Opportunities in the Social Sciences
September 2015

An archive of previous funding newsletters and links to sign up for all of our funding listservs can be found here.
 
Current Notable Opportunities

Unless otherwise noted, full proposals for all external opportunities must be submitted to the Harvard Office for Sponsored Programs (OSP) at least five business days in advance of the sponsor deadline.
 
External Opportunities

Foundation and Non-Federal:
Federal:  
 
Harvard Internal Opportunities
 
 
Foundation and Non-Federal Opportunities

asaAmerican Sociological Association
Fund for the Advancement of the Discipline
Harvard OSP Deadline: December 8, 2015
Sponsor Deadline: December 15, 2015
Award Amount: $8,000 

Supported by the American Sociological Association through a matching grant from the National Science Foundation, the goal of this project is to nurture the development of scientific knowledge by funding small, groundbreaking research initiatives and other important scientific research activities such as conferences. FAD awards provide scholars with "seed money" for innovative research that has the potential for challenging the discipline, stimulating new lines of research, and creating new networks of scientific collaboration. The award is intended to provide opportunities for substantive and methodological breakthroughs, broaden the dissemination of scientific knowledge, and provide leverage for acquisition of additional research funds.

For more information, see here.

schomburgNew York Public Library
Schomburg Center Scholars-in-Residence Program
OSP review not required
Sponsor Deadline: December 1, 2015
Award Amount: Up to $30,000

The Schomburg Center's  residency program assists scholars and professionals whose research on the black experience can benefit from extended access to the Center's resources.  The Scholars-in-Residence Program is designed to (1) encourage research and writing on the history, literature, and cultures of the peoples of Africa and the African diaspora, (2) to promote and facilitate interaction among the participants including fellows funded by other sources, and (3) to facilitate the dissemination of the researchers' findings through lectures, publications, and the ongoing Schomburg Center Colloquium and Seminar Series.  Fellowships funded by the Center will allow recipients to spend six months in residence with access to resources at the Schomburg Center and other research units of The New York Public Library.

For more information, see here.

apsAmerican Political Science Association
Communications Congressional Fellowships for Scholars and Journalists
OSP review not required
Sponsor Deadline: December 1, 2015
Award Amount: $50,000 stipend, plus a small travel allowance.

The American Political Science Association's Congressional Fellowship Program is a highly selective, nonpartisan program devoted to expanding knowledge and awareness of Congress. The program lasts nine months, beginning in November and ending in mid-August. The Communications Congressional Fellowship is open to academics and journalists from all disciplines and fields who have an analytical interest in public policy and telecommunications. Candidates must have US citizenship or permanent residency. Scholars must have a PhD completed within the last 15 years or will have defended a PhD dissertation by November of the fellowship year.

For more information, see here.

ghfGerda Henkel Foundation
Security, Society and the State
Harvard OSP Deadline: November 25, 2015
Sponsor Deadline: December 4, 2015
Award Amount: No specified limit for research projects

This program targets new security-related issues that are prime examples of the post-Cold-War era but have been largely neglected in mainstream research. The program is intended to encourage junior scholars to pursue unconventional research agendas that are nonetheless crucial, while providing senior scholars with the opportunity to focus intensively on work in progress for a limited period. Moreover, the objective is to combine basic theoretical research with concepts that are applicable to present-day political issues of security policy.  The grants for research projects involve, depending on the type of project, the assumption of costs for personnel, travel, materials and/or other costs. 

For more information, see here.

aauwAmerican Association of University Women
American Fellowships
OSP review not required
Sponsor Deadline: November 15, 2015
Award Amount: Up to $30,000 for research leave fellowships, $20,000 for dissertation fellowships, and $6,000 for short-term publication grants

American Fellowships support women scholars who are completing dissertations, planning research leave from accredited institutions, or preparing research for publication. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Candidates are evaluated on the basis of scholarly excellence; quality and originality of project design; and active commitment to helping women and girls through service in their communities, professions, or fields of research.

For more information, see here.

fordFord Foundation Fellowships
OSP review not required
Sponsor Deadline: November 13, 2015
Award Amount: One year stipend of $45,000

Through its Fellowship Programs, the Ford Foundation seeks to increase the diversity of the nation's college and university faculties by increasing their ethnic and racial diversity, to maximize the educational benefits of diversity, and to increase the number of professors who can and will use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students.  Eligibility is limited to individuals who have been awarded a Ph.D. or Sc.D. degree no earlier than November 30, 2008 and no later than November 13, 2015 in an eligible research-based field from a U.S. institution of higher education.  Eligible fields include American studies, anthropology, archaeology, art and theater history, astronomy, chemistry, communications, computer science, cultural studies, earth sciences, economics, education, engineering, ethnic studies, ethnomusicology, geography, history, international relations, language, life sciences, linguistics, literature, mathematics, performance study, philosophy, physics, political science, psychology, religious studies, sociology, urban planning, and women's studies. Also eligible are interdisciplinary ethnic studies programs, such as African American studies and Native American studies, and other interdisciplinary programs, such as area studies, peace studies, and social justice.

