The Picker Interdisciplinary Science Institute's (ISI) Scholarly Leave Grant program supports Colgate faculty in advancing ambitious interdisciplinary scholarship by providing focused time for research.
By providing a Scholarly Leave award, the program enables faculty to develop new interdisciplinary directions, mentor students, and lay the groundwork for future funding. The ideas, results, and approaches that emerge from these leaves are expected to enrich interdisciplinary research and teaching at Colgate and be shared with the broader community. Students benefit directly by gaining hands-on experience, intellectual mentorship, and exposure to advanced research practices.
This program invests in faculty scholarship that fosters creativity, strengthens collaborations, enhances student learning, and brings new intellectual energy to the University.
About the Grant
Award amount: One course release. This covers instructional replacement; no faculty stipend.
Application deadline: January*
Decisions announced: March
Leave timeline: Leave may be taken the following fall or spring.
*Picker ISI follows the Research Council’s grant submission deadline.
Proposal Guidelines
- Grants are open to tenured faculty.
- Work must integrate at least two distinct disciplines, broadly defined, and be feasible within a single semester.
- Applicants must be on a scholarly leave (course release) that is workable for the department, and coverage must be confirmed.
- Clear, feasible plan for the scholarly leave semester; strong potential to advance the applicant’s scholarship via integrated methods, data, and perspectives.
- Work that clearly supports the Picker ISI mission and goals.
- Research question that requires more than one discipline; integration and clarity around the applicant’s role in the project.
- Likelihood of sustained impact (ongoing collaboration, external proposals, contribution to curriculum, student engagement).
- Student involvement where appropriate.
- The proposed project should be one in which satisfactory progress would not be possible through other Colgate funding sources, including departmental or Research Council funds.
- The Executive Advisory Committee may prioritize projects that support the institute's mission and goals the most, and those of faculty members who have not been awarded a Major, Minor, Scholarly Leave, or Interdisciplinary Training in Research Grant in recent years.
How to Apply
Write for a broad interdisciplinary audience. Be clear, concise, and concrete. Incomplete applications will not be considered. To ensure fairness, the use of generative AI tools is not permitted in the preparation of this proposal.
- Cover page: Project title, principal investigators (PIs), and affiliations.
- Project summary, 150–200 words: Goals and anticipated outcomes.
- Project narrative, less than 1,000 words. Describe the research question, interdisciplinary approach, significance, and expected outcomes of the project.
- Brief statement, less than 250 words: How the leave advances future research/teaching, and how the project advances Picker ISI's mission and goals.
- Timeline, one-page: How research will be organized, what tasks will be accomplished, and an estimated project completion date.
- CV of PI(s) and other personnel, less than three pages: SciENcv or similar format that includes personal and professional information such as education, employment, scientific appointments, honors, grants, publications, research products, and synergistic activities.
- Supporting letters or other documents, not to exceed five pages.
- Previous Picker ISI support and other funding: List prior Picker ISI awards, including outcomes, and any current or pending internal or external funding relevant to this project.
Formatting tips: Use Times New Roman, 12-pt font with standard margins. (References are separate.) Single-spaced text is acceptable, provided it has clear headings. Combine all materials into a single PDF, if possible.
The applicant should notify their department chair or program director before submitting the grant application. The Picker ISI director will also inform the department or program about the leave request. Applicants should provide:
- Standard Faculty Leave Form: Completed form countersigned by department chair and division director. Applicants must submit this form.
- Statement of Past Leaves and SLA Credits: Past leaves, current SLA balance, and number of Picker ISI SLA credit(s) requested for this application.
- Statement of Sustained Service and Teaching Contributions: Describe sustained service or teaching contributions that go beyond normal expectations; less than one page.
- Applications are reviewed by the Picker ISI Executive Advisory Committee. Recommendations are subject to approval by the dean of faculty/provost and the president.
- Scholarly leaves are awarded annually for the upcoming academic year. Leaves cannot be saved for future use.
- Credits may be awarded to one or more applicants. Typically each successful application receives one SLA.
- Submit a one- to two-page summary of the outcomes resulting from the project funding within four months of the completion of the grant.
- Provide at least one public presentation (e.g., divisional colloquium) plus informal sharing with colleagues.
- Acknowledge Picker ISI support in your papers and presentations. (Example: This work was supported by the Picker Interdisciplinary Science Institute Scholarly Leave Grant program at Colgate University.)
- The University expects faculty members who accept scholarly leave to return for at least one year.
Contact Us
Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with Institute Director Ahmet Ay prior to submission to ensure alignment with program goals.
Have an idea or need more information on the Scholarly Leave Grant program? Reach out to any member of the Executive Advisory Committee or the Picker ISI director to discuss your proposal.