Special RFAs

Financial support range: up to $75,000

The goal of this request for proposals is to enable new interdisciplinary teams to pursue novel and potentially high impact basic and applied research. Although proposals aligning with SSRI’s Strategic Foci are welcome, we are especially interested in those that address at least one of the following priorities: Expands our understanding of the factors that lead to social disparities and their effects on education, health, or economic outcomes over the life course; Informs the development of policies, systems, and/or other strategies that impact education, health, or economic outcomes of populations and reduces inequity across people and places; Emphasizes engagement of communities and other stakeholders.

Financial support range: up to $200,000 is available through Level 1 and Level 2

The Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) invited proposals for pilot research projects seeking interdisciplinary Penn State teams to develop novel translational research programs-- from discovery-oriented research to dissemination and implementation science aimed at solving the opioid crisis.

Financial support range: Up to $25,000

The Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) invited proposals to develop and integrate Implementation Science (IS) into ongoing interdisciplinary research programs. We seek to support IS projects aimed at identifying effective strategies for translating scientific discoveries into broad and sustained, real-world use—such as in the form of effective programs, policies, practices and products--toward the betterment of the human condition.

Financial support range: up to $50,000

The Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) invited proposals for innovative pilot research projects that contribute to SSRI’s strategic aim of Smart and Connected Health and facilitate building a community of scholars in this domain of research.

Financial support range: up to $50,000

The Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) invites proposals for funding to supplement ongoing, externally funded, interdisciplinary “parent” research projects to cover the costs of altered methodologies and other researcher activities resulting from challenges to human subjects research due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This RFP was motivated by evidence of increasing inequities in health and health care, education and employment opportunities, poverty and economic well-being, exposure to adverse environments and other domains of life. Often such disparities are associated with race/ethnicity, immigrant status, gender, young and old age, place of residence, and other factors that shape opportunities and life chances and that can intersect in detrimental ways. A key step is to identify pathways to resilience in the face of challenge. We requested proposals for novel research by new interdisciplinary teams that focus on the causes and consequences of social disparities and/or the development of policies, programs and practices for building resilience and for remediating the negative impacts of disparities across people and places.

Financial support range: Up to $100,000 of funding is available through Level 1 and Level 2

This RFA invited Level 1 and Level 2 proposals for pilot research projects aimed at supporting the formation of new interdisciplinary teams and the development of external grant proposals to study significant issues in the areas of biological sex/gender, broadly defined.

Financial support range: up to $100,000 through SSRI Level 1 and Level 2

Proposals were invited for pilot research projects aimed at furthering our understanding and treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We were looking interdisciplinary Penn State teams to develop novel translational research programs from discovery-oriented research to dissemination and implementation science.

Financial support range: up to $200,000 through SSRI Level 1 and Level 2

The Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) invited interdisciplinary Penn State teams to develop innovative research programs using Twitter data that address questions with a social science component and involve social scientists. In addition to a clear social science focus and an interdisciplinary team, SSRI seed funding prioritizes projects that provide the foundation for competitive proposals for external funding.