation. “We considered these contributions to be obvious, but now, more than ever, we want to affirm their importance in American society, both in the past and present.”
In the field of architecture, professionals working in a broad spectrum of categories—including architecture, urban planning, landscape architecture, architectural engineering, and architecture criticism—are invited to apply. Eligible applicants will have been born outside of the United States; be 38 years of age or younger; and hold a professional degree in architecture or in a field related to the built environment (license not required).
In biomedical science, eligible candidates must be independent researchers directly responsible for the design and execution of the work submitted for consideration. They should hold a full-time position at an academic institution or other organization, as an assistant or associate professor, research scientist, or equivalent. In addition, eligible applicants will have been born outside of the United States; be 38 years of age or younger; and hold a doctoral degree (MD, PhD, or equivalent).
Candidates will be asked to submit an application form, curriculum vitae, work samples, three short personal essays, and proof of immigration status. The application process is entirely online, and applications will be accepted from April 3 through May 31, 2017. The application and full eligibility requirements are available at Vilcek.org.
A panel of distinguished experts will evaluate each applicant’s accomplishments, including the quality and creativity of the work submitted, clarity of personal and professional purpose, and potential for positive impact on the field and society at large. Three winners will be announced in February 2018 and honored at the foundation’s annual awards gala in spring 2018.
The Vilcek Foundation is dedicated to honoring the contributions of foreign-born artists, scientists, and scholars to American society. In addition to bestowing the Creative Promise Prizes, the foundation also awards the prestigious $100,000 Vilcek Prize; launched in 2006, the Vilcek Prizes celebrate the lifetime achievements of leading figures in a wide array of fields within biomedical science and the arts, including theatre, dance, film, music, fashion, and visual arts. Since launching the prizes, the foundation has awarded over $3.5 million to 97 individuals from 45 different countries, including China, Colombia, Iran, Jordan, Ghana, Peru, and Turkey.