SHASS+ Connectivity Fund
About the Fund
The SHASS+ Connectivity Fund supports bold, cross-disciplinary collaborations between MIT’s School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (SHASS) and other MIT schools.
Projects must involve a SHASS faculty lead and a co-lead from outside SHASS, reflecting a genuine convergence of humanistic and technical expertise.
Up to $2 million will be awarded annually across both full proposals and smaller planning grants. Funded work may include research, events, performances, or other collaborative endeavors—but not standalone curriculum development.
Eligibility
- Anyone with PI status is eligible to apply. If needed, prospective project leads can request one-time PI status from their Dean’s Office.
- There must be one project lead whose primary appointment is in SHASS (PI) and one project lead whose primary appointment is at MIT but not in SHASS (Co-PI).
- An individual, either PI or Co-PI, may only be the project lead on one full proposal per fund but may submit multiple planning grants or be listed as a collaborator on multiple proposals.
Funding Details & Timeline
Oct. 23, 2025
Proposals due by 12:00pm
Jan. 2026
Notifications sent
Feb. 2026
Earliest project start
March 2027
Final report due
Feb. 2026
Spring application opens
March 17, 2026
Proposal deadline
April 2026
Notifications sent
July 2026
Earliest project start
Aug. 2027
Final report due
Selection Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on:
- Intellectual merit: Originality and contribution to scholarship or artistic practice
- Depth of collaboration: Integration of expertise from SHASS and other MIT units
- Potential impact: Transformative potential or (for planning grants) readiness to evolve
- Feasibility: Realistic scope, timeline, and budget
Fund Co-Chairs
David Kaiser
Germeshausen Professor of the History of Science and Professor of Physics
Maria Yang
Interim Dean, School of Engineering, Gail E. Kendall (1978) Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Frequently Asked Questions
Please see the current Request for Proposal for more frequently asked questions related to this fund.
How long should the proposed projects last?
Projects will be funded for one year at a time (February to January). Project leads may elect to spread one year of funding over 2 or 3 years if that would lead to a more successful outcome. Planning grants are only for one year at a time.
What are planning grants?
Planning grants are smaller awards to enable a team to work together to plan a future collaboration and prepare to apply to one of the funds in the following cycle.
Can I apply to more than one fund?
Yes, an individual may be the project lead on one proposal per fund.
Can I submit more than one proposal to the same fund?
An individual may only be the project lead on/apply with one proposal per fund but may be listed as a collaborator on multiple proposals. Multiple planning grants can be submitted to the same fund.
Are collaborators outside of MIT permitted?
Additional collaborators outside MIT are welcome, but all funding must be managed at MIT and no subawards will be considered.
What can I include in the budget? Are there any restrictions on the use of the funds?
All planned spending should be in accordance with MIT policy. Summer salary is permissible. Funds for replacement teaching are not permissible.
Budgets for planning grants should not exceed $30K (direct costs). Full proposals should not exceed $200K (direct costs).
What impact does the MIT hiring freeze have on MITHIC funded projects?
Hiring for positions included in awarded MITHIC projects will still need to be routed through the MIT hiring exception process, but since dedicated funding is secured, we anticipate successful exceptions. MITemps & Contractors (when less than 6 months) are exempt from the hiring freeze, and do not require an exception.
Do I have to include UROPs in the proposal budget?
UROPs are not a requirement of the proposal. When requesting UROPs, please add all requests directly into your budget template.
Do you have sample proposals?
Yes, access sample proposals here
What makes a proposal stand out to reviewers?
A one-page guide with practical tips on writing a competitive funding proposal can be found here