Faculty Recognition & Funding Opportunities – March 15, 2016

posted March 15, 2016

RECOGNITION

Ronald Patkus, Associate Director of the Libraries for Special Collections and Adjunct Associate Professor of History, was awarded the Bridwell Fellowship by the Perkins School of Theology southern Methodist University. Each year the Perkins School offers six fellowships of independent study designed to encourage in-depth use of the Bridwell Library for study and research. The Bridwell holds some 400,000 items in religion, theology, and related fields, including a significant Bible collection; medieval manuscripts and scrolls; translations and commentaries of the Reformation period; missionary Bibles in diverse languages; and modern fine press editions. Ron plans to spend his fellowship at the Bridwell in work on his developing monograph, tentatively titled The Private Press Bible.

***OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTRAMURAL FUNDING***

MARCH 28 Faculty Committee on Research Twice a year, the Committee on Research awards funds for all phases of faculty research and considers projects in early stages as well as those that are near completion. The committee encourages applications where initial funding holds promise for continuing funding from external granting agencies as well as research that falls outside the purview of external funding agencies. In awarding research funds, the committee takes into account the likelihood of the project resulting in a finished product: the publication of a scholarly article or book, or the successful completion of a work of art, the mounting of an art exhibition or a dramatic production. All faculty members, whether tenured, on tenure-track, on more limited contracts, or emeriti, are eligible to apply. Support for summer research is only available to faculty continuing in the fall. When funds are limited and it is not possible to fund all eligible projects, the Committee will give priority to applications from those who are tenured or on tenure-track, and to those who have not recently received support from this committee or other sources. Applications for the Spring 2016 cycle are due by 5PM, Monday, March 28, 2016. Detailed instructions and forms are posted online here. Email attached proposals to researchcommittee@vassar.edu. If you have any questions about eligibility or the application process, please consult the Committee Chair, Pinar Batur, (pibatur@vassar.edu) or Amanda Thornton, Director of Grants Administration (amthornton@vassar.edu).

MARCH 28 Asprey Center for Collaborative Approaches to Science (Asprey CCAS) is now accepting applications for funding for the Spring 2016 cycle. All faculty members on tenure track lines, emeriti and faculty on continuing contracts are eligible to apply. Students also may apply for Student Research Enhancement grants. Instructions and the application form are available at: http://pages.vassar.edu/accas/ Applications for the Spring 2016 cycle are due by 5 pm, Monday, March 28, 2016. If you have any questions about eligibility or the application process, please consult the director of Asprey CCAS, Jill Schneiderman, (schneiderman@vassar.edu). Asprey CCAS fosters the development of a vibrant scientific community in which faculty engage in innovative, interdisciplinary teaching and research, and students are inspired to become confident and competent scientists.

*APRIL 4 The Carolyn Grant ’36 Endowment Fund offers Vassar’s faculty the opportunity to integrate expressive arts and experiential processes into teaching and to explore pedagogical methodologies that engage the imagination in a hands-on way. “Experiential processes” include story-telling, movement, drawing, verbal-enactment, meditative-arts, group process and dialogue, creative applications of myth, dream, and folklore, and new audio-visual intensive models of instruction and expression. At this time, the steering committee for the Carolyn Grant ’36 Endowment requests your project proposals, which should offer a succinct description of your project and of the course to be developed or modified by the use of Carolyn Grant ‘36 funding. The pedagogical methods and goals of that course should be included along with a breakdown of anticipated expenses. Note that grants generally range between $500-$3500. For complete instructions and the application form, see the Carolyn Grant ’36 Endowment website: http://carolyngrantendowment.vassar.edu/apply/

SOME UPCOMING DEADLINES FOR EXTERNAL FUNDING

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING & MATHEMATICS

MARCH 18 James S. McDonnell Foundation (JSMF) is accepting applications for its 2016 Complex Systems Scholar Award, which supports high-quality research and scholarship leading to the generation of new knowledge and its responsible application with an emphasis on furthering the science of complex systems through the continued development of the theory and tools used in the study of complex research questions (as opposed to particular fields of research per se). Priority will be given to projects that attempt to apply complex systems approaches to coherently articulated questions. Largely unrestricted grants of up to $450,000 over four to six years will be awarded to allow investigators from anywhere in the world to pursue and develop new directions to their research programs. See the JSMF website for complete program guidelines and application instructions: https://www.jsmf.org/apply/scholar-cs/