For more information, see here.

ias_historicalInstitute for Advanced Studies
School of Historical Studies
OSP review not required
Sponsor Deadline: November 1, 2015
Award Amount: Up to $75,000 for a full academic year, or $37,500 for one term

The School of Historical Studies supports scholarship in all fields of historical research, but it is concerned principally with the following: Greek and Roman civilizations, Medieval Europe, Modern Europe, The Islamic World, Philosophy and International Relations, History of Art, East Asian Studies.  Each year the School welcomes approximately forty Members.  Most are working on topics in the above mentioned fields, but each year the School also selects some scholars working in other areas of historical research.  Members in the School are appointed for either one term (first term September 19 to December 16, second term January 9 to April 7) or for two terms, amounting to a full academic year.  Members are expected to remain in residence in Princeton during term time.

For more information, see here.

ias_ssInstitute for Advanced Studies
School of Social Science
OSP review not required
Sponsor Deadline: November 1, 2015
Award Amount: Up to $65,000

The School of Social Science takes as its mission the analysis of contemporary societies and social change.  It is devoted to a pluralistic and critical approach to social research, from a multidisciplinary and international perspective.  Each year, the School invites approximately twenty visiting scholars with various perspectives, methods and topics, providing a space for intellectual debate and mutual enrichment.  Scholars are drawn from a wide range of fields, notably political theory, economics, law, psychology, sociology, anthropology, history, philosophy, and literature.  Members pursue their own research, and participate in collective activities, including a weekly seminar at which on-going work is presented.  While there is an organizing theme each year, each class of accepted fellows includes some who represent that thematic focus and others who do not.  For 2016-2017, the theme will be "Law and the Social Sciences."  

For more information, see here.

cfrCouncil on Foreign Relations
International Affairs Fellowship 
OSP review not required
Sponsor Deadline: October 31, 2015
Award Amount: $95,000

The International Affairs Fellowship is a distinguished program offered by the Council on Foreign Relations to assist mid-career scholars and professionals in advancing their analytic capabilities and broadening their foreign policy experience. The program aims to strengthen career development by helping outstanding individuals acquire and apply foreign policy skills beyond the scope of their professional and scholarly achievements.  The IAF Program is only open to mid-career professionals who have a demonstrated commitment to a career in foreign policy. The program welcomes applicants from a broad range of professional, academic, and personal backgrounds. 

For more information, see here.

aclsAmerican Council of Learned Societies
Comparative Perspectives on Chinese Culture and Society
Harvard OSP Deadline: October 28, 2015
Sponsor Deadline: November 4, 2015
Award Amount: Up to $6,000 for planning meetings; $10,000-$15,000 for workshops; Up to $25,000 for conferences

ACLS invites proposals in the humanities and related social sciences that adopt an explicitly cross-cultural or comparative perspective.  Projects may, for example, compare aspects of Chinese history and culture with those of other nations and civilizations, explore the interaction of these nations and civilizations, or engage in cross-cultural research on the relations among the diverse and shifting populations of China.  Proposals are expected to be empirically grounded, theoretically informed, and methodologically explicit.  The program aims to promote interchange among scholars who may not otherwise have the opportunity to work together. Accordingly, proposals will not be supported for activities of scholars from one institution or that fall within an institution's normal range of colloquia, symposia, or seminar series. 

For more information, see here.

luceHenry Luce Foundation/ACLS Program in China Studies
Harvard OSP Deadline: October 28, 2015 (required only for workshop grants)
Sponsor Deadline: November 4, 2015
Award Amount: Varies depending on type of award

The Henry Luce Foundation/ACLS Program in China Studies seeks to maintain the vitality of China Studies in North America through fellowships and grants designed primarily for scholars early in their careers.  The program offers three competitions:
  • Predissertation-Summer Travel Grants, for graduate students  who wish to conduct preliminary preparations in China prior to beginning basic research for the dissertation.
  • Postdoctoral Fellowships, for scholars who are preparing or augmenting their PhD dissertation research for publication, or who are embarking on new research projects; and
  • Collaborative Reading-Workshop Grants, for scholars of different disciplines to investigate texts that constitute essential points of entry to Chinese periods, traditions, communities, or events in contemporary or historical times. 
Applications in all disciplines of the humanities and related social sciences are welcome. The program supports the study of Chinese culture and society in all periods. Research in Hong Kong, Tibet and Taiwan is eligible.

