Pilot program offers grants to defray child care costs

The Research Enabling Grants program (REG) — a pilot program administered through the Office of Faculty Development and Diversity — offers tenure-track faculty and benefits-eligible postdoctoral fellows financial support to enable research that would otherwise suffer due to significant child care or adult dependent care obligations. Yearlong awards (up to $75,000) can be used to hire additional staff; to purchase equipment to enable more efficient research; or to take a dependent and/or caregiver on extended fieldwork. The application deadline is March 3.

Additionally, the office’s Dependent Care Fund (DCF) for short-term professional travel allows pre-tenure ladder faculty and benefits-eligible postdoctoral fellows to apply for financial assistance to defray the additional dependent care costs associated with professional travel. Scholars may apply for up to two grants per academic year (up to $1,000 per scholar per year). The application deadline is June 2. Please note that DCF awards are administered as grants in advance. Scholars must apply to the application deadline at least 30 days prior to the professional event.