MARCH 24 National Science Foundation (NSF) EarthCube is a community-driven activity sponsored through a partnership between the NSF Directorate for Geosciences (GEO) and the Directorate for Computer & Information Science & Engineering (CISE) Division of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (ACI) to transform research in the academic geosciences community. EarthCube aims to create a well-connected and facile environment to share data and knowledge in an open, transparent, and inclusive manner, thus accelerating our ability to understand and predict the Earth system. Achieving EarthCube will require a long-term dialog between NSF and the interested scientific communities to develop cyberinfrastructure that is thoughtfully and systematically built to meet the current and future requirements of geoscientists. New avenues will be supported to gather community requirements and priorities for the elements of EarthCube, and to capture the best technologies to meet these current and future needs. The EarthCube portfolio will consist of interconnected projects and activities that engage the geosciences, cyberinfrastructure, computer science, and associated communities. The portfolio of activities and funding opportunities will evolve over time depending on the status of the EarthCube effort and the scientific and cultural needs of the geosciences community. This umbrella solicitation for EarthCube allows funding opportunities to be flexible and responsive to emerging needs and collaborative processes; for the current solicitation, visit NSF online: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2016/nsf16514/nsf16514.htm

MARCH 28 NSF STEM+Computing Partnerships Program (STEM+C) seeks to significantly enhance the learning and teaching of science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), and computing by K-12 students and teachers through research on, and development of, courses, curriculum, course materials, pedagogies, instructional strategies, models, or pedagogical environments that innovatively integrate computing into one or more other STEM disciplines, or integrate STEM content into the teaching and learning of computing. In addition, STEM+C seeks to build capacity in K-12 computing education with foundational research and focused teacher preparation. Projects in the STEM+C program should build on research in STEM education and prior research and development efforts that provide theoretical and empirical justification for proposed projects. Pre-service and in-service teachers who participate in STEM+C projects are expected to enhance their understanding and teaching of STEM and computing content, practices, and skills. STEM+C invites creative and innovative proposals that address emerging challenges in the learning and teaching of STEM and computing. The program offers proposers two tracks: (1) Integration of Computing in STEM Education and (2) Computing Education Knowledge and Capacity Building. The second track is discipline-specific and may be expanded to include additional disciplines in future releases of the solicitation. For details, visit NSF online: http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?WT.z_pims_id=505006&ods_key=nsf16527

Multiple NSF funding opportunities are now open! See the full list online at http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_list.jsp?org=NSF&ord=date

MARCH 31 IDEA is accepting proposals for its 2016-17 Impact Grants Program, which includes Teaching/Learning grants and Campus Climate grants. IDEA Impact Teaching/Learning Grants are designed to promote effective student learning through the careful exploration and systematic documentation of the efficacy of various teaching practices, learning environments, and institutional policies. Examples of eligible projects include but are not limited to classroom interventions designed to improve student learning; investigations of student and course characteristics that are related to learning; evaluation of innovative teaching methods; methods for engaging students in online courses; innovative approaches to faculty development; comprehensive approaches to teaching evaluation; and the use of student ratings to improve teaching effectiveness. IDEA Impact Campus Climate Grants are intended to support increased knowledge and understanding of campus climate issues that impact student learning and the ability of institutions to successfully carry out their mission. Examples of eligible projects include but are not limited to innovative approaches to leadership development; interventions designed to improve institutional, college, or departmental climate; investigations of methods to improve faculty recruitment, development, and retention; and strategies and approaches that improve student well-being. Grants of up to $10,000 will directly support individual faculty members, professional staff, departments, colleges, or programs. Grant recipients will be required to work with IDEA to disseminate their findings through the IDEA website, workshops or presentations in partnership with IDEA, or by writing an original IDEA paper. Application forms and an expense budget must be completed and emailed (as an attachment) by 3:00 p.m. CDT, March 31, 2016. Late applications will not be accepted for any reason. For complete program descriptions, eligibility criteria, application instructions, and the application form, see the IDEA website: http://ideaedu.org/giving/idea-impact-grants/

APRIL 8 National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) announce the Cycle 24 Call for Proposals for Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Observations and funding for Archival Research and Theoretical Research programs. Participation in this program is open to all categories of organizations, both domestic and foreign, including educational institutions. This solicitation for proposals will be open through April 08, 2016 8:00pm EDT. The Astronomer's Proposal Tools (APT), which is required for Phase I Proposal Submission will be made available/released for Cycle 24 Phase I use during the 2nd week of February 2016. Results of the selection will be announced by the end of June 2016. All programmatic and technical information, as well as specific guidelines for proposal preparation, are available electronically from the STScI Announcement Web Page: http://www.stsci.edu/hst/proposing/docs/cycle24announce

MAY 18 The Camille & Henry Dreyfus Foundation is accepting nominations for its Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Awards Program, which supports the research and teaching careers of talented young faculty in the chemical sciences at undergraduate institutions. The award is based on accomplishment in scholarly research with undergraduates, as well as a compelling commitment to teaching, and provides an unrestricted research grant of $60,000. Nominees must hold a full-time tenure-track academic appointment, be after the fourth and before the thirteenth years of their independent academic careers, and be engaged in research and teaching primarily with undergraduates. Re-nominations are accepted. For complete program guidelines and nomination instructions, see the Dreyfus Foundation website.

*JUNE 25 (also October 25) National Institutes of Health (NIH) Academic Research Enhancement Awards (AREA) support meritorious research at undergraduate degree-granting colleges and universities in order to expose students to research and help to strengthen the research environment of awardee institutions. Projects may last up to three years, and direct costs are not to exceed $300,000. AREA grants are renewable, and preliminary data are not required. For complete eligibility and instructions, please visit NIH online at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/area.htm

*AUGUST 1 Fulbright Scholar Program Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Fulbright is the U.S. government’s flagship international exchange program and is supported by the people of the United States and partner countries around the world. Fulbright’s core U.S. Scholar Program offers nearly 500 teaching, research or combination teaching/research awards in over 125 countries! Opportunities are available for faculty as well as for professionals, artists, journalists, scientists, lawyers, independent scholars and many others. In addition to several new program models designed to meet the changing needs of U.S. academics and professionals, Fulbright is offering more opportunities for flexible, multi-country grants. For more, go to http://www.cies.org/program/core-fulbright-us-scholar-program

Rolling The Simons Foundation invites Letters of Intent for its new Targeted Grants in Mathematics and Physical Sciences program, intended to support high-risk projects of exceptional promise and scientific importance on a case-by-case basis. For projects with principal investigators at different institutions, the LOI should be submitted by the lead PI and his/her institution. Applicants will be notified within two months of the submission of the LOI. See the Simons Foundation website for complete program guidelines and application instructions: https://www.simonsfoundation.org/funding/funding-opportunities/mathematics-physical-sciences/targeted-grants-in-mps/

Rolling The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation believes that a carefully reasoned and systematic understanding of the forces of nature and society, when applied inventively and wisely, can lead to a better world for all. The Foundation makes grants to support original research and broad-based education related to science, technology, and economic performance; and to improve the quality of American life. The Foundation is unique in its focus on science, technology, and economic institutions. It believes the scholars and practitioners who work in these fields are chief drivers of the nation’s health and prosperity. In each grant program, the Foundation seeks proposals for original projects led by outstanding individuals or teams.

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is interested in projects that it expects will result in a strong benefit to society, and for which funding from the private sector, the government, or other foundations is not widely available. For areas of interest and application instructions, visit the Sloan Foundation online: http://www.sloan.org/major-program-areas/?L=0%3FcHash%3D3abefb807773927e5a962594e662c143

SOME UPCOMING DEADLINES FOR EXTERNAL FUNDING

ARTS, HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

MARCH 30 (letters of interest) The Russell Sage Foundation invites proposals for its Social, Economic and Political Effects of the Affordable Care Act Grant Program, which supports innovative social science research on the social, economic, and political effects of the Affordable Care Act. The Foundation is especially interested in funding analyses that address important questions about the effects of the reform on outcomes such as financial security and family economic well-being, labor supply and demand, participation in other public programs, family and children’s outcomes, immigrant outcomes, and differential effects by age, race, ethnicity, nativity, or disability status. The Foundation is also interested in research that examines the political effects of the implementation of the new law, including changes in views about government, support for future government policy changes, and impact on policy development outside of health care. Funding is available for secondary analysis of data or for original data collection. Projects that propose novel uses of existing data or analysis of newly available or underutilized data are welcomed. The foundation will not fund research on the effects of the ACA on healthcare delivery or health outcomes (e.g., barriers to implementation, changes in the quality of care and health status, or trends in enrollment and affordability). Grant requests are limited to no more than a two-year period, with a maximum of $150,000 (including overhead) per project. LOIs must be received no later than March 30, 2016. Upon review, selected applicants will be invited to submit full applications by July 15, 2016. For complete program guidelines and to access the online application portal, visit the Russell Sage Foundation website: http://www.russellsage.org/research/funding/affordable-care-act

