Article

The Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy (ISERP) is launching a new Center for Pandemic Research (CPR) in response to the current crisis. Together with the Columbia Population Research Center, CPR will award grants for faculty research projects on Covid-19. The goal is to rapidly identify and support projects that can start right away, and either inform policy-making and public understanding of pandemic threats or contribute to the resilience and recovery of the Columbia research community. ISERP will issue its usual calls for applications for projects in the Fall and Spring, but this separate process is intended to support pandemic-related research quickly while preserving funds for non-Covid-19 projects next year.

Requirements:

The research should be broadly responsive to the social, political, and/or economic impact of pandemic threats. Applicants must be full-time faculty members appointed in one of the six social science departments in A&S or SIPA. All PIs must play an active role in the proposed project.

Funding Criteria

Like the usual ISERP seed grants, this program places a priority on high-risk, high-return research, including work that develops new theories, identifies new areas of methodological innovation, or that bridges different substantive domains.  Projects may be domestic, international, or comparative. 

ISERP seed grants do not fund book write-ups, documentary films, or ordinary computer equipment.  The seed grant program is not a small grant program.  Seed grants do not fund stand-alone projects, ongoing research, conferences or conference travel, or workshops.  ISERP encourages proposals that include support for student RAs, but seed grants will not provide salary support, including summer salary, for faculty members.

Budgets for ISERP Seed Grants

ISERP seed grant funding is typically up to $30k per project and is limited to funding direct costs of research. We encourage project submissions with smaller budgets, given the limited funds available, especially if they include support for student research. If you would like to discuss your budget prior to submission of the seed grant application, please contact iserp-funding@columbia.edu.

Funding Timeline, IRB, and Reporting

Applications submitted by June 15 will receive notification by about June 26 for a July 1 start date. Proposals after that date will be reviewed on a rolling basis, but awards will depend on what funding is available.

Research projects involving human subjects must obtain (and keep up to date) Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval.  If your project involves no intervention or interaction with human subjects, you must apply for exemption from the IRB.  We will review and consider proposals that have not yet undergone IRB review, but please note that ISERP will not disburse funds until we have received a copy of your project’s IRB approved protocol or IRB letter of exemption.  We strongly encourage you to start the process of obtaining IRB approval early. 

Seed grant recipients must provide brief semi-annual reports on project activities, including updates on external funding proposals.  At the six-month mark, a brief report will be requested and reviewed. Continued access to the seed funds after this six-month mark requires significant progress, so that the project is likely to lead to a proposal at the next round of submissions at the appropriate funding agency.  Awardees may also be asked to present a talk on their project.

Investigators who receive external grants based on work resulting from an ISERP seed grant award must administer those grants through ISERP.  Investigators should acknowledge ISERP’s support in any papers, publications, or reports resulting from seed grant activities.

Application Process:

Applicants should submit:

• A research proposal (up to five pages) that details the specific aims, background to the study, preliminary data (if any), research plan, innovation/significance & future plans, and details on each investigator’s role on the project
• Line item budget
• Budget narrative explaining how line items in the budget relate to the early work you need to convert your ideas into a fundable project
• Plan for seeking outside funding
• CV’s or NSF Style Biosketch for each investigator

Project Selection and Support:

The CPR Executive Committee will review the proposals submitted by June 15 for a July 1 start date. 

Submission link: Please submit your proposal electronically here.  

Please email iserp-events@columbia.edu with any submission questions.