Funding Opportunities

Sargent College supports research, teaching, and professional development through a range of internal funding opportunities. Funded by the College and awarded through a competitive review process, these grants advance Sargent’s strategic objectives while supporting career development and new areas of expertise. It is expected that these projects will bring greater recognition to Sargent and broaden the impact of our work at the university and beyond.

Eligibility and Review Process

Applications are invited from students, postdoctoral fellows, lecturers, tenure-track, and clinical faculty for proposals contributing to the college’s mission of teaching excellence, research innovation, and trans-disciplinary collaboration.

All applications will be reviewed and scored by an internal committee coordinated by the Associate Dean for Research Jana Iverson. Final approval of applications is at the discretion of the Dean. In addition to criteria specific to each mechanism, applications will be evaluated with respect to their potential for contributing to Sargent’s strategic objectives. Each application must describe anticipated outcomes or products.

How to Apply

Applications should be submitted online using the application form for the corresponding research grant. Proposals should explicitly address the project’s:

• Importance to the applicant’s overall program of scholarship and/or teaching
• Scientific or curricular/instructional impact and outcomes, with clear attention to measurable intermediate and final objectives

Submissions should reflect scientific or pedagogical rigor, using language that is accessible to non-experts in the field. Applications should not exceed the specified page limits and should be single-spaced, in 12-point font, and with one-inch margins.

Evaluation Guidelines

Applications will be evaluated with regard to:

• Potential impact of the proposed research/training experience/conference
• Scope of work or travel
• Demonstrated feasibility of the proposed effort
• Potential to advance the disciplines represented at Sargent College

Additional Funding Considerations

All funding decisions will also take into consideration:

• Other funding sources available to the applicant for the proposed funding opportunity (e.g., unobligated startup funds, training grant support, indirect costs supporting the proposed research, support available from a student’s or postdoctoral fellow’s mentor, BU internal funding opportunities for course development or improvement)
• Successful completion of prior internal awards (e.g., timely submission of final status report, subsequent manuscript, grant submission, book chapter, new course submission, or other scholarly product)
• Alignment with Sargent needs and priorities (e.g., course development consistent with departmental curricular objectives)
• All funding decisions are subject to the availability of funds

Student Grant Awards

Funding opportunities are open to Sargent College graduate, and undergraduate students, as well as postdoctoral fellows. See specific proposal details for eligibility criteria and a link to apply.

• Student Travel Grant

• Student Research Grant

Faculty Grant Awards

Faculty grants support research, scholarly development, and pedagogical excellence. Opportunities are available to all faculty whose primary appointments are in Sargent College. Full-time staff and postdoctoral fellows are not eligible.

• Clinical Faculty Scholarship Grant

• Innovations in Teaching and Learning Grant

• Faculty Collaborative Research Development Grant

Notification and Reporting

Award decisions will be announced no later than April 25, 2025.

Awardees must submit a Final Status Report to the Associate Dean for Research, Jana Iverson, by May 31 following the funding period. This report should include the intended scholarly product, an explanation for any unspent funds, and, if needed, a request for a no-cost extension up to 6 months for these funds. Awarded funds cannot be reallocated during or after the proposed budget period.

Important Dates

*$2,500 maximum postdoctoral research grant with 50% match by mentor.

Questions?

Contact Associate Dean for Research Jana Iverson at sargentresearch@bu.edu.