For more information, see here.

carnegieCarnegie Corporation
Promoting Innovative Approaches to Peacebuilding
Harvard OSP Deadline: October 26, 2015
Sponsor Deadline: November 2, 2015
Award Amount: Up to $1,000,000

Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs are joining efforts to promote innovative approaches in the broad and evolving field of peacebuilding.  This joint Public-Private Partnership on Peacebuilding (Px4 Initiative) will provide funding for one to three consortia that will present projects involving a US, a Norwegian, and at least one Southern/emerging power partner.  There should be substantial involvement by all three consortia partners, with special emphasis on the Southern/emerging power partner.  The projects should involve translation of research from both Northern and Southern/emerging powers into practical policy recommendations.

For more information, see here.

wgfWenner-Gren Foundation
Post-Ph.D. Research Grants
Harvard OSP Deadline: October 23, 2015
Sponsor Deadline: November 1, 2015
Award Amount: Up to $20,000

Post-Ph.D. Research Grants are awarded to individuals holding a Ph.D. or equivalent degree to support individual research projects. The program contributes to the Foundation's overall mission to support basic research in anthropology and to ensure that the discipline continues to be a source of vibrant and significant work that furthers our understanding of humanity's cultural and biological origins, development, and variation. The Foundation supports research that demonstrates a clear link to anthropological theory and debates, and promises to make a solid contribution to advancing these ideas. 

For more information, see here.

sorosOpen Society Foundations
Soros Justice Fellowships
OSP review not requied
Sponsor Deadline: October 21, 2015
Award Amount: $58,000-110,250

The Soros Justice Fellowships fund outstanding individuals to undertake projects that advance reform, spur debate, and catalyze change on a range of issues facing the US criminal justice system. Fellows receive funding through the following two categories:
 
Advocacy Fellowships fund lawyers, advocates, grassroots organizers, researchers, and others with unique perspectives to undertake full-time criminal justice reform projects at the local, state, and national levels. Projects may range from litigation to public education to coalition-building to grassroots mobilization to policy-driven research.
 
Media Fellowships support writers, print and broadcast journalists, bloggers, filmmakers, and other individuals with distinctive voices proposing to complete media projects that engage and inform, spur debate and conversation, and catalyze change on important US criminal justice issues.
 
For more information, see here.

aaasAmerican Academy of Arts and Sciences
Visiting Scholars Program
OSP review not required
Sponsor Deadline: October 20, 2015
Award Amount: Up to $65,000 for junior faculty members; up to $45,000 for postdoctoral students

The Academy's Visiting Scholars Program provides residential fellowships for junior faculty members and postdoctoral scholars in the humanities and social sciences. The fellowship program offers scholars a year for research and writing free from teaching and administrative duties, a collaborative work environment, and the opportunity to interact with Academy members. It also creates a national network for these scholars, assisting them in their research and professional development.  The Academy seeks proposals in the humanities and social sciences relating to American history, culture, and public policy from the founding period to the present.

 

For more information, see here.

 

chiangChiang Ching-Kuo Foundation for International Scholarly Exchange
Scholar Grants
Harvard OSP Deadline: October 7, 2015
Sponsor Deadline: October 15, 2015
Award Amount: up to $40,000 for full Professors; $35,000 for Associate Professors; and $30,000 for Assistant Professors

The Foundation's grants provide support for research on Chinese studies in the humanities and social sciences. 
 
Scholar Grants support tenured faculty, including full and Associate professors, to take sabbatical for research and writing. 
 
Junior Scholar Grants provide grants for time off for research and writing to postdoctoral scholars and Assistant professors without tenure who are affiliated with an accredited US university and who have taught for no more than 6 years since receiving their PhD degree.
 
For more information, see here.

trudeauPierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
Doctoral Scholarships
Harvard Pre-Proposal Deadline: October 5, 2015
Harvard OSP Deadline: December 4, 2015
Sponsor Deadline: December 11, 2015
Award Amount: $60,000/year for 4 years

The Trudeau Doctoral Scholarships reward outstanding doctoral candidates who are enrolled or about to be enrolled in a social sciences and humanities program and who are doing research in areas related to four themes: Human Rights and Dignity, Responsible Citizenship, Canada in the World and People and their Natural Environment.  The award supports interdisciplinary research and original fieldwork by providing a substantial yearly allowance for research and travel, enabling the Scholars to gain first-hand contact with the diverse communities that can enrich their studies.  To be eligible for the Harvard nomination, a candidate must be a Canadian citizen applying for the first year of a doctoral program in the social sciences and humanities at Harvard or registered in the first or second year of such a program at Harvard.

