CISS Invites Proposals for Rapid-Turnaround Mini-Grants
The Center for Innovation in Social Science is pleased to release a call for proposals for small grants to support faculty (tenure-track and full-time lecturers) and graduate student research in the social sciences. The grants are intended to help foster new research or enhance in-progress projects. This is a rapid-turnaround process, to help facilitate Summer ’22 research productivity. Proposals are due May 2, 2022; decisions will be issued by May 15, and funding starts June 1, 2022. Funding may be used through December 31, 2022. IRB approval for funded proposals must be approved/pending prior to June 1. A PDF of the call is available here.
All applications must include:
- Brief description (no more than 1,000 words) of the research project and intended outcomes (e.g., conference presentation, journal article)
- Detailed budget and justification
- Project timeline
- Statement of other funding support for the research project (where applicable)
- Intended personnel, including student research assistants or research consultants (where applicable).
- Investigator CV
Applications should be prepared as a single PDF file and uploaded to this website.
Eligibility:
Faculty and full-time lecturers who are affiliates of the Center for Innovation in Social Science. (Apply to be an affiliate here).
Graduate students in a CAS social science department or program (Anthropology, History, Political Science, Sociology, Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies) will receive priority in funding decisions. However, we will also consider applicants from outside the BU-designated social science departments who are doing research that explicitly addresses core questions in the social sciences or uses social science methods/theories.
Applicants may submit more than one proposal, although each much be uploaded as a separate submission.
Criteria:
Proposals will be evaluated on the basis of the project’s significance, feasibility, and demonstrated need for funding. Each awardee is required to submit a report to the Center Director within 90 days of completion of the project and will present the outcome of the award to at a Center-sponsored research showcase in Fall 2022.
Undergraduate Research Assistance (Maximum: $1,500)
Faculty members, full-time lecturers, or graduate students may apply for funds to support undergraduate research assistance. The student may assist with meaningful research activities such as data collection, analysis, or library research during Summer or Fall 2022. Minimum hourly rate is $15 per hour. The Center can help funded applicants to identify undergraduate research assistant candidates.
Research Consultancies (Maximum: $1,000)
Faculty and full-time lecturers may use funds to provide honoraria for: (a) consultant(s) on a book prospectus or manuscript, or (b) an expert to provide feedback on a new or revised grant proposal for external funding. Consultants must be substantive or methodological experts; funds cannot be used to support editorial assistance.
Travel Awards (Maximum: $500)
Faculty, full-time lecturers, and doctoral students may use funds of up to $500 toward travel to (a) present their research at an upcoming professional conference or (b) conduct research off-site (e.g., travel to archives or interview sites). Applicants must provide proof that their paper/abstract has been accepted for presentation at a professional meeting. Funds may not be used to retroactively pay for completed travel.
Training Support Awards (Maximum: $500)
Faculty, full-time lecturers, and doctoral students may use funds of up to $500 to defray the costs of training opportunities (e.g., methodological or data workshops). Applicants must provide proof of cost of registration for/participation in the program for which funds are requested. The funds may not be used to retroactively pay for completed training.
We anticipate making up to seven awards to support research assistance or research consultancies, and up to six awards for travel and training.
Submit applications by Monday, May 2, 2022 by 5:00pm here.
Direct inquiries to Deborah Carr, CISS director (carrds@bu.edu) or Díana Hughes, CISS administrator (ciss@bu.edu). An informational session will be held on Tuesday April 26 from 2:30-3:30 p.m. via Zoom. Please register here.