HS Chau Women in Enterprising Science Program

Working to promote gender equity in bio-entrepreneurship

Overview

Entrepreneurship is a key avenue for translating scientific breakthroughs into real-world solutions. The HS Chau Women in Enterprising Science Program at the Innovative Genomics Institute (周凱旋女科學家企業計畫) is an exciting new opportunity for researchers who are committed to promoting gender equity in bio-entrepreneurship.

Located on the UC Berkeley campus, the Women in Enterprising Science (WIES) program supports individuals whose work involves the development of solutions for some of the world’s greatest problems, and who strive to develop their ideas commercially for the benefit of the public. WIES Fellows must align with the IGI’s mission of bridging revolutionary genome-editing and biotechnology tool development to affordable and accessible solutions in human health, climate, and agriculture.

The WIES program is made possible thanks to generous philanthropic support from the foundation of Solina Chau Hoi Shuen (co-founder of Horizons Ventures in Hong Kong).

Program Aims

Promote gender equity in science and entrepreneurship.
Encourage individuals who may not have considered becoming entrepreneurs, as well as those that may have faced barriers to pursuing entrepreneurship, to explore their translational research in a supportive community environment.
Support these early-stage participants as they develop their ideas such that they may be more prepared to enter later-stage opportunities such as those at UC Berkeley (for example SkyDeck and the Bakar BioEngenuity Hub) and beyond, if desired.
Enable the translation of genomics and biotechnology research into impactful solutions, including the pursuit of commercial applications.
Provide financial, scientific, and educational support to participants and build a lively community of scientists, advisors, mentors, and entrepreneurs.

Program Highlights

The WIES program is split into two phases:

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.

Programming

Our goal is to build a supportive and lively community and to set our WIES Fellows up for success. To achieve this aspiration, Fellows will be required to participate in educational and community building programming.

Meet with program advisors and mentors on a regular basis
Attend networking receptions (approximately five times over the course of Phase I)
Attend NSF I-Corps, a week-long intensive program in association with Haas Business school teaching business fundamentals
Participate in a broad subject seminar series (will include scientific and entrepreneurial topics)
Participants must make good-faith efforts to attend all seminars and networking events but will be required to attend at least 50% of these events
Participants will give a seminar at the end of Phase I describing their proposal and progress

Supplemental Programing

StEP program with Haas Business School
This is a 10 week program working on specific business topics.
Special workshops, including expert talks on specific topics of interest to entrepreneurs including legal issues for new companies, intellectual property, venture capital, accounting, public relations and web design.

See full details in the WIES program brochure.

How to Apply

Applications are now closed for Spring 2022. Please add your name to our mailing list below to be alerted by email when the next call for proposals opens.

Applicants will submit a proposal and provide a short video. Semi-finalists will be asked to attend one or more follow-up interviews with the WIES selection advisory committee. Final decisions on selected Fellows for Phase I will be made by UC faculty and staff serving on the WIES selection advisory committee. For Phase II, all decisions regarding an offer of funds from the third-party funder to the WIES Entrepreneurs are ultimately at the discretion and direction of the third-party funder.

Selection Criteria for Phase I

Commitment to promoting gender equity in the field of biotechnology.
Alignment of the proposed project/business idea with the IGI’s mission.
Strength of proposal with respect to scientific principles and unmet need, likelihood of product solution and success, market and societal impact. Milestones and deliverables to be achieved during Phase I will also be considered.
Strength of entrepreneur and any team members.

Timeline for Application to Program

March 1, 2022: RFA Opening date for proposal submission.
April 1, 2022: Applications received by this date will receive priority for consideration. Closing date will remain open until a sufficient number of applications are received.
By June 1, 2022: Selected WIES fellows announced
September 1, 2022: WIES fellow move-in date

Eligibility

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 UC Berkeley, UC San Francisco, UC Davis, or UC Santa Cruz 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.
For full list of eligibility requirements see the WIES Program Brochure.

Document Requirements

Curriculum Vitae. Please include your most recently updated C.V.
Cover Letter & Short Video. Submit a written cover letter. In addition, pitch your idea in a video of 2 minutes or less. Clearly include the video link at the bottom of your cover letter. Use a YouTube/Vimeo URL only, either public or unlisted. Please do not password-protect your video or submit full video files.
Project Proposal. The project proposal should describe the area of research, the question/solution that is being addressed and the milestones needed to achieve the goals of the proposal. (Maximum four pages, single-spaced, 12-point font.)

Applications are now closed for Spring 2022.
Please add your name to our list to be alerted by email when the next call for proposals opens.

More Information & Contact

Download the program brochure for more information. For any questions about the WIES program, application process, or technical issues, please contact claricesouza@berkeley.edu