The Center for Decision Research is accepting submissions for our Independent Research Grant program for emerging scholars. This program is supported by the generosity of CDR Governing Board Member Richard Thaler in honor of Amos Tversky, and provides a limited number of small grants to support new behavioral science research led by University of Chicago PhD students and post-doctoral researchers. 

The primary motivation for these grants is to support our emerging scholars in conducting new independent behavioral science research. Proposals for research jointly pursued with a faculty member are not eligible for these awards, although we do hope that faculty will encourage our emerging scholars to pursue eligible research. Applicants are permitted to have graduate student or post-doc collaborators. Ideal applications will demonstrate conscientious, independent thought, and avenues to expand CDR research efforts beyond the domains being explored in our faculty members’ labs.  Awardees will receive up to $3,000.

Deadline: April 1, 2022

APPLICATION PROCESS

To apply, please submit a 1-2 page proposal to CDR Executive Director Amy Boonstra (Amy.Boonstra@chicagobooth.edu) with your name, email address, home address, telephone number, year and division, and your CV.

Please use this submission template as it will help to ensure that you address the following critical proposal elements:

  • A research question, in the context of existing literature
  • Hypothesis being tested
  • Proposed method
  • Budget outline

The deadline for this round of submissions is April 1, 2022. Awardees will be notified by May 16, 2022.

Each proposal will be reviewed by at least two members of the CDR’s Governing Board (Richard Thaler, Nicholas Epley, Ayelet Fishbach, Bernd Wittenbrink, Devin Pope). Award decisions, which will be sent via email, will be made in time to make funds available early in the following quarter. The funds need to be used within 18 months following the award date.