Request for Proposals
ISERP’s seed grant program supports proposal development, pilot research, and other activities that advance research projects to the point where they can attract external funding. The program rewards high-risk, high-return research proposals, including work that develops new methods, applies theories or methods to new substantive areas, or translates among previously unrelated theoretical perspectives. Grants are awarded both for basic social science research and for policy related research. Projects in the latter category are specifically oriented toward pressing social issues in the domestic or international arena.
Procedures for Submitting a Proposal
ISERP is pleased to issue a semiannual request for seed grant proposals. The application procedures for research grants and policy grants are identical. Faculty and research scholars or scientists at Columbia University and its affiliated schools are eligible to apply, and applicants are not obliged to have any formal affiliation with ISERP. Proposals from postdoctoral fellows will only be considered if there is an explicit plan to carry out the eventual, externally-funded research at Columbia University. Deadlines for the current academic year are Wednesday, October 15th, 2008, and Monday, March 3rd, 2008.
Seed grant proposal materials consist of the following:
- Cover page
The title of your project as well as the mailing address, e-mail, telephone number, and departmental affiliation of each investigator should be indicated on the cover page. This page should also indicate whether the proposal is intended for the research grant or policy grant competition. (Applicants should not submit the same proposal to both competitions. The review committee may reclassify proposals at its discretion). - Abstract
Outline your research in a one-paragraph abstract suitable for public reports and ISERP’s publicity materials. - Narrative
Summarize your research question, theoretical foundations, existing literature, empirical facets of the research (if applicable), and the significance of the eventual project that the seed grant will help to develop. Be sure to distinguish between the seeded research and the eventual project for which you will obtain external funding. Excluding references, the narrative may be no more than five (5) single-spaced pages with a font size of 11 points. - Plan for Obtaining External Funding (Appendix A)
Describe your plans for obtaining external funds, including: a) what government agencies or foundations you may approach, and why; b) what contact you have already had with these agencies, if any (e.g. prior applications or conversations with program officers); c) when you expect to apply for funds; d) the expected scale of the eventual project; and e) how the activities funded by the seed grant will help to attract further external support. Also, list current or pending grant applications that are related to the project, including funds requested or received from sources both internal and external to Columbia University. The maximum length for Appendix A is one (1) single-spaced page. - Relation of Proposed Activities to Existing Research (Appendix B)
If the seed grant is related to ongoing, funded research, describe the relationship: both how the activities funded by the seed grant will benefit the existing project, as well as how the existing project will benefit the activities supported by the seed grant. If applicable to your proposal, the maximum length for Appendix B is also one (1) single-spaced page. - Budget and Justification
Seed grant awards are generally between $5000 and $10,000. Up to $15,000 may be awarded under special circumstances. While the review committee will be unsympathetic to proposals that request funding for faculty summer salary or computer purchases, all other expenses directly related to research activities may be included in the budget, including (with permission from your department chair) release time from teaching. - Curriculum vitas for all investigators
Submit six (6) copies of all proposal materials to ISERP's main offices. Electronic submissions will not be considered. For additional information about ISERP’s seed grant program, contact Kathryn Neckerman.
Review Process
Seed grant proposals are reviewed by a committee comprised of ISERP senior staff and affiliated faculty members.
The most important evaluation criteria are intellectual merit and the promise of innovation, as well as the potential for attracting further funding. Secondary criteria may include the extent to which the research is interdisciplinary, involves collaboration, and is consistent with ISERP’s research priorities.
The seed grant program is not a small grant program. Grants will not be awarded to proposals that request funding for a stand-alone project, that do not describe plans for obtaining external funding, or that poorly justify their budget.
Requirements of Grant Recipients
Research projects involving human subjects must maintain Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval. While proposals that have not yet undergone review will be considered for funding, no funds will be disbursed until the project is approved by the IRB. Further information about navigating the IRB review process is available from ISERP's Research Development Office.
Recipients of seed grants are obliged to report on the activities to which the grant is being applied, as well as on progress toward obtaining external support for the project. The reporting schedule is October 1st and May 1st in the first year following the award of the grant, and May 1st thereafter as long as the seed grant remains active.
Investigators who receive external grants based on seeded research are expected to administer those grants through ISERP, as well as to acknowledge ISERP’s support in any papers and publications ensuing from the research.
