Information For Faculty

Faculty Funding Opportunities

University Center for International Studies
Grant Program for Faculty Research or Teaching in Germany

Recent developments in German higher education, such as the Excellence Initiative fostering the development of new research clusters, underscore an interest in expanding opportunities for collaborative faculty-level research or teaching in Germany. The University of Pittsburgh through the University Center for International Studies (UCIS) has created a grant program to help faculty plan and carry out collaborative research or teaching in Germany. The Faculty Research or Teaching in Germany Grant Program is administered by the European Union Center of Excellence and European Studies Center.

The purpose of the grant for research or teaching in Germany is: 1) To develop or enhance collaborative research or teaching between faculty at the University of Pittsburgh and faculty or researchers at German institutions of higher education; and 2) To offer opportunities for University of Pittsburgh faculty development in international settings. The annual grant will be awarded competitively with significant consideration given to how the proposed project contributes to the development or enhancement of transatlantic collaborative research or teaching and the applicant’s academic agenda.

Examples of possible projects:

	Arrange and conduct research with a relevant scholar/researcher at a German university or research institute
	Arrange to teach at a German university

Eligibility

Full-time and part time tenure-stream, tenured and non tenure-stream faculty (including lecturers and contract faculty) at the University of Pittsburgh from all Schools and Departments, Centers, Institutes and Campuses are eligible to submit a proposal. Adjunct, visiting and emeritus faculty are not eligible.

Amount of Grant

Grants awarded typically range between $3,000 and $8,000, rarely exceeding the higher amount. Grants are awarded in the fall semester, and should be expended within eighteen months of the award. Arrangements for processing the funds must be made by May 31 of the academic year in which the award is made. As a condition of an award, travel or other activities must be coordinated with the European Union Center of Excellence’s Associate Director to ensure that the funds are used within this time frame. Unused awards cannot be carried over to a subsequent year.

Allowable Expenses

	Ground and air transportation to and from Germany.
	Lodging and meal expenses.
	Visa expenses.
	Books and subscriptions, if justifiably necessary for the project.

Non-Allowable Expenses

	Travel expenses for individuals other than the applicant.
	Equipment.
	Membership fees.
	Any expenses unrelated to the proposed activity.

Grantee Obligations

All research involving interventions or interactions with individuals or the collection of identifiable private information concerning living individuals requires prospective Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval. Grantees are responsible for obtaining IRB approval when required, and must provide documentation of IRB approval before a grant can be awarded. For further information, check the IRB Web site at www.irb.pitt.edu

Grantees are required to submit a final report explaining the use of the funds and the outcomes of the supported activity no later than one month after the activity is completed.

Grantees may be asked to serve on the Faculty Research/Teaching in Germany Grant Competition selection committee.

Grant recipients must acknowledge the assistance of the University Center for International Studies and the European Union Center of Excellence/European Studies Center, University of Pittsburgh, in any publication, film, or other product resulting from research supported by this grant.

Grant recipients also are responsible for fully completing and submitting the Travel and Business Expense Report form and providing all applicable documentation within two weeks after their return from the field.

Application Procedure

To apply, please complete the Application for the Grant Program for Faculty Research or Teaching in Germany that includes a detailed estimated budget justifying the amount of the request [Application Form]; copies of letter(s) of invitation from institution(s) and/or faculty/researchers in Germany; and a written narrative of the project for which you are requesting funding; and a current c.v. In addition, please provide documentation and/or copies of communication with contacts in Germany establishing the collaborative project.

The deadline for grant applications is October 15. A faculty selection committee will meet shortly after the deadline. The committee’s selections will be announced as soon as possible after the selection committee meeting.

Please direct questions related to the Faculty Research or Teaching in Germany Grant Program to Timothy Thompson, Associate Director, tst@pitt.edu or 412 624-3503