Federal Funding Disruptions Threaten University Research
Federal funding disruptions have left researchers at Johns Hopkins University facing unexpected grant terminations, delays, or other interruptions, posing significant challenges to the sustainability of individual research portfolios, the completion of clinical trials, and support for trainees, research teams, and administrative staff. To address these challenges, the university has partnered with divisional leadership to make a strategic investment in three new grant programs and expand two current offerings.
Key Programs
- **JHU Pivot Grants**: Support faculty and staff who have experienced grant terminations or funding gaps, enabling them to pivot their research focus and explore alternative funding sources.
- **JHU Bridge Grants**: Provide temporary financial support to researchers who have experienced grant terminations or funding gaps, enabling them to maintain their research momentum and continue working on their projects.
- **PhD Thesis and Postdoc Research Completion Program**: Offer one year of support to PhD students and postdoctoral fellows whose dissertations or postdoctoral research are impacted by recent changes in federal grants.
- **Editorial Assistance Services Initiative (EASI)**: Expand editorial support for grant proposals and journal articles to faculty members of all ranks and in all fields.
- **Summer Provost’s Undergraduate Research Awards (PURA) program**: Increase funding for the program to enable more undergraduates to pursue original research and creative projects in collaboration with Hopkins mentors.
Supporting Academic Freedom and Research Integrity
The university’s commitment to academic freedom and research integrity is reflected in its response to the challenges posed by federal funding disruptions. By providing support to researchers, the university is ensuring that essential research continues, even in the face of uncertainty and change. The university’s leadership has written a message to the Hopkins community, highlighting its commitment to sustaining the people and projects that power discovery at Johns Hopkins. President Ron Daniels and Provost Ray Jayawardhana wrote:
“We are deeply committed to sustaining the people and projects that power discovery at Johns Hopkins… Our firm commitment to preserving the essential work of both basic and applied discovery, to continuing to honor our core values, and to protecting our people, particularly those whose work and livelihoods are dependent upon federal support.”
Details on the Programs
- **JHU Pivot Grants**: Available on the Office of the Vice Provost for Research website, with deadlines and eligibility criteria outlined in the application instructions.
- **JHU Bridge Grants**: Eligible researchers can submit requests to the Office of the Vice Provost for Research for more information and to apply.
- **PhD Thesis and Postdoc Research Completion Program**: Full details, including deadlines, eligibility criteria, and application instructions, are available on the Office of the Provost website.
- **Editorial Assistance Services Initiative (EASI)**: Faculty members submit requests directly to EASI in the Office of the Vice Provost for Research.
- **Summer Provost’s Undergraduate Research Awards (PURA) program**: Information on the expanded program is available on the Office of the Provost website.
Upcoming Briefing on Research Resilience
University leadership plans to host a virtual briefing on Research Resilience to provide an overview of the current research funding landscape and details on the new support programs. The briefing will be announced as soon as the date and time are confirmed. Questions can be directed to communityupdates@jhu.edu.
Key Statistics
| Program | Previous Funding | New Funding |
|---|---|---|
| **Summer Provost’s Undergraduate Research Awards (PURA) program** | 66 funded students | 113 funded students |
| **Editorial Assistance Services Initiative (EASI)** | No change in funding | No change in funding |
| **PhD Thesis and Postdoc Research Completion Program** | No change in funding | No change in funding |
Conclusion
The university’s strategic investment in new support programs for researchers impacted by grant terminations reflects its commitment to sustaining the people and projects that power discovery at Johns Hopkins. By providing essential support to researchers, the university is ensuring that academic freedom and research integrity continue to thrive, even in the face of uncertainty and change.
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