APRIL 15 Yale University’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and/or Queer (LGBT) Studies Department invites proposals for its annual LGBT Fellowship program designed to provide access to university resources in LGBT Studies for scholars who live outside the greater New Haven, Connecticut, region. The program supports scholars from any field interested in pursuing research in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer studies at Yale University using faculty resources, manuscript archives, and library collections at Yale. The fellowship provides an award of $4,000, which is intended to pay for travel to and from New Haven and act as a living allowance. The one-month fellowship must be taken up between September 1, 2016, and April 30, 2017, and the recipient is expected to be in residence for a minimum of twenty days during the period of their award. Scholars residing within a hundred miles of New Haven are ineligible to apply. For complete program guidelines and application instructions, see the Yale LGBT Studies website: http://lgbts.yale.edu/research

*APRIL 28 National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) invites applications for its flagship Fellowships, which support individuals pursuing advanced research that is of value to humanities scholars, general audiences, or both. Recipients usually produce articles, monographs, books, digital materials, archaeological site reports, translations, editions, or other scholarly resources in the humanities. Projects may be at any stage of development. Fellowships cover periods lasting from six to twelve months at a stipend of $4,200 per month. The maximum stipend is $50,400 for a twelve-month period. Applicants should request award periods that suit their schedules and the needs of their projects. More details are available on the NEH website at http://www.neh.gov/grants/research/fellowships

*APRIL 28 The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation-NEH Fellowships for Digital Publication support individual scholars pursuing research projects that require digital expression and digital publication. To be eligible for this special opportunity, an applicant’s plans for digital publication must be essential to the project’s research goals. That is, the project must be conceived as digital because the nature of the research and the topics being addressed demand presentation beyond traditional print publication. Successful projects will likely incorporate visual, audio, and/or other multimedia materials or flexible reading pathways that could not be included in traditionally published books. Applications submitted for this special opportunity will be evaluated separately from other NEH Fellowships applications, but, like applications submitted to the NEH Fellowships program, will be held to the highest standards of scholarship. For details and application instructions, visit NEH online: http://www.neh.gov/grants/research/neh-mellon-fellowships-digital-publication

*MAY 30 The Aaron Siskind Foundation invites applications for the 2016 Individual Photographer's Fellowships Program. The annual program encourages and celebrates artistic achievement in contemporary photography by supporting the creative endeavors of artists working in photography and photo-based art media. A limited number of fellowship grants of up to $10,000 each will be awarded to artists working in photography and photo-based art. Qualified applicants must provide a still photography portfolio that illustrates any subject, genre, and/or process. Works submitted may be traditional photography projects or experimental works, but photographic techniques must be pivotal to the works submitted. Examples of ineligible work include film, video, and interactive multimedia. Recipients will be determined by a panel of distinguished guest judges on the basis of artistic excellence, accomplishment to date, and the promise of future achievement. Fellowship funds must be used to further the artist's creative endeavors. For complete program guideline and application instructions, see the Foundation’s website: http://aaronsiskind.org/grant.html

JUNE 15 (letters of inquiry) The Russell Sage Foundation’s Future of Work Program seeks research proposals related to the role of changes in employer practices; the nature of the labor market; and public policies on the employment, earnings, and the quality of jobs of American workers. Examples of the kinds of topics and questions that are of interest include but are not limited to changing economies, changing families and policy responses (or lack thereof); economics of productivity and the role of managerial practices in improving job quality; causes and consequences of job polarization; and the effects of long-term unemployment and strategies to prevent long-term disadvantage. Priority will be given to analyses of original qualitative and quantitative data sources, and novel uses of existing sources of data to address important questions related to the interplay of market and non-market forces in shaping the well-being of workers, today and in the future. Awards are available for research assistance, data acquisition, data analysis, and investigator time for conducting research and writing up results. Grants of up to $150,000 will be awarded. Letters of Inquiry must be received no later than June 15, 2016. Upon review, selected applicants will be invited to submit full proposals by August 15, 2016. For complete program guidelines, application instructions, and an FAQ, see the Russell Sage website: http://www.russellsage.org/research/future-work

