Murphy Seed Grants for Faculty

Call for Proposals is Now Open

The Murphy Institute’s Center for Public Policy Research offers seed grants of up to $3,000 to encourage both interdisciplinary connections on campus and external research grant proposals by Tulane faculty members. The seed grant program aims are to initiate new research in political economy and/or the influence of public policy on the economy, help move current projects forward, and assist faculty in cultivating a base of external funding that will support their work over the long term.

Submit proposals to murphy@tulane.edu. We will begin reviewing applications March 1, 2024.

 

Eligibility

We welcome seed grant applications from faculty of all ranks across the university with the exception of Professors of Practice. Projects must be related to political economy and/or the influence of public policy on the economy - broadly construed. Proposals should include the project’s or researcher’s contribution to diversity, equity and inclusion, or how this project helps advance those values in the broader world. Proposals from outside the social sciences are welcomed and encouraged.

Application Procedure

Faculty who wish to be considered for support should submit a proposal, including budget summary and a CV (see guidelines) to murphy@tulane.edu by March 1, 2024. Proposals received after March 1 will be considered if funding is available.

Application Guidelines

Interested faculty members should submit a brief proposal of no more than two pages that includes:

  1. A brief description of the proposed research project (no more than two pages, not including budget summary and CV). Proposals should include a timeline of proposed activities funded by the grant.
  2. A budget summary (sample is provided in Budget Considerations section below)
  3. A current CV or BioSketch
  4. A brief statement detailing the project or researcher's contribution to diversity, equity and inclusion, or how this project advances those values in the broader world.
Budget Considerations

Requests should not exceed $3,000. With the exception of large equipment purchases and faculty salaries, Murphy Seed Grants may be applied toward a wide variety of expenses. For example, compensation for research assistance, data acquisition or collection, and required travel would be permissible expenditures. All travel must be booked in accordance with the Tulane travel policy. Funds must be expended within 12 months of receipt.

Budget Summary Example

APPLICANT and CONTACT DETAILS

UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT and COLLEGE

TITLE of PROPOSAL

PROJECTED EXPENSES

RESOURCES AND SUPPLIES (directly related to project, but not equipment)

 $_______________________

PERSONNEL (research assistance, postdocs, no more than 40% of the grant)

 $_______________________

TRAVEL (including conference/symposia registration fees)

 $_______________________

TOTAL FUNDS REQUESTED

 $_______________________

 

Deadline & Review

Proposals must be received by March 1, 2024. Proposals will be assessed on their merit in relation to their focus on political economy, the thoroughness of the proposed budget, the strength of the diversity, equity and inclusion component, and the overall scholarly merit of the proposal. Proposals received after March 1 will be considered if funding is available. Grant recipients will also be required to submit a final report on their research activity to the Murphy Institute by July 31, 2024.

 

Nghana Lewis and two faculty discussing research

 

Past Recipients

2022 Recipients

In 2022, The Murphy Institute awarded Public Policy Seed Grants to two research projects, one collaborative and one solo-authored:

  • Claire Daniel (Newcomb Institute), Julie Hernandez (Public Health), Mirya Holman (Political Science) and Anna Mahoney (Newcomb Institute)
  • Javiera Selman, Economics
2021 Recipients

In 2021, the following five faculty members received Murphy Institute Public Policy Seed Grants:

  • Emily Cook, Economics
  • Augustine Denteh, Economics
  • Nghana Lewis, English and Africana Studies
  • Wei Long, Economics
  • Raymond Taras, Political Science
2020 Recipients

In 2020, the following researchers received Murphy Institute Public Policy Seed Grants:

  • Patrick Button, Economics
  • Xuanhao He, Economics
  • Engy Ziedan, Economics
2019 Recipients

In 2019, the following researchers received Murphy Institute Public Policy Seed Grants:

  • Patrick Button, Economics; Luca Fumarco, Economics
  • Xiaojin Chen, Sociology
  • Mirya Holman, Political Science
  • Virginia Oliveros, Political Science
  • Engy Ziedan, Economics
2018 Recipients

In 2018, the following researchers received Murphy Institute Public Policy Seed Grants:

  • Kevin Callison, Economics; Rujun Zhao, Economics
  • LaPorchia Collins, Economics
  • Keith Finlay, Economics
  • Diego Rose, Public Health; Rodrigo Aranda, Economics