To bring together early-career researchers who are studying the economics of science with science funders and research organizations, the Economics of Science Initiative at the NBER, with support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, offers small travel grants. These grants cover the cost of visits that permit direct interactions between researchers and the scientific organizations they are studying. These organizations could be private or public research funders, or research organizations such as universities or research labs. The goal of these small grants is to enrich researchers’ understanding of the management, funding, and practice of science. Such visits are aimed at supporting scientific analyses that would advance the knowledge frontier on how science progresses and should progress, while at the same time informing the operations and practices of science funders.
Small grants, up to $5,000 per project, can be used for research-related travel, or to convene small meetings. The research grants are administered directly by the NBER to reimburse costs incurred by researchers; they are not awarded to other institutions and may not be used to cover indirect costs, summer salary, or research assistant time.
To apply for a grant, please submit a PDF file that includes (i) a one page proposal describing the scientists or organization that you plan to visit, or the research partners you plan to convene, the project that you hope to carry out, and the amount of funding that your project requires; (ii) when appropriate, a note of support from your potential partner organization; and (iii) your c.v.
Proposals should be submitted by 11:59pm ET on Thursday, November 21, 2024 using the following Google form.
Proposals from researchers with and without NBER affiliations are welcome, as are proposals from early career scholars and researchers from under-represented groups. Applicants do not need to be US residents. A committee chaired by Reinhilde Veugelers (KU Leuven) and Megan MacGarvie (Boston University and NBER) will review the proposals and announce funding decisions by early January.
Researchers who receive support will be invited to describe their project and their findings at future meetings of the Science of Science Funding Initiative.
Please direct questions about this call for proposals to Denis Healy at dhealy@nber.org.