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Program to Enhance Research and Scholarship

Spring 2026 APPLICATION CYCLE - Opens January 30th

Program to Enhance Research and Scholarship (PERS)

Application Cycle Opens January 30, 2026

Important Update

All PERS applications are now submitted through InfoReady. 

This new platform allows applicants to save their progress and return later, so you can complete your application at your own pace without starting over.

Key Dates:

  • Application Period: Friday January 30, 2026
  • Deadline to Apply: Friday February 27, 2026

About PERS

The Program to Enhance Research and Scholarship (PERS) provides modest seed funding to support new research initiatives among regular, full-time faculty in the Emory College of Arts and Sciences.

PERS funding may be used for:

  • New research projects

  • Research travel

  • Research-related activities

  • Matching funds for equipment grants

  • Conference presentations that are expected to catalyze new research directions

Awards are intended to support early-stage or time-sensitive research needs and typically do not exceed $20,000.

Eligibility and Review Criteria

On behalf of Anita H. Corbett, Senior Associate Dean for Research, the Office of Research Funding Support invites eligible faculty to apply.

Applications will be evaluated based on:

  • Scholarly merit

  • Demonstrated need

  • Efforts to seek additional funding sources, when appropriate

Endorsement from the applicant’s department chair or program director is required. If selected, funds will be distributed within the same academic term in which the application cycle occurs.

Purpose of the Program

PERS was established to streamline and equitably manage requests for small but critical research support that were previously submitted on an ad hoc basis. The program creates a transparent, fair process for allocating limited resources while supporting faculty scholarship.

Please note that PERS funding is not intended to support:

  • Salary during leaves or sabbaticals

  • Travel that does not directly support research activities

  • Visiting Faculty are NOT eligible

Questions?

For additional information or assistance, please contact:

orfs@emory.edu or Shanoa Young, Assistant Program Director.

We look forward to supporting your research!

Apply for PERS Funding
PERS Winners

Successful Awards

Award Criteria

Criteria for Awards Include:

  1. Details of Your Appointment: Include your title, department, and other relevant details about your faculty position. Applicants must be full-time faculty members at Emory University. Visiting professors are not eligible for this funding.
  2. Project Summary: Provide a clear, 2-3 sentence summary of your project that is understandable to a non-expert audience. Highlight the scope, impact of your scholarly work, and provide a concise plan for the proposed research, including how you intend to secure external research funding. For bridge funding requests, a detailed plan for submitting a revised or new grant application is especially critical.
  3. Impact of Proposed Research: Explain the potential impact of your research on your field and beyond, and how it aligns with Emory’s research goals.
  4. Availability of Other Funding: Demonstrate the lack of availability of other funding sources. Applicants with substantial research accounts will be required to spend those funds down significantly before being eligible for PERS funding.
  5. External Funding Potential: Highlight the likelihood that your research will generate further externally-funded research. If external funding is available in your field, provide a history of grant applications and a plan for future grant submissions.
  6. Budget Justification: Provide a transparent and justified budget for the funding requested.
  7. Teaching-Track Faculty: If you are a teaching-track faculty member, explain the connection between your proposed research and your pedagogy.
  8. Endorsement from Chair/Director:  

    All applicants must include a formal endorsement from their department Chair or Director. Chairs/Directors must evaluate the project's significance, feasibility, and potential impact on the applicant’s research. They will also assess past use of research funds, budget appropriateness, and whether department or personal research funds could contribute. Chair/Director must also indicate whether they approve or do not approve the application based on the provided criteria.

  9. Attachments: Submit any relevant attachments in PDF format, as outlined in the PERS guidelines provided to department Chairs via email.
  10. Previous PERS Funding: If you have previously received PERS funding, include a brief description of the funding, the year it was awarded, and the outcomes of the project.
  11. PERS Survey Requirement: Previous PERS awardees from FY 2023-2024 must have completed the PERS survey before submitting a new application.
Please ensure all documents are submitted by the application deadline to be considered for PERS funding.

Selection Committee

The selection committee draws faculty from the Humanities, Natural Science and Social Science divisions of ECAS.

Successful PERS applicants should be aware that over the next two years any future PERS applications will be given a lower priority, though of course critically important funding needs will be considered. Previously successful PERS applicants should also account for the use of previous PERS funding in subsequent applications.