Overview

Based at the Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI) on the UC Berkeley campus, the Tory Burch Fellowship is an exciting opportunity for scientists looking to develop their entrepreneurial skills and promote gender equity in the biotech industry.

The Tory Burch Fellowship at the IGI aligns with the institute's mission of translating genome-editing and biotechnology tools into affordable and accessible solutions in human health, climate, and agriculture. The program seeks to support scientists whose work involves the development of solutions to global problems, and who aim to benefit the public by developing their ideas for eventual commercial translation. The one-year program will provide one selected fellow the opportunity to participate in Tory Burch Foundation programs, while receiving up to $150,000 in salary and benefits, mentoring and entrepreneurial training, as well as space at the IGI to develop their ideas.

Women are underrepresented in scientific research and also less likely than men to commercialize their discoveries. They face the same barriers that women entrepreneurs typically face, including limiting stereotypes and a lack of access to capital, education and networks. — Tory Burch

Program Details

The Tory Burch Fellowship at the IGI supports for a year one participant along their entrepreneurial journey, with the goal of giving them all the tools they need to successfully launch a company at the end of the program.

The fellow will have the opportunity to participate in Tory Burch Foundation webinars and online education for women entrepreneurs, starting in summer 2022. As part of the Tory Burch Foundation community, they will receive a $5,000 grant directly from the Foundation to advance their business education.

While in the program, the participant will receive salary and benefits, customized programming, networking events, wet lab and office space in the IGI building, scientific supplies and the use of core facilities on campus, and patent cost support* to help them on their journey. The successful candidate will be matched with a UC Berkeley faculty mentor based on their area of research who will guide them on scientific and business practices, introduce them to advisors and other resources available to them through regular meetings so that the participant is well set up to launch their business after the end of the program.

The funding breaks down as follows:

*Patent costs must be paid back to UC if the participant's company licenses any of their new IP. 
**Salary/benefits figures are estimates; final personnel costs are determined by UCB at time of hire according to UC Regents hiring guidelines.

The participant may access shared equipment within the IGI Building (complete list here) such as plate readers, lyophilizers, fume hoods, ultracentrifuges, and growth chambers as available. At the end of the 1-year program, the innovator must relocate to another facility.

As a UCB postdoctoral employee, the participant will be subject to UCB patent and other applicable Intellectual Property policies.

I was honored to receive the first Tory Burch Fellowship at the IGI and am humbled to have Nobel Laureate Dr. Jennifer Doudna and leading entrepreneur Tory Burch as mentors. The fellowship was immensely valuable, as Dr. Doudna and I share a commitment to increasing accessibility of advanced therapies for patients across the world. The Tory Burch Foundation has been incredibly supportive, and since the fellowship, I’ve successfully closed a $80M Series A round and given a TED Talk about the future of regenerative medicine. — Nabiha Saklayen, 2021 Tory Burch Fellow, CEO and co-founder of Cellino

How to Apply

Applications are now closed.

Eligibility requirements

• At the start of the program, candidates must hold a Ph.D. (or equivalent international degree) in a relevant field. Applicants cannot have previously been in a tenured or tenure track position.
• At the start of the program, candidates must not have more than four years of previous postdoctoral research experience. 
• Applicants 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.
• Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States. This position does not allow for visa sponsorship.

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. 

Timeline to apply for the program

• March 24, 2022: Opening date of the Request for Applications
• April 10, 2022: First review date. Applications received by this date will receive priority for consideration. The closing date will remain open until a sufficient number of applications are received.
• Early May 2022: Interview day for semi-finalists
• By June 2022: The selected participant is announced
• Summer 2022: Start of the Tory Burch Foundation specific programming (online)
• September 2022: Participant’s move-in month at the IGI building

Contact

For more information, please contact Lucie Bardet at l.bardet@berkeley.edu

This program is supported by a generous gift from the Tory Burch Foundation. Learn more at toryburchfoundation.org.