Wilson School funding available for creative quantitative research projects in education

A fund offered through Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs will focus on cross-disciplinary education projects involving quantitative data analysis.

The Overdeck Research Fund will award up to $500,000 to Princeton faculty and students for innovative research projects focused on education. For the 2017-18 academic year, two levels of grant support are available: Grants of $5,000 or less, and grants between $5,000 and $200,000.

Priority will be given to cross-disciplinary proposals that focus on education with intersections among two or more of the following disciplines: economics, sociology, politics, psychology, and the natural and physical sciences.

Preference also will be given to proposals that align with one or more of the following focus areas:

• Early impact: with the goal of exploring how best to support parents and caregivers in fulfilling their essential role in their children’s development;

• Exceptional educators: with the goal of increasing the preparation and development of teachers who are more likely to be ready on day one and stay engaged in the teaching profession for many years;

• Innovative schools: with the goal of discovering core elements of successful school models and supporting innovation so these models can be replicated elsewhere;

• Inspired minds: with the goal of ensuring that all students are stimulated and challenged both in and out of school, as well as identifying and encouraging the potential of future innovators.

“It’s an important time to be engaged in education research, and we’re honored the Overdeck Research Fund allows such an opportunity for Princeton scholars,” said Cecilia Rouse, dean of the Wilson School, the Lawrence and Shirley Katzman and Lewis and Anna Ernst Professor in the Economics of Education and professor of economics and public affairs.

Individual faculty members, Princeton students or groups of faculty or students may submit proposals. All student submissions must include a Princeton faculty member as principal investigator or adviser. Proposals from any part of the research continuum — from planning grants to data collection and analysis — are welcome.

All proposals should include a letter of intent no more than two pages long and a detailed budget. Grant proposals for $5,000 to $200,000 are due by Nov. 13. There is no deadline for grant proposals for under $5,000.

By Nov. 30, a faculty committee will invite selected projects to submit full proposals, which will be due Jan. 5, 2018. Full proposal guidelines will be included in the request.

All proposal materials should be submitted to Heather Evans, special assistant to the dean, at heathere@princeton.edu. Evans can be reached by email or 609-258-3143 for letter-of-intent guidelines and other questions.

Demonstrating a passion and commitment to the future of American education, John and Laura Overdeck established the Overdeck Family Foundation in 2011. Laura graduated from Princeton in 1991 and serves on the Woodrow Wilson School Advisory Council, the Board of Trustees and the Department of Astrophysical Sciences Advisory Board. The Overdeck Family Foundation seeks to fill children’s untapped potential by funding compelling, innovative programs and projects that have proven, quantifiable results.