Only six applications may be submitted from Harvard University.  In order to select nominees, the Office of the Vice Provost for Research will conduct an internal competition.  For information on the internal application process please see here.

indiaIndo-U.S. 21st Century Knowledge Initiative  
Harvard Pre-Proposal Deadline: September 28, 2015
Harvard OSP Deadline: October 26, 2015
Sponsor Deadline: November 2, 2015
Award Amount: Up to $190,000 for 3 years

This initiative aims to strengthen collaboration and build partnerships between American and Indian institutions of higher education. Accredited U.S. post-secondary educational institutions may submit proposals to support the program's goals of encouraging mutual understanding, facilitating educational reform, fostering economic development, and engaging civil society through academic cooperation with Indian post-secondary educational institutions.  Exchange activities may include but are not limited to curriculum design, research collaboration, team teaching, focused series of exchanges, seminars, among other activities. Activities should be designed to develop expertise, advance scholarship and teaching, and promote long-term ties between partner institutions.  Proposals in the following fields are eligible: Energy, Climate Change & Environmental Studies; Education & Educational Reform; Public Health; Sustainable Development & Community Development; and International Relations & Strategic Studies.

This is a limited submission opportunity and only one application may be submitted from Harvard University.  For more information on the award and the Harvard internal selection process, see here.
Federal Opportunities
usaidAgency for International Development

dosDepartment of State
naraNational Archives and Records Administration
 
nihNational Institutes of Health
nsfNational Science Foundation
nehNational Endowment for the Humanities
agency_alertsSign up for agency-specific funding alerts:
Internal Opportunities

climateClimate Change Solutions Fund
Deadline: November 1, 2015
Award Amount: Up to $150,000 over 1-2 years

Information Session: September 25 2015 9:00-11:00am in the Thompson Room of the Barker Center 

 

The Climate Change Solutions Fund supports research and policy initiatives intended to hasten the transition from carbon-based energy systems to those that rely on renewable energy sources, to develop methods for diminishing the impact of existing carbon-based energy systems on the climate, and to propel scientific, technological, legal, policy and artistic innovations needed to accelerate progress toward cleaner energy and a greener world.  Full-time assistant, associate, or full professors in all disciplines from any Harvard School may apply for an award.  Students and postdoctoral scholars may apply for an award provided they have an identified faculty mentor who will supervise their research.

For more information on the fund, see here.  To access the online application, see here.

radcliffe_esExploratory Seminars at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study
Deadline: October 26, 2015 for one- to two-day seminars hosted by the Radcliffe Institute during the 2016-2017 academic year
Award Amount: Up to $18,000

Exploratory seminars provide funding to bring together scholars, practitioners, and artists from Harvard University and around the world to develop early-stage ideas and research across the disciplines. The seminars support risk-taking inquiry into new ideas and research.  These seminars have led to new scholarly research, publications, cross-disciplinary partnerships, and successful grant applications. Proposals are welcome from all academic fields, and proposals advancing innovation in learning and teaching and those considering issues connected to the wider field of urban studies are welcome.  All Harvard faculty and past and present Radcliffe fellows are eligible.

For more information, see here.

pifiePresident's Innovation Fund for International Experiences
Deadline: October 26, 2015
Award Amount: $5,000-60,000

The President's Innovation Fund for International Experiences (PIFIE) provides seed funding to faculty members at any Harvard school to support the development of creative and significant academic experiences abroad for Harvard College students. This may mean involving undergraduates in an ongoing overseas project sponsored by a Harvard graduate or professional school, department, center, or other academic unit; developing experience-based courses for students overseas, including courses prior to and/or following their international experience; or other innovative opportunities.  Applications will fall into three categories: 1) requests for funding to develop and implement a new international program, 2) requests for funding to make exploratory or planning site visits, or 3) requests from prior award recipients for renewal funding.

For more information, see here.

fhbFoundations of Human Behavior Initiative
Deadlines: Proposals are due on the last day of February, May, August, and November
Award Amount: Up to $40,000

These research funds provide seed grants for proposals that promise to advance understanding of the social, institutional and biological mechanisms shaping human beliefs and behavior. The funds will be used to support interdisciplinary social science research projects based on innovative experimental or observational designs that make use of sophisticated quantitative methods.  The Fund also supports seminars, conferences, and other research-related activities.

 

The Fund is especially interested in reviewing and supporting research on the foundations of human behavior of the following kinds:
    • Interdisciplinary projects
    • Innovative projects
    • Exploratory projects
    • Projects with the potential to have an enormous impact on social science, policy, or human well-being
    • Research conducted with the collaboration of new investigators (although investigators at all career stages are encouraged to apply)
    • Research requiring seed funding, possibly to explore the viability of ideas for larger-scale, externally funded efforts

For more information, see here. 

 
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