Funding Opportunities

for Social Science Faculty & Graduate Students

Please see below for a curated list of upcoming funding opportunities. If you are working on a particular project and would like additional assistance in finding funding opportunities, please email: socialscience@umbc.edu

Program: Research Grant

Agency: State of Maryland- Department of Planning

Next Deadline: March 1st, 2019

The 2020 Census Grant Program was created by the General Assembly in 2018 as a vehicle to support the accurate counting of the population of the State and its local jurisdictions and the collection of basic demographic and housing information of the population of the State for the 2020 Census. The Program offers matching grants to non-profit organizations and local jurisdictions in their sponsorship of activities designed to support successful enumeration and data collection efforts during the 2020 Census.  Funds are administered by the Maryland Department of Planning (MDP); the statutorily-defined Census Grant Panel, which awards the grants, is staffed by the Department of Legislative Services (DLS).

Grant awards will range from a suggested minimum of $25,000 to a suggested maximum of $250,000.   Grantees are required to provide a dollar-for-dollar match, which may be either cash or in-kind, as further defined in the Program Guidelines.

https://planning.maryland.gov/MSDC/Pages/census/census-grant-2020.aspx?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery


Program: Postdoc

Agency: Yale University

Next Deadline: March 4th, 2019

The Yale University Department of History invites applications for a Cassius Marcellus Clay Postdoctoral Fellowship in United States environmental history.  The fellow will be affiliated with Yale Environmental History and the Yale Environmental Humanities Initiative and is expected to participate in their activities and to teach one course during the two years of the fellowship. Salary is $58,000 plus benefits and a research budget.  Start date August 1, 2019. PhD requirements must be completed by the beginning of the appointment and the PhD must have been awarded after spring 2016. Yale University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Yale values diversity among its students, staff, and faculty and strongly welcomes applications from women, persons with disabilities, protected veterans, and underrepresented minorities. A cover letter (including a statement of qualifications and research interests), a CV, a chapter-length writing sample, a one-page proposal for a course, including illustrative readings, and three letters of reference should be submitted to http://apply.interfolio.com/59960  . Review of applications will begin March 4, 2019.

https://history.yale.edu/about-us/current-job-searches/postdoctoral-fellowships


Program: Research Grant

Agency: NSF

Next Deadline: March 4th, 2019

Navigating the New Arctic (NNA) tackles convergent scientific challenges in the rapidly changing Arctic, that are needed to inform the economy, security and resilience of the Nation, the larger region and the globe. Major goals of NNA include:

Improved understanding of Arctic change and its local and global effects that capitalize on innovative and optimized observation infrastructure, advances in understanding of fundamental processes, and new approaches to modeling natural environment, social and built systems interactions.

New enhanced research communities that are diverse, integrative and well-positioned to carry out productive research at the intersections of Arctic social, natural, and built systems.

Research outcomes that inform U.S. national security and economic development needs and enable resilient, sustainable Arctic communities.

https://www.nsf.gov/geo/opp/arctic/nna/index.jsp


Program: Research Grant

Agency: NSF

Next Deadline: March 6th, 2019

Future of Work at the Human-Technology Frontier

A proposal for a research grant in this program must focus on advancing fundamental understanding of future work, and potential improvements to work, workplaces, workforce preparation, or work outcomes for workers and society. It must be convergent research that addresses the technological as well as the human and societal dimensions and potential impact of future work, and in doing so, make significant contributions to both intellectual merit and broader impact. Achieving this goal requires integration and convergence of disciplines across computer science, engineering, learning sciences, research on education and workforce training, and social, behavioral, and economic sciences. A convergent perspective is essential to understand and shape long-term social and economic drivers, so that advanced intelligent technology will strengthen the social fabric. A convergent perspective also provides insights into education and re-skilling, so that the benefits of emerging technology can be conferred upon all citizens.

https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505620&WT.mc_id=USNSF_43&WT.mc_ev=click


Program: Research Grant

Agency: NSF

Next Deadline: March 6th, 2019

The Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI Program) seeks to enhance the quality of undergraduate STEM education at HSIs and to increase retention and graduation rates of undergraduate students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) at HSIs. In addition, the HSI Program seeks to build capacity in undergraduate STEM education at HSIs that typically do not receive high levels of NSF grant funding. The National Science Foundation (NSF) established the HSI Program in response to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (P.L. 115-31) and the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act (P.L. 114-329). The HSI Program is aligned with NSF’s commitment to increase access for underrepresented groups to the Nation’s STEM enterprise.

