Early Research Initiative

Discover opportunities for funded research in archives, museums, field sites, special collections, laboratories, and research centers.

Applying for funding is an important part of graduate education. All doctoral students, including those admitted with full five-year fellowships, should plan to apply for both internal and external grants and fellowships in order to support their research agendas.

The Early Research Initiative (ERI) — overseen by the Provost’s Office — offers Level II and III doctoral students the opportunity to articulate and clarify the aims of their research projects, cultivate their grant writing skills, and prepare for external award applications. The initiative encompasses all kinds of Graduate Center-sponsored research awards, from pre-dissertation to archival research, summer research, and partnerships with institutions such as the Morgan Library.

The Provost’s Office works closely with other Graduate Center offices, including the Office of Fellowships and Financial Aid, the Office of Career Planning & Professional Development and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, to guide students through the process of securing funding.

Internal Fellowships and Awards

External Sources of Funding