About the CPE Graduate Student Grants

Center Graduate Student Grants are for one year, and are intended to support research and the generation of new knowledge and new networks. We are open to research approaches that use qualitative and/or quantitative approaches, including those that incorporate historical, ethnographic, interview-based, or policy or legal analysis. 

Grant funds, for example, may be utilized to:

• Purchase data or computing resources;
• Hire research assistants;
• Conduct new research; 
• Travel to archives and/or external academic convenings; and
• Organize workshops and conferences

Awards are anticipated to range from $5,000 to $15,000. In extraordinary circumstances with departmental approval, grants may be provided to fund a semester long buyout of teaching responsibilities. Additionally, to encourage collaboration and cross-disciplinary work, grants over $15,000 may be awarded to collaborative research projects. 

Grant applications must be submitted by Monday, October 13, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. ET. Awards will be made in December 2025, and the award period will run from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026.

Topics

The Center invites applications from eligible Columbia graduate students on topics of relevance to the Center’s broad priorities. This includes the foci of the Center’s Idea Labs – Firms and Industrial Policy, Work and Labor, Money and Finance, Climate, and International Political Economy – as well as the relationship between Political Economy and Democracy.

• Firms and Industrial Policy seeks to strengthen the knowledge base for smart industrial policy through explorations of firm behavior, drivers of innovation and technology adoption, conceptual issues in the design of industrial policies, and practical issues faced in implementation.
• Work and Labor focuses on the empirical study of labor and labor markets, including collective worker action and the future of domestic and international labor movements. 
• Money and Finance explores the relation of money and finance both in theoretical terms and in institutional configurations, including the design of financial intermediaries and their relation to central banks and financial market regulators.
• Political Economy of Climate focuses on fostering synergies around climate fairness and environmental justice, international collaboration or lack thereof, interests shaping the effectiveness of energy transition, and political constraints on environmental (especially climate) policies.
• International Political Economy analyzes the intersection of international economics and international politics, including the politics of international money, finance, trade, and migration, and the interaction of international economics and geopolitics.
• Political Economy and Democracy examines challenges emanating from the relationship between economic structures and democratic politics, such as economic and political inequalities and polarization and challenges to democratic institutions and processes.

In evaluating proposals, Center faculty reviewers will prioritize collaborative and multidisciplinary projects, those with the potential to break new ground in understanding the intersections of economics and political and social processes in the US and abroad, and those advancing theoretical, conceptual, and methodological innovation. 

Eligibility

PhD and JSD students at Columbia University from all disciplines are encouraged to propose projects. Proposals submitted by applicants from more than one department and/or school are encouraged.

About Columbia Global and the Rio de Janeiro Global Center
Columbia Global (CG) is a strategic platform that connects the University’s faculty, students, and alumni with the world to foster global understanding, tackle urgent challenges, and advance knowledge exchange. It encompasses key initiatives such as the Columbia Global Centers, Columbia World Projects, and the Institute for Ideas and Imagination.

As one of eleven Global Centers located across four continents, including cities such as Amman, Beijing, Istanbul, Mumbai, Nairobi, Paris, Santiago and Tunis, the Rio Center serves as a vibrant platform for academic exchange, interdisciplinary research, and collaborative partnerships throughout Brazil and Latin America.

The Center has become known for innovative initiatives like Climate Hub Rio, which promotes urban climate resilience through research and democratic dialogue, and the Women’s Leadership Network, which elevates emerging voices in civil society. Through programming focused on democracy, inequality, urban transformation, public health, and the evolving role of universities in society, the Center deepens Columbia’s ties to Brazilian universities, government, and civil organizations. The Rio de Janeiro Center collaborