Call for Proposals: Bass Connections
Bass Connections supports year-long team-based research projects that engage faculty, undergraduates, and graduate/professional students in the interdisciplinary exploration of big, unanswered questions about major societal challenges. This year, the program includes 58 project teams with over 500 student participants led by faculty from across the university.
For some faculty, Bass Connections provides a mechanism to pilot a new research initiative and lay the groundwork for external grant proposals. For other faculty, Bass Connections offers an innovative teaching model and an opportunity to mentor students in a small group atmosphere. For still other faculty, Bass Connections makes it possible to initiate or deepen engagement with a community organization or other collaborators outside of Duke who can provide input into the construction of research questions and translate research findings into action.
Any faculty member may submit a proposal. Graduate students, postdocs, and trainees/fellows may also propose projects, but all projects must have at least one faculty leader.
The proposal guidelines are available on the Bass Connections website. All proposals must be submitted through the online proposal form.
We also want to call attention to several special opportunities:
Bass Connections Open
Faculty may propose a project that fits the Bass Connections model – but does not align with one of the five existing themes – by applying through the Bass Connections Open channel.
Special Funding Opportunities
Due to several gifts, we can support proposals that take advantage of opportunities in the following areas:
- Energy Access
- Ethics
- Arts
- Humanities
Joint Data+ and/or Story+ Proposals
Faculty may now propose a Story+ or Data+ project linked to a year-long Bass Connections project through this RFP. Please note that funding decisions will continue to be made by each program individually.
We invite faculty to reach out if you have questions about the program or would like help identifying potential collaborators. Faculty are also encouraged to discuss potential project ideas with the Bass Connections theme leaders.