JUNE 25 (letters of intent) The El-Hibri Foundation (EHF) supports peace education and interreligious cooperation through grants to promising groups, awards that recognize leadership, and programs that promote learning and bridge-building. In 2015, EHF will award new grants of up to $25,000 for projects that address any of the following topics: 1) Demonstrating the impact of peace education on youth through careful assessment; 2) Understanding the relationship between peacebuilding, the social neurosciences, and experimental psychology; or 3) Disseminating information about the shared values of the Abrahamic traditions — Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Priority will be given to applications that focus on disseminating information about positive, prosocial, shared values and activities using diverse communications tools, strategies, and platforms. Applications may focus on sharing information about shared values research, dialogue, or collaborative joint activities involving Muslims, Christians, and/or Jews. Letters of Intent must be received no later than June 25, 2015; selected applicants will be invited to submit full proposals. Visit the EHF website for complete guidelines: http://www.elhibrifoundation.org/grants/seekers/grant-focal-areas

JULY 15 The IEEE Foundation, the charitable arm of technology innovation organization IEEE, has issued a Request for Proposals for projects that raise awareness and understanding of technology and its impact on society. Twelve-month grants of up to $100,000 will be awarded in support of projects that provide technical information at a level that can be understood by the general public; reaches a broad cross-section of society; presents, in a neutral and balanced manner, an analysis of the social benefits and costs of deploying the subject technology; and avoids advocating a particular action but encourages and enables participants to make an informed decision. In addition, projects should directly involve IEEE members, including, as appropriate, student members. To be eligible, applicants must be a part of an IEEE organizational unit, including sections, regions, societies, affinity groups, student branches, and/or major boards. See the IEEE Foundation website for complete program guidelines and application instructions: http://www.ieeefoundation.org/Grants#Focus

Rolling The Jerome Foundation offers grants in support of the creation, development, and production of new works by emerging artists in New York City and Minnesota. Through its General Program, the foundation seeks to support organizations and programs that demonstrate a substantial and ongoing commitment to the creation, development, and production of new works by emerging artists. Priority will be given to organizations and/or programs that foster a deep and sustained engagement between the artist and the organization. Grant amounts are determined on a project-by-project basis. The foundation is open to applications in and across all arts disciplines. However, programs must provide adequate payment to artists for their work and/or offer substantial opportunities to advance their work and recognition. In addition, organizations must have their primary office and operation in New York City or Minnesota. For complete program guidelines, an FAQ, information about previous grantees, and application instructions, visit the Jerome Foundation website: http://www.jeromefdn.org/apply/general-program

Rolling Mellon Slavic Studies Initiative The field of Russian, East European, and Central Asian studies is actively redefining itself in response to the dramatic transformations of the post-Soviet period and the realities of an increasingly interconnected world. To encourage fresh perspectives by emerging scholars of this dynamic region, Northwestern, Pittsburgh, and Wisconsin university presses are launching a joint publishing initiative supported by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Northwestern seeks studies of Slavic literature, art, and culture; Pittsburgh is looking for projects in the social, political, environmental, urban, and cultural history of the former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia; Wisconsin is especially interested in cultural and intellectual history, literary and film studies, anthropology, and human rights, with a focus on Russia and Eastern Europe. For program details, please visit: http://www.mellonslavicstudies.org/submissions.htm

Questions about funding for research and scholarship? Contact us:

Judith Dollenmayer (5376, judollenmayer), Associate Director, Corporate, Foundation & Government Relations

Gary Hohenberger (7092, gahohenberger), Director, Corporate, Foundation & Government Relations

Lori McElduff (5490, lomcelduff), Grants Office Specialist

Patricia Pritchard (5893, papritchard), Director, Grants Accounting

Amanda Thornton (5309, amthornton), Director of Grants Administration

Christopher White (7836, chwhite), Associate Professor of Religion and Faculty Director of Research Development

Posted on Tuesday, March 15, 2016