Spring 2022 Request for Proposals now Open: Early Stage Urban Research Awards

The Initiative on Cities (IOC) is pleased to announce our Spring 2022 Request for Proposals for our Early Stage Urban Research Awards. Awarded annually to BU faculty and graduate students under faculty supervision, these seed grants of up to $10,000 support research addressing urban challenges and urban populations in the U.S. and abroad.

This year, we are particularly interested in proposals related to: mental health and addiction, the Global South, small cities and suburban growth, and policy-oriented research. Additionally, we always welcome projects from other academic disciplines that work toward sustainable, just, and inclusive urban transformation.

Awards are open to all Boston University schools, and interdisciplinary collaboration is encouraged. BU faculty and BU graduate students with faculty oversight are eligible to apply for funding.

Since 2015, the IOC has awarded seed grants to 90 projects. In 2021, we funded 14 projects, including 8 led by BU graduate students and 6 by BU faculty. In 2020, we funded ten projects through our traditional RFP, as well as an additional five COVID-19 Research-to-Action proposals. We seek to continue our catalytic investment in diverse academic research across the Boston University community while advancing the understanding of complex urban challenges and effective policies and solutions.

Submissions are due on Sunday, February 27, 2022 at at 11:59pm ET. Applicants will be notified no later than Tuesday, April 5, 2022.