The PIIRS Exploratory and Advanced Seminars support Princeton Faculty Research in the humanities, social sciences, engineering, and architecture. The program promotes innovation in research through short-term brainstorming meetings involving colleagues from around the world (Exploratory Seminars) and slightly longer-term grants for gatherings to bring to fruition collaborative projects (Advanced Seminars), described in detail below. Through these funding vehicles, PIIRS intends to provide resources to Princeton faculty and their colleagues from other countries to develop new ideas in a congenial atmosphere.

These proposals are subject to external review by specialists in the field and are ranked for funding by the Executive Committee of PIIRS. Princeton faculty are not eligible to serve as reviewers. All reviews are by external peers only. We hope to support approximately ten to twelve exploratory seminars in any given academic year with as short a time lag as possible between application and the arrival of seminar members. Advanced seminars are more costly, and hence we expect to support two to three per year.

PIIRS Exploratory Seminars (Click for Online Application)

Short-term brainstorming sessions intended to explore new frontiers, jumpstart collaborations, or initiate future research plans, these seminars should bring together approximately five to ten scholars for a short period (generally two to three days). These proposals are absolutely not required to provide polished, complete visions for a program of research. On the contrary, we seek explicitly to provide maximum freedom for intellectual exploration and “out of the box” thinking.

Typically, exploratory seminars will be composed of one to three members of the Princeton faculty, with the balance coming from other universities outside (and inside) the U.S. There is no restriction as to subject matter. Proposals can involve single disciplines or multidisciplinary groups. We encourage submissions that cross departmental or divisional boundaries. These seminars should be principally designed to:

• focus on topics that involve international, regional and interregional, comparative, and cross-cultural research
• create new ties or sustain mature ones between Princeton faculty and their colleagues in other countries
• provide opportunities for junior as well as senior scholars to participate

Proposals are typically minimal in length and detail. They are reviewed by external specialists, but reviewers are told that exploratory seminars are not meant to constitute fully developed ideas, but rather to foster discussion and an opportunity to consider the potential for more systematic and extensive research.

Proposals should be submitted electronically via the online form, which calls for the following information:

• a one-paragraph summary of the core idea
• a two to three page outline of the topic, which explains its significance or potential for exciting scholarship, and a rough “game plan” (open to revision, of course) for the days you would like to meet
• an annotated list of participants, which includes a one-paragraph description of the special perspective or expertise each one would bring to the seminar
• a list of 2–4 specialists in the field who would be appropriate reviewers, and if desired, a list of individuals who could not be fair and should not be solicited
• a preliminary budget

Faculty seminar leaders will be responsible for providing their colleagues with an agenda, an outline of the topic and its potential, and a list of questions deriving from the proposal that will stimulate the thinking of participants. There are no written papers required for an exploratory seminar. The required outcome or output of an exploratory seminar is simply the satisfaction of having explored an idea with bright colleagues, while simultaneously creating or renewing ties that may be of value in further research.

While exploratory seminars will take place, for the most part, in PIIRS space, we will entertain proposals for seminars to be held overseas. In these instances, a Princeton faculty member must handle the logistics—or coordinate with “offshore” administrators—while taking responsibility for strict accounting of funds spent off campus. PIIRS does not presently have the administrative capacity to manage short-term meetings held beyond the confines of Princeton. Budgets will be adjusted accordingly and may be lower if the seminar takes place in a low-cost environment.

Exploratory seminars may (but need not) involve a combination of closed sessions (limited to the major participants only) and some larger gatherings that would permit graduate students to be involved. This is entirely up to the seminar leader to determine. Our highest priority is the intensity of intellectual exchange.

The maximum number of visitors PIIRS can cover is eight (we foresee no limit on the number of Princeton faculty involved). Budget guidelines are provided in the application form; they will be finalized in consultation with PIIRS staff.

Proposals for exploratory seminars will be solicited four times throughout the academic year, starting with the first submission deadline of September 28 (with an expected decision date of November 1), followed by three additional deadlines: November 2 (decision January 15), February 8 (decision April 22), and April 5 (decision June 1) to ensure that this program is as nimble as possible.

PIIRS Advanced Seminars (Click for Online Application)

The purpose of an advanced seminar is (1) to bring to fruition ambitious scholarship that has been under way for some time but may be slowed down by the geographic spread of participants, or (2) to inaugurate new collaborations bound for publication. Participants must be prepared to develop original research papers which will be presented to seminar members over a three - five day period. Each participant will receive an honorarium of $1000 for their original paper, as well as travel expenses to join the seminar.

Unlike exploratory seminars, advanced seminars require a plan for dissemination, preferably in the form of publications in scholarly journals or edited volumes, as the advanced seminars are expected to contribute finished work to the scholarly community. Chairs would be responsible for reporting back to the Director of PIIRS on the progress of the work at the end of the seminar, and one year later as the work moves closer to publication. All publications must acknowledge the support of PIIRS. Faculty chairs will also be responsible for ensuring that participants adhere to the deadlines. Papers will be mounted on a secure website, available only to the authors involved unless they specify otherwise.

As with the exploratory seminars, there is no restriction as to subject matter or disciplinary concentration for advanced seminars. Proposals can involve single disciplines or multidisciplinary groups. We are open to and encourage the submission of proposals that cross departmental, divisional, or regional program boundaries. Priority for advanced seminar funding will be given to projects that will:

• significantly move a field forward and involve international, comparative, regional and interregional, or cross-cultural research
• create new ties or sustain mature ones between Princeton faculty and their colleagues outside the US
• provide opportunities for junior as well as senior scholars to participate

Budget guidelines are contained in the application. The deadlines for submission are November 2, or April 22, and final decisions can be expected by the end of January and the end of May.

Proposals should follow the format outlined in the online form here and require the following:

• a one-paragraph summary of the core idea
• a five-page summary of the topic, the contributions from each of the participants, and the plan for dissemination (e.g., plan to submit an edited volume or a special journal issue, or a coauthored volume, or some other form to be specified by the seminar chair)
• a calendar for submission of drafts for advance circulation and a plan for discussants or other forms of serious review within the seminar group. We recognize that the gap between the approval of the proposal and the opening of the seminar may be as long as two years to allow sufficient time for the papers to be completed; however, we encourage a planning process that will bring the seminar to fruition within 18 months.
• a one-page (in total) list of the participants, annotated to include a brief discussion of the special perspective or expertise each one brings to the seminar
• “summary” CV’s (no longer than two pages per participant)
• a list of four to six specialists in the field who would be appropriate reviewers, and if desired, a list of individuals who could not be fair and should not be solicited.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email Katherine Newman at knewman@princeton.edu