Press Release

Applications Now Open for Steven H. Sandell Grant Program

Issued by Center for Retirement Research at Boston College

Oct. 23, 2024

The Center for Retirement Research sponsors the annual Steven H. Sandell Grant Program for scholars in the field of retirement or disability research and policy.  The program is funded by the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) to provide opportunities for junior or non-tenured scholars (within seven years of receiving their Ph.D.) from all academic disciplines to pursue cutting-edge projects on retirement or disability issues.  Individuals from historically underserved or underrepresented communities are encouraged to apply.

Applicants must demonstrate that their proposal focuses on at least one of SSA’s research focal areas:

• Understanding service needs and improving service delivery;
• Studying causes and inequities of overpayment and underpayment;
• Addressing barriers to disability and SSI programs participation and processes;
• Understanding and improving communication;
• Identifying disparities by race, ethnicity, and sex;
• Examining economic security of program applicants and beneficiaries; and
• Addressing employment barriers for people with disabilities.

Grant Awards

Two $50,000 grants will be awarded based upon the quality of the proposals and the proposed budgets.  Recipients are required to complete the research outlined in their proposals within one year of the award.  Recipients may be required to present their work to SSA in Washington, DC or Baltimore, MD.

“Virtual Office Hours” Service

The CRR offers the opportunity for potential applicants to ask questions about topics, datasets, and research design.  The goal of this service is strengthen the quality of the applications and ensure that proposals closely align with SSA’s research focal areas.  Please contact CRR Economist Gal Wettstein during the month of November to take advantage of this service.

Submission

The deadline for the 2025 Sandell Grant Program is January 31, 2025.

Download the proposal guidelines and the budget matrix. 

Review sample proposals that received awards: Sample 1, Sample 2.

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