In designing the HSI Program, NSF sought community input by several mechanisms (https://nsf.gov/ehr/HSIProgramPlan.jsp) and has continued to gather community input to inform future components of, or modifications to, the HSI Program.

To be eligible for HSI Program funding, the institution serving as the awardee organization must, at the time of application, be accredited, offer undergraduate educational programs in STEM, and satisfy the definition of an HSI as specified in section 502 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101a). Institutions should review the legislation before certifying their eligibility for this program (http://legcounsel.house.gov/Comps/HEA65_CMD.pdf).

The HSI Program will accept proposals in two tracks:

  1. Track 1: Building Capacity funds projects up to $2,500,000 for up to 5 years and is open to all eligible institutions. This track has three priority areas: Critical Transitions; Innovative Cross-Sector Partnerships; and Teaching and Learning in STEM.

  2. Track 2: HSIs New to NSF funds projects up to $300,000 for up to 3 years and is open only to eligible institutions that have never received NSF funding, or that have not received NSF funding in the five years preceding the proposal deadline.

https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505512&WT.mc_id=USNSF_43&WT.mc_ev=click


Program: Postdoc

Agency: Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture at the University of Virginia

Next Deadline: March 14th, 2019

The three postdoctoral Moral Ecology Fellowships are for the full academic year of 2019–2020 and are renewable for 2020–2021, depending on performance. Each fellowship carries an annual stipend of $45,000–$49,000, as well as full-time benefits and office space at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture in Charlottesville, Virginia.

In addition to doing their own research, recipients of these fellowships are expected to produce at least three journal article manuscripts based on analyses of the National Survey of Moral Formation data, including a proposal of diagnostic tools that could assist schools and other institutions in evaluating the conditions in which character and citizenship are formed.

Fellowships will be awarded on the basis of how well the applicant’s scholarly interests reflect and advance the intellectual mission of the Institute in general and the Institute’s Colloquy on Culture & Formation in particular. Candidates will also be selected based on experience analyzing complex data sets.

https://iasculture.org/scholars/fellows/apply

Email: IASCFellowsInfo@virginia.edu


Program: Research Grant for Doctoral Students

Agency: Russell Sage Foundation

Next Deadline: March 15th, 2019

The foundation’s Behavioral Economics program supports research that uses behavioral insights from psychology, economics, sociology, political science and other social sciences to examine and improve social and living conditions in the United States. Appropriate projects will demonstrate explicit use of psychological concepts in the motivation of the research design and the preparation of the results. Experimental projects that do not have substantial behavioral content (such as market experiments testing neoclassical ideas) or substantial economic content (such as psychology experiments with no economic choices or strategic or market implications) will not be considered.

For example, to what extent can choice architecture improve decision making in various social, economic, political, and educational contexts? To what extent do behavioral biases affect the use of welfare programs and recipients' wellbeing? More detailed examples of the types of research topics of interest are highlighted in the Behavioral Economics RFP and a description of recent grants can be found here.

There is a $7,500 lifetime limit for the BE Small Grants. BE Small Grants applications are accepted on a rolling basis. We expect to fund up to 10-12 proposals each year.

http://www.russellsage.org/how-to-apply/small-grants


Program: Funded Conference

Agency: National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities

Next Deadline: March 22nd, 2019

The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) will host the Health Disparities Research Institute (HDRI) from August 12-16, 2019, in Bethesda, MD. The HDRI aims to support the research career development of promising minority health/health disparities research scientists early in their careers and stimulate research in the disciplines supported by health disparities science.

https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/cahss/posts/82124

Email: NIMHDHealthDC@mail.nih.gov.


