The IMAP is seeking proposals from Principal Investigators at Boston University interested in working with us.

Deadlines = March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15 annually.
We will review proposals and issue awards quarterly following the above submission deadlines.

What we are looking for
Boston University’s Impact Measurement & Allocation Program (IMAP) produces actionable research that improves sustainable investing. We collaborate with many entities in our focus on improving the creation and use of ESG (environmental, social and governance) metrics within the financial industry.
We are looking to fund research teams at Boston University that aim to explore whether and how sustainable investing practices can contribute to shifting our society towards a more sustainable state. More specifically, we seek academically-rigorous proposals looking at ESG metrics. New sources of data for metrics, the development of new metrics, and analysis of the use of metrics, are all topics of interest to the IMAP. We are currently prioritizing work focusing on ESG metrics of:

  1. Carbon Accounting / Climate Risk, and
  2. Human Capital

For more information about the IMAP, please visit our webpage at www.bu.edu/imap.

What the IMAP offers researchers
The IMAP invests in academic research projects that will directly contribute to improvements in the financial investment industry. We offer our researchers the chance to speak directly to a large and influential audience of investment professionals. We believe that our facilitation of conversations between academic researchers and the investment industry helps to close the gap between the challenges currently faced in industry and the ideas emerging from academia that can alleviate such challenges.

We will award monetary grants based upon demonstrated need and anticipated impact of the results. Our grants will most often be awarded in 2 phases.

Phase 1 – Proof of Concept: Awards up to $20k.

In Phase 1, the IMAP introduces the research team and project plan to our Advisory Board and Kitchen Cabinet of industry professionals. Utilizing this industry feedback and initial proof-of-concept work conducted by the research team, the proposal is refined for Phase 2 funding.

Phase 2 – Full Proposal: Awards up to $250k.

We will award larger grants to proposals that clearly demonstrate the ability to produce actionable research of high value to both industry and academia.

How to apply
Please answer the questions below in no more than 10 pages, in a format of your choosing. Submit your answers together with the CVs of the PI and other lead researchers to the IMAP. (Note: the CVs do not count towards the 10 page limit.)

The IMAP research funding proposal questions

  1. Research question and anticipated relevance:
    What is the challenge you intend to address within your work, your research question, and the anticipated impact it could have on the investment industry?
  2. Research Gap:
    How is your work novel and unique from similar work? Provide a brief literature review and describe the research gap that you aim to fill.
  3. Methodology:
    How will you answer your research question? Please explain your research methodology.
  4. Research Team:
    Who will conduct your project work? Please describe your research team and their relevant qualifications.
  5. Funding request and timeline:
    What is your timeline for this work and what funding do you seek from the IMAP? Please specify how the funds will be used (e.g. funding researcher salaries, travel, buying datasets, funding survey participants, etc.)
  6. Publication/Outreach/Dissemination:
    The IMAP seeks projects that can result in both academic publications and industry publications. We can assist you in preparing and selecting appropriate industry publications if needed. Please list the academic outlets that you plan to submit your work to. Please also describe any plans you may have for dissemination of your results via means such as podcasts, talks, webinars, social media, etc.

Our expectations of funded research teams
We expect recipients of our grants to

  • participate in the IMAP’s monthly lunch seminar
  • present their work to the IMAP Advisory Board and/or other IMAP audiences, and
  • provide their pre-publication working papers to be included in a “working papers” section of the IMAP’s webpage.

The IMAP team will promote your work through our communications platforms and seek opportunities for collaboration with other researchers and industry in order to ensure broad impact of your work.

Our selection process
All applications will be read and reviewed by the Directors of the IMAP: Nalin Kulatilaka and Susan Fredholm Murphy. Those proposals that best align with the IMAP’s priorities may be awarded Phase 1 funding. All Phase 2 funding will be awarded only after the IMAP directors receive additional feedback on the proposal from both our industry Advisory Board and a selection of academic peers relevant to the specific project.

Applicants can expect to receive feedback from the IMAP by the end of the month following their submission deadline. (For example, submissions received by June 15 will receive feedback by July 30.)

Please contact Susan Fredholm Murphy, the IMAP’s Executive Director with any questions.