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Accelerated Research Fellows Program

Support for social scientists applying for multi-phase research grants.

  • CCSS Accelerated Research Fellows Program

The Cornell Center for Social Sciences is introducing the CCSS Accelerated Research Fellows Program to support social scientists applying for multi-phase research grants.

Funding opportunities increasingly follow a two-phased approach to promote research that influences societal-level changes at a rapid pace. After a “phase one” award, research teams have a short window to complete the proposed research and compete for an even more ambitious “phase two” of the project.

Additional fellowships offered by CCSS:

  • The Faculty Fellows Program nurtures the careers of Cornell University’s most promising faculty members in the social sciences. 
  • The Data Science Fellows Program is designed to give outstanding Cornell graduate students the opportunity to advance their computational social science training within the CCSS’s diverse and intellectually vibrant community.

  • Overview

    Given the short window to complete proposed phase one research and develop a phase-two proposal, time is often the number one challenge researchers face. To address this challenge, the Cornell Center for Social Sciences has developed the CCSS Accelerated Research Fellows Program to support Cornell researchers during their phase one research and to help maximize the opportunities for a successful phase two proposal. Fellows receive $15,000 to use to support their time. Potential uses of these funds include hiring a graduate research assistant (hourly or GRA), hiring a teaching assistant to support time during the fellowship period, or hiring grant-writing support. If you have questions about other appropriate use of funds, please contact CCSS. Accelerated Research Fellows also receive up to $10,000 (per team) to support unanticipated costs during phase one research. 

    The CCSS Accelerated Research Fellows Program is highly competitive. Interested researchers should inquire about eligibility and apply prior to submitting their phase one proposal. Awarded fellowships will be conditional on phase one proposal acceptance and approval from their Department Chair and Dean.

  • Submissions

    To start the application process, please email socialsciences@cornell.edu and note your targeted phased funding opportunity, your title, and your department. 

    If eligible to move forward in the application process, you will be sent a link to a brief Qualtrics form that you will fill out when you send in your Phase 1 proposal to the funder. The form will ask you for the following:

    • One paragraph providing a brief overview of the project and how it fits with and/or benefits the social sciences at Cornell
    • One paragraph explaining how the funding will benefit phase one work and the phase two application
    • An overview (if known) of the potential uses of the $10k in funding and why phase one of the grant does not cover these uses
    • A copy of your phase one proposal

    The application deadline is rolling and is dependent on your phase one expected decision date.

  • Help

    • For questions, more information about eligible two-phase programs, or to begin the application process, please contact socialsciences@cornell.edu. 

  • Funding Opportunities

    • Upcoming phased funding opportunities that might be of interest to Cornell social scientists:

      • NSF Civic Innovation Challenge,The Civic Innovation Challenge is a research and action competition that accelerates the transition to practice of foundational research and emerging technologies into communities through civic-engaged research.

        • Track A: Living in a changing climate: pre-disaster action around adaptation, resilience, and mitigation 

        • Track B: Bridging the gap between essential resources and services & community needs.

      • NSF Convergence Accelerator

        • Track H: Enhancing Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities

        • Track I: Sustainable Materials for Global Challenges

        • Track J: Food & Nutrition Security

      • NSF Pathways to Enable Open-Source Ecosystems The purpose of this program is to harness the power of open-source development for the creation of new technology solutions to problems of national and societal importance.

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