Request for Proposals
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ISERP is pleased to issue a semiannual request for seed grant proposals. The principal goal of ISERP’s seed grant program is to help investigators develop research proposals that can attract external funding. The program places a high priority on high-risk, high-return research proposals, including work that develops new theories, identifies new areas of methodological innovation, and/or that bridges different substantive domains. Seed grants are funded for basic research projects, policy related study, and innovative teaching/training initiatives. Projects may be domestic, international or comparative. ISERP also encourages collaborative and interdisciplinary research proposals.
Procedures for Submitting a Proposal
The application procedures for research grants and policy grants are identical. Faculty and research scholars or scientists at Columbia Schools and its affiliated institutions are eligible to apply for a seed grant. Applicants are not obliged to have any formal affiliation with ISERP, though we will encourage researchers to eventually create such a tie if funds are awarded. Proposals from postdoctoral fellows will only be considered if the work is performed under the guidance of a faculty advisor, and if research carried out is conducted at Columbia through grants administered at ISERP. The deadline for the fall semester is Monday, November 2nd, 2009. The deadline for the spring semester will be held in March/April 2010 (please check the website for updates).
Seed grant proposal materials consist of the following:
· Cover page
Include the title of your project as well as the mailing address, e-mail, telephone number, and departmental affiliation of each investigator. The cover 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).
Include the title of your project as well as the mailing address, e-mail, telephone number, and departmental affiliation of each investigator. The cover 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 publications.
Outline your research in a one-paragraph abstract suitable for public reports and ISERP’s publications.
· Narrative
Summarize your research question, theoretical foundations, existing literature, empirical facets of the research (if applicable), and the significance (intellectual merit and broader impact) of the contingent project that the seed grant would help to develop. Be sure to distinguish between the seeded research and the contingent project that will be submitted to external funding agencies. Excluding references, the narrative may be no more than five (5) single-spaced pages with a font size of 11 points.
Summarize your research question, theoretical foundations, existing literature, empirical facets of the research (if applicable), and the significance (intellectual merit and broader impact) of the contingent project that the seed grant would help to develop. Be sure to distinguish between the seeded research and the contingent project that will be submitted to external funding agencies. 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 plan to approach, and why you chose those specific agencies; b) any prior contact with these agencies (e.g. prior submissions 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 external support. Also, list current or pending grant applications that are related to the project, including funds requested or received from both internal and external sources. The maximum length for Appendix A is one (1) single-spaced page.
Describe your plans for obtaining external funds, including: a) what government agencies or foundations you plan to approach, and why you chose those specific agencies; b) any prior contact with these agencies (e.g. prior submissions 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 external support. Also, list current or pending grant applications that are related to the project, including funds requested or received from both internal and external sources. 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 according to: a) how the activities funded by the seed grant will benefit the existing project; b) how the existing project will benefit the activities supported by the seed grant. The maximum length for Appendix B is also one (1) single-spaced page.
If the seed grant is related to ongoing funded research, describe the relationship according to: a) how the activities funded by the seed grant will benefit the existing project; b) how the existing project will benefit the activities supported by the seed grant. The maximum length for Appendix B is also one (1) single-spaced page.
· Budget and Justification
The average awarded amount for seed grant awards is $5000. Project terms are limited to 2 years with an option for extension if deemed necessary. 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 course buy outs that have been approved by your department chair.
The average awarded amount for seed grant awards is $5000. Project terms are limited to 2 years with an option for extension if deemed necessary. 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 course buy outs that have been approved by your department chair.
· Curricula vitae for all investigators
Submit one copy electronically in MS Word or PDF format to Tiffany Kim by 5:00pm on the day of the deadline. For additional information about ISERP's seed grant program, please contact Tiffany Kim.
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 to attract external 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, do not describe plans for obtaining external funding, or do not provide a detailed budget justification.
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 projects’ activities, as well as on progress toward obtaining external support for the project. The reporting schedule is October 15th and May 15th in the first year following the award of the grant, and May 15th 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.
