Social Science Research Grant Program (SSRGP)

SSRGP 2022 Call for Proposals

DEADLINE: 5 p.m. on Monday, May 2, 2022

The UCSB Institute for Social, Behavioral, & Economic Research, in conjunction with the Office of Research, Division of Social Sciences and the Executive Vice Chancellor announces the 2022 Call for Proposals for the Social Science Research Grants Program (SSRGP). The purpose of this seed grant program is to foster and enrich innovative research in the social sciences at UCSB by means of a competitive program of awards to faculty. Research using any of the methodological or theoretical paradigms within the social and humanistic social sciences is welcome. Projects connected with an ISBER/Social Science Center are particularly encouraged. All eligible faculty members are encouraged to apply.

Eligibility

Ladder faculty members of all ranks are eligible to submit proposals provided the research focuses on a social science topic. Previous recipients of awards from the ISBER Grants Programs are allowed to apply, provided they have expended all funds and submitted an annual report for prior project(s), the requested funding is for a new project, and if funded in the 2020 round they have submitted a proposal for extramural support and/or a manuscript for publication. Graduate students are not eligible to apply.

Criteria

The program will fund research projects at all stages of development, as long as there will be an identifiable outcome or product from the funded activity. We particularly encourage the submission of proposals for projects likely to lead to extramural funding and therefore, in the early stages of development. Faculty who have never received funding under the SSRGP and pre-tenure faculty are especially encouraged to apply. However, all proposals for social science research projects will be considered, with preference for the targeted topical areas noted above. A list of all previously funded projects is available on the ISBER website.

Budgets and allowable expenses

The maximum allowable request under this program is $8,000. The program will permit the following types of funding when adequately justified:

• Travel: for the purpose of research, collaboration, or meeting with program directors at potential funding agencies

• Student research assistance: UCSB graduate or undergraduate students only; no GSHIP and fees; no postdocs

• Research expenses, supplies, & services

• Publication costs (e.g., purchase of maps, prints, etc.)

Items that will not be funded:

• Faculty salaries

• Equipment costing more than $500

• Conference travel

• Replacement funding to permit release from teaching.

Timeline for proposed work and award administration

All regular projects funded in this cycle will have a start date of July 1, 2022, and an end date of June 30, 2023. Upon written request and adequate justification, an additional 12 month extension may be granted. Extensions beyond 12 months are unlikely, given the seed funding nature of the grants. All project funds will be directly administered by ISBER.

Evaluation and review

The competitive review of eligible proposals will be undertaken by an interdisciplinary committee of social science faculty. Proposals will be reviewed for their quality, significance, clarity, feasibility, and promise for future extramural funding. Special consideration will be given to the project’s relevance to the research themes listed above. A summary of the panel discussion, including suggestions for improvement, will be provided whether or not the project is funded. Additionally, funding may be made contingent on a revision of the proposal or additional information requested by the review panel. Funding decisions for regular proposals will be provided by the end of June, 2022.

Completed regular proposals should include the following:

• Project abstract (250 words)

• A list of other funding received for the proposed project

• A list of any previous ISBER award(s) and the academic outcomes or products resulting from the awards

• Proposal narrative, including: research question(s), theoretical framework and significance, research methods, and plan (4 pp. single spaced maximum, 11 pt. type)

• References cited (no page limit)

• List of target extramural funding grants/sources or publication outlets (journal or press) that will result from the project within two years of the funding.

• Budget & Budget Justification (contact ISBER’s SSRGP proposal coordinator Shawn Barcelona, for assistance)

• C.V. (abbreviated 2-page maximum)

Submission

Proposals for the SSRGP must be submitted electronically by 5 p.m. on Monday, May 2, 2022 at: SSRGP Online Submission  

For more information, please contact: Shawn Barcelona, x5697, shawn.barcelona@ucsb.edu.

For assistance with proposal development, please contact: Barbara Walker, x3576, barbara.walker@ucsb.edu.