The SAS Strategic Plan lists four academic themes that build on existing strengths:
- An Intelligent World: Artificial Intelligence in Education, Technology, and Society
- An Ethical World: Knowledge, Power, and Justice
- A Shared World: Expanding and Communicating the Frontiers of Human Knowledge
- A Healthy and Sustainable World: Health, Well-Being, and Environment
Funding to support research in one or more of these themes is offered through this call. Opportunities related to advancing undergraduate instruction in these themes will follow.
Funding is available to individuals who are conducting research at a novel intersection of disciplines, or to groups of faculty members working together to advance research stemming from a unique junction of their individual programs of scholarship. In either case, it is desirable for the research supported by this internal funding mechanism to lead to the submission of successful proposals for external funding, to the extent that such opportunities are available for the type of work. In the case of collaborative proposals, it is our hope that this funding mechanism will help to build new connections among SAS scholars across units and career stages (which can facilitate informal mentoring).
Individuals or teams of faculty members should submit a document of no more than three pages that describes:
- Which theme(s) the project addresses
- Rationale - How the work will advance the goals of the SAS Strategic Plan, including relevance to the academic theme(s).
- What will be accomplished and the timeframe for the work (funding will be available by April 15, 2025, and must be spent by December 31, 2026).
- Outcomes anticipated, including any specific plans for submission of proposals for external funding.
- An itemized budget and rationale for each of the anticipated expenses. Projects may include faculty and/or student collaborators, but salary support will only be provided for individuals with primary appointments in SAS departments.
Submissions must be made by March 28, 2025 through the SAS proposal submission portal.
Each faculty member may be involved in the submission of no more than one proposal as PI or Co-I. While individuals in other appointment categories may be involved in the work, the PI must be a tenured or tenure track SAS faculty member.
Reporting Requirements: Each funded project team will be required to present an overview of their project and its outcomes at an SAS Strategic Plan showcase event to be held in February 2027. Each team will also be required to submit a 2-page report of what was accomplished and its impact by February 1, 2027.