Call for Joint Projects
The Alliance Call for Joint Projects are intended to support transatlantic projects of the highest quality, both in scientific research and collaborative teaching efforts, between faculty members of all disciplines within the Alliance network.
The Alliance Call for Joint Projects aim to promote new efforts in joint research proposal development, pilot research, collaborative teaching endeavors, and other activities in order to create new international collaborative initiatives.
DEADLINE: January 17th, 2025
Application form is available below.
The Alliance Call for Joint Projects is open to full-time officers of instruction of professorial rank, from all disciplines at Columbia University, École Polytechnique, Sciences Po, and Paris 1 PanthéonSorbonne University.
Projects must be presented jointly by at least one faculty member from Columbia University and one faculty member from any one of the three French institutions.
Projects that include third parties from other academic institutions are strongly encouraged, as long as the project team includes at least one faculty member from Columbia University and at least one faculty member from any one of the three French institutions.
The Alliance Program will fund projects up to $15,000 for travel, technological support, and other expenses related to the design and implementation of the project. The grant may not be used for Per Diems, stipends, or salaries. It may be used for a teaching assistant's salary, provided that it represents no more than 30% of the amount of the grant awarded.
Principal investigators from Columbia University must inform their Dean or Department Chair, and their Director of Administration and Finance of their application to this grant. Applications must be submitted by an individual with the authority to serve as a principal investigator, who will assume primary scholarly, administrative, and financial responsibility for the project at Columbia University.
Applicants with projects that include student travel are required to consult with The Center for Undergraduate Global Engagement (UGE - for programs that involve undergraduates), or the Dean of Students of the associated School (for programs that involve graduate students). Please note that if your funded project involves coursework or seeks credit, proper approvals from all committees and academic offices will need to be obtained, if the project is selected.
Eligible projects include:
- Joint conferences, and seminars. Although grants may not be used to produce a publication, we strongly encourage project proposals that lead to the publication of articles in peer-reviewed journals
- Thematic doctoral workshops with students and faculty members from both institutions
- The creation and delivery of joint courses (including, specifically, online courses) between Columbia and one of the three French Alliance partner institutions, in all disciplines. We are inviting proposals that aim to challenge and reinvent traditional teaching methods through the creation of joint courses (including through online, face-to-face and hybrid methodologies)
We accept applications in all subject areas. However, applications in the following priority areas are particularly encouraged:
- Climate change and sustainable development
- AI and the social and ethical impact of digital technology
- Race relations, inequality and social justice
- Democracy and human rights
- The Humanities (including digital Humanities and the promotion of Humanities research and teaching)
Special consideration will also be given to projects that aim to promote sustainable relationships between departments or schools in the Alliance network.
Application materials include the following documents and must be submitted in English on the application form at https://alliance.columbia.edu/form/joint-projects-grant-application:
- Cover page including the project title, e-mail, telephone number, and affiliation of each principal investigator
- Abstract outlining the joint project in a one-paragraph summary suitable for public reports, publicity materials, and the Alliance website
- Narrative (five pages maximum) describing the research question, theoretical foundations, project objectives, a list of deliverables, existing literature, methodology, relevance of transatlantic collaboration in the field, future publication opportunities emerging from the project, potential for project expansion, growth and sustainability, as well as and the project’s potential for encouraging future endeavors and partnerships between participating institutions
- Curriculum vitae of project investigators
- One-page budget detailing the cost allocation of the joint project with amounts specified by category (travel, accommodation, catering etc.) and a provisional timeline. Please note that the grant may not be used for Per Diems, stipends, or salaries. It may be used for a teaching assistant's salary, provided that it represents no more than 30% of the amount of the grant awarded
- At least two letters from Department Chairs or Deans, confirming their support of the project
- Letters from external collaborators, other institutions, or investigators confirming their commitment to the project
Note: If a successful project presents clear and evident potential for expansion, growth and sustainability, the Alliance Program will offer to work with principal investigators to identify additional sources of funding, particularly among US foundations, and will support outreach to potential funders as well as the application process, if relevant.
Application deadline: January 17th 2025
Applications will be assessed by the Alliance Program Scientific Committee
The evaluation will consider:
- The academic quality of the project and relevance of pedagogical innovations it proposes
- The relevance and strength of the international partnership being built and developed through the project
- A well-structured and cost-efficient budget. Only flights in Economy/Coach are allowed except for a documented medical condition that requires a reasonable accommodation that has been approved by the University’s Leave Management office.
- The project’s potential for expansion, growth and sustainability and its capacity to attract external support
- The strength of the project team and the project’s added value to broader research and academic interests within applicants’ institutions as well as the strong potential for further collaboration
Results will be announced by April 2025
Project timeline: The first project-related expenses should be incurred within one year of the date of award. All expenses and activities should be incurred within two years of the date of the award.
Project Report: Recipients are required to submit to the Alliance Program a detailed report on the project, including objectives met, achievements, outcomes, partnerships created, existing or prospective publications generated by the project, long-term impact and sustainability. The report must be submitted within three (3) months of the project’s conclusion. A 350 words summary of the report is also required for posting on the Alliance website.
Acknowledgement: Recipients are required to acknowledge the support of the “Alliance Program Joint Projects Grant” in any papers, publications, academic and public events related to the project and are required to provide the Alliance team with copies of these papers, publications, as well as conference and seminar programs.
Payment of the grant: The grant will only be awarded after submission of original receipts for all expenses. The funds will be transferred to the department of the principal investigator at Columbia University, who will assume primary scholarly, administrative, and financial responsibility for the project.
All Columbia University students and faculty members who will travel internationally as part of an Alliance granted project should refer to the International Travel Planning Policy, and are encouraged to register their travels through the University’s Global Travel website