Workshops and Seminars
The Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy is pleased to issue a request for workshop and seminar proposals. The goal of ISERP workshop and seminar support is to bring together scholars from within and across disciplines to focus on matters of common interest. ISERP-sponsored workshops and seminars take myriad forms: some focus on scholars’ works in progress, and others serve as speaker series for innovative work. We encourage, where appropriate, that workshops and seminars be free and open to the public. We invite proposals for new workshops or seminars that will take place between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027.
Please contact ISERP with any questions on the application process.
Qualifications
Proposals will be evaluated on their intellectual merit and coherence, and their judicious use of funding.
Workshops/seminars are recurring events and normally meet several times a semester. They may focus on a specific topic, on basic social science inquiry, or a set of intellectual issues. We encourage workshops and seminars that are collaborative and interdisciplinary, and those that provide structured opportunities for graduate student training and development.
Workshops and seminars that are new or restarted and those that are collaborative and/or involve faculty from more than one discipline will be given special consideration. All events must take place at Columbia University.
If your proposal is for a one-time event, kindly submit it through the ISERP Conference CFP.
Eligibility
Faculty, research scholars, and research scientists appointed within one of the six social science departments in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Columbia University or in SIPA are eligible to apply for ISERP funding for workshops and seminars. At least one applicant per workshop or seminar team must be a full-time faculty member.
Full-time visiting faculty and lecturers must be on appointments expected to extend beyond one year and last fully through the period of the award. If you are in this category, your department should confirm as part of your application.
Application Guidance
Applicants should submit:
- A three-page proposal that describes the proposed workshop or seminar, its mission, its structure and organization, and a plan for its first year.
- A detailed budget utilizing the budget sheet attached to this call. Please download a copy to complete and submit it along with a narrative budget justification (1 page maximum).
- Full-time visiting professors and lecturers should also include an email from the department Chair or DAAF confirming your eligibility and length of appointment.
Proposals should be submitted electronically as a single PDF document here.
Duration: One (1) Year. Workshops and seminars are renewable for one additional year based on your submission of an end-of-year activity report and a brief proposal for the proposed activity in the second year. Please note: If your workshop or seminar will not begin until Spring 2027, please wait for next term’s call (for the 2027 calendar year).
Award Amount: Up to $10,000. Funding can cover travel and lodging, workshop materials and publicity, refreshments or meals, and a small stipend for a graduate student coordinator (calculated on a per-hour basis). We strongly recommend that your proposal be accessible to scholars beyond your immediate field.
Application Deadline: April 10, 2026
Award Period: July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027