Early Career Scholarship Grants

The Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement (OVPFA) recognizes that this is a challenging time for many faculty as you navigate securing support for your scholarship. Recent changes to the funding and research landscape have created new pressures across many fields, often requiring you to rethink and adapt your approaches in ways that may be unfamiliar. We understand these challenges and are committed to supporting you as you continue to advance your work.

OVPFA is here to support faculty that are looking to secure funding. 

First, our office can help connect you with the right university resources to support you in finding non-traditional funding sources and also grant proposal development. We know that navigating these offices and processes can sometimes feel complex, and we’re here to make that easier. To learn more, please visit our grant funding resource page or email us at [email protected]. We’re happy to help guide you.

Second, and to offer additional support, OVPFA is announcing this Early Career Scholarship Request for Proposals (RFPs). This call is designed to supplement faculty needs in the current climate of uncertainty.

There will be 2 categories of small grants issued under this RFP; they are:

Scholarship Grants for equipment, reagents, supplies, travel, staffing, event and registration costs, and other resource needs in support of advancing scholarship. A limited number of grants will be funded in the amount of $3000.

Scholarship Symposium Grants will support proposals to share faculty scholarship and engage with colleagues in the Columbia academic community and beyond. In addition to convening funds, OVPFA will support the logistical management of events. Faculty may apply to these grants for up to $5000. Symposium benefiting multiple Columbia faculty and/ or schools will be given preferential consideration. 

 

Eligibility and Review Criteria:

  • All untenured Columbia University faculty on the tenure track are eligible to apply.
  • Faculty are only eligible to apply to 1 (one) grant opportunity (either Scholarship or Scholarship Symposium) per Scholarship grant cycle.
  • Preferential consideration will be given to faculty
    • working in scholarly areas that have been most adversely impacted by shifting conditions and scholarship enablement structures;
    • who can demonstrate immediate need;
    • who lack alternative sources of support;
    • who are struggling to secure a significant source of funding or opportunity to elevate their scholarship; and
  • (For Scholarship Symposium Grants) Preferential consideration will be given to proposals that academically benefit more than one Columbia faculty member and/or school with a single symposium.

 

Review Process: All submissions will be reviewed for eligibility by OVPFA. A faculty committee will review eligible grant application submissions and make funding recommendations. OVPFA will make final decisions contingent upon available funds. 

Deadline: Proposals will be due April 30, 2026. Apply here. 

Notification: Successful applicants will be notified within 4 weeks of proposal submission.

Scholarship Grants

Proposal Structure:

Proposals must not exceed 4 pages (not including the cover sheet) and should include:

  • Cover Sheet: Include:
    • The name and affiliation of the faculty member
    • Title of proposal
    • Up to 4 key words
    • Applicant’s brief bio.
  • Narrative (2 pages): Write an application rationale which should include:
    • Use of Funds & Scholarly Advancement
      • Describe how you will use the requested funds
      • Explain how the requested funds will directly support your research or scholarship goals.
      • Clearly describe what this funding enables that would not otherwise be possible.
    • Describe conditions that have affected your scholarship/discipline. These may include:
      • Shifts in funding priorities or reduced funding availability
      • Changes in publication landscapes or disciplinary visibility
      • Reduced access to conferences or scholarly networks
    • Expected Outcomes & Next Steps
      • Identify 1–3 concrete outcomes (e.g., submission, pilot data, publication, collaboration).
      • Briefly note how this funding positions you for future funding or scholarly advancement.
  • Budget (1 page) and Budget Narrative (1 page): Briefly justify how each expense contributes to the stated outcomes and feasibility of the project. Funds must be used for research and scholarship-related expenses. No more than one grant of $3000 will be provided per faculty member.

 

Awards will expire one year after their start date, to be named by the awardee. Faculty will be required to submit a list of expenses within one year of the stated start date. 

Scholarship Symposium Grants

Proposal Structure:

Proposals must not exceed 5 pages (not including the cover sheet) and should include:

  • Cover Sheet: Include:
    • Name and affiliation of the faculty member
    • Title of proposal research or scholarship focus for requested funds
    • Up to 4 keywords
    • Applicant’s brief bio.
  • Narrative (2 pages): Scholarly Value & Collaboration
    • Describe the area of scholarship you wish to center.
    • Describe participating faculty and their scholarship.
    • Explain how the symposium advances collaboration, visibility, or funding opportunities.
    • Indicate involvement across Columbia faculty/schools.
    • Describe conditions that have affected the trajectory of your scholarship. These may include:
      • Shifts in funding priorities or reduced funding availability
      • Changes in publication landscapes or disciplinary visibility
      • Reduced access to conferences or scholarly networks
    • Feasibility & Roles
      • Briefly describe roles of organizing faculty.
      • Identify key invitees, partners, or target participants (full confirmations are not required).
  • A Notional Agenda for the Event (1 page): An agenda should reflect how the structure supports stated scholarly outcomes.
  • Budget (1 page) and Budget Narrative (1 page): Explain how proposed costs align with the scale, participants, and intended outcomes of the symposium. Eligible expenses will be covered up to an amount of $5000 per symposium. Example eligible expenses include travel costs and honorarium for visiting guests, food and beverage, room and AV rental, printing and supplies, and other symposium-related costs. 

 

Symposium must be concluded within one (1) years from the date of funding.