ISSR Scholars Program

The Institute for Social Science Research Scholars Program supports social science faculty from across the university to build new directions in their research programs.

ISSR Scholars engage in a regular year-long seminar facilitated by experienced research grant recipients, and receive grant preparation support from ISSR's Grants Manager. Scholars benefit from ongoing workshopping of research proposals, advice on grant writing and submission, information about granting agencies, and funding to consult with nationally recognized scholars of their choosing. 

ISSR Scholars have emerged from all of the UMass Colleges. Since 2012, ISSR Scholars have earned more than $30 million in external grant funding as PIs and co-PIs. 74% of Scholars have received external funding to support their research, and their funding success rate is double that of NSF Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences grantseekers.

Meet our scholars

Current Scholars Past Scholars

Eligibility

  • All ranks of social science faculty across the university. In order to participate fully in the Scholars Program and to encourage concerted effort on grant preparation, selected faculty must secure one course release for the 2022-2023 academic year. Upon application, each candidate must have a letter from their home department or college/school confirming that a release is available. Each unit may decide how the course release will be funded.
  • In addition to the individual Scholars application, ISSR now also accepts applications for Scholar Collaborators - interdisciplinary partners who are working on joint grant proposals. The two people who are applying as Scholar Collaborators must be from two different home departments at UMass; cross-college collaborations are also encouraged.

Deadlines and Questions

Applications are now closed for the 2022-23 Scholars cohort. Applications for the 2023-24 cohort will open in December.
Full application Instructions here.

Application tips: 
Summary from the December 2021 ISSR & CRF Scholars Info-session

If you have questions about the ISSR Scholars Program please Email Joya Misra,