Program: Research Grant

Agency: NSF

Next Deadline: March 25th, 2019

NSF’s Harnessing the Data Revolution (HDR) Big Idea is a national-scale activity to enable new modes of data-driven discovery that will allow fundamental questions to be asked and answered at the frontiers of science and engineering. Through this NSF-wide activity, HDR will generate new knowledge and understanding, and accelerate discovery and innovation. The HDR vision is realized through an interrelated set of efforts in:

  • Foundations of data science;

  • Algorithms and systems for data science;

  • Data-intensive science and engineering;

  • Data cyberinfrastructure; and

  • Education and workforce development.

Each of these efforts is designed to amplify the intrinsically multidisciplinary nature of the emerging field of data science. The HDR Big Idea will establish theoretical, technical, and ethical frameworks that will be applied to tackle data-intensive problems in science and engineering, contributing to data-driven decision-making that impacts society.

Harnessing the Data Revolution: Transdisciplinary Research In Principles Of Data Science (HDR TRIPODS) aims to bring together the electrical engineering, mathematics, statistics, and theoretical computer science communities to develop the theoretical foundations of data science through integrated research and training activities. Phase I, described in this solicitation, will support the development of small collaborative Institutes. Phase II (to be described in an anticipated future solicitation, subject to availability of funds) will support a smaller number of larger Institutes, selected from the Phase I Institutes via a second competitive proposal process. All HDR TRIPODS Institutes must involve significant and integral participation by researchers representing at least three of the four aforementioned communities.  Please note that the ordering of the four communities is alphabetical and is not meant to emphasize any one discipline over another.

https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505347

 

Program: Research Grant

Agency: Department of State

Next Deadline: March 29th, 2019

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for research on the impact of emerging technologies on human rights. In furtherance of U.S. government policy to “maintain U.S. leadership in emerging technologies” per the U.S. National Cyber Strategy, DRL seeks to support research initiatives that explore and assess the potential human rights impacts, opportunities, and threats of emerging technological innovations globally. DRL invites organizations interested in potential funding to submit proposals outlining program concepts that reflect this goal.

https://www.state.gov/j/drl/p/288817.htm

Email: support@grants.gov


Program: Teaching Grant

Agency: CAHSS, UMBC

Next Deadline: April 8th, 2019

UMBC’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS) is pleased to announce the next round of the Dean’s Pedagogy and Teaching (PAT) Fund. The grants are open to CAHSS faculty members twice per academic year to support pedagogical development, and are available to all faculty—tenured/tenure-track, lecturers, adjunct, and graduate teaching assistants (excepting visiting faculty)—who teach courses in the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Funds awarded will be available through the end of the following fiscal year (i.e. funds awarded in Academic Year 2018-2019 must be used no later than June 2020).

https://cahss.umbc.edu/cahss-grants-for-pedagogy-and-teaching-pat-awards/

Email: ssusanne@umbc.edu

Contact: Susan Sutton


Program: Research Grant

Agency: CAHSS, UMBC

Next Deadline: April 8th, 2019

The CAHSS Dean’s Research Fund (CDRF) provides a biannual competitive funding opportunity for up to $5,000 to support the research endeavors of CAHSS tenured and tenure-track faculty and lecturers. Funds will support developing or established scholarly and creative projects. Faculty on visiting or short-term appointments are not eligible to apply. Awarded funds will be available through the end of the following fiscal year. Following completion of the grant term, awardees will be required to provide evidence of work produced and a short report describing how funds were spent and how any equipment purchased has been designated for continued College use.

https://cahss.umbc.edu/cahss-deans-research-fund/

Email: ssusanne@umbc.edu

Contact: Susan Sutton

***Humanities Scholars please contact Rachel Brubaker (rbruba1@umbc.edu) for additional funding opportunities.***

Posted: February 15, 2019, 11:45 AM