As the Social & Behavioral Science Institute (SBSI) has redesigned its Small Grant Program to put interdisciplinary collaboration at the center of how we support early-stage research. Now the SBSI Interdisciplinary Small Grant Program, it supports teams bringing together distinct perspectives, expertise, methods, or approaches to address complex societal challenges.
The changes reflect SBSI’s new role as one of the university’s interdisciplinary research institutes and our commitment to helping researchers build collaborations that can strengthen their work and position teams for future external funding.
What’s New?
A Focus on Interdisciplinary Team Science
The most significant change is a new requirement that all proposed projects be team-based and interdisciplinary. Collaborators should bring distinct intellectual perspectives, expertise, methods, or approaches to the research, with competitive proposals demonstrating how integrating those perspectives strengthens the project in ways that would not be possible within a single discipline.
As part of the application, teams are asked to explain what each member brings to the project, how their disciplinary perspectives or approaches will be integrated, and why the research benefits from bringing those perspectives together.
The Five SBSI Impact Areas
The redesigned program is organized around five areas where social and behavioral science can contribute to understanding and addressing important societal challenges:
Technology & Society
Research into the role of technological innovations in societal transformation via people’s daily lives, as well as cultural, economic, political, and institutional structures, with the goal of providing critical insights that ensure technology evolves with transparency and inclusiveness to enhance society.
Health & Well-Being
Research yielding insight into how the complex interplay of social, economic, policy, and organizational contexts shape physical and mental health across the lifespan, with the goal of providing solutions for thriving.
Institutions & Organizations
Research into how governance systems, policies, institutions, and organizations shape social dynamics, the workforce, and decision-making, providing actionable insights to foster effective systems that support democracy.
Equity, Access, & Belonging
Research on systems of power, privilege, and marginalization to promote equality and inclusion in a variety of contexts, such as workplaces, educational institutions, and public spaces.
Environment & Society
Research on the human dimensions of environmental challenges, highlighting the role of social drivers such as beliefs, behavior, communication, and decision-making in building a climate-resilient future.
Projects may address one or more of these areas and can include basic or applied research.
Supporting Research with an Eye Toward What Comes Next
Awards range from $5,000 to $30,000, providing teams with resources to advance promising early-stage research, strengthen interdisciplinary collaborations, and generate findings that can position projects for future external funding.
The Fall 2026 cycle is already underway, with pre-proposals submitted in August. SBSI is currently reviewing submissions, and teams selected to advance will be invited to submit full proposals in early September. Full proposals are due October 25, with award decisions expected in December.
Explore the SBSI Interdisciplinary Small Grant Program
Learn more about eligibility, application requirements, review criteria, SBSI’s five impact areas, and how the program supports interdisciplinary research teams.
Explore the Program Email SBSI