The Center for Global Studies (CGS), in partnership with the Social Science Research Institute (SSRI), is pleased to announce the Global Social Science Research Impact Grants for the 2026–27 academic year.
These grants provide up to $5,000 to support tenured and tenure-line faculty at University Park and the Commonwealth Campuses with a track record of social science research. The awards are designed to advance globally focused social science research with the potential for significant scholarly impact.
Funds may be used for international research travel and/or other project expenses, including focus groups, survey implementation, translation, and supplies. Awards may be combined with existing institutional support, including sabbaticals, semester releases, and fellowships. Funds may not be used to pay graduate students or to attend conferences. Awardees are expected to present their work at a CGS or SSRI event and submit a post-award report.
Application Requirements
Applicants should submit:
- Cover page: Applicant’s name, professorial rank and academic title, contact information, project title, and funding amount requested.
- Project description: No more than four double-spaced pages describing the project’s scholarly significance and contribution to the global social sciences; proposed research activities; the need for international travel, if applicable; anticipated outcomes; and timetable for completion. Applicants who will be on sabbatical or have other course-release support during the award year should indicate this.
- Budget: A detailed budget of proposed research expenses.
- Curriculum vitae: No more than four pages. Please include internal and external grants received during the past five years and any non-administrative release time from teaching during the past two academic years.
Applicants must also arrange for a short letter of evaluation (approximately 200 words) from their department head or program director indicating support for the project and its relationship to the applicant’s research trajectory. For applicants with joint appointments, the letter should come from the majority unit, accompanied by a brief email acknowledging support from the heads or directors of other budgeted units.
Deadline and Submission
Application packets and supporting letters must be emailed to cgs.psu@gmail.com by October 30, 2026. Award notifications are expected by November 15.
All awarded funds must be fully expended by June 15, 2027, allowing sufficient time for transactions to move through the required approval levels before the fiscal year closes on June 30, 2027.
Questions may be directed to cgs.psu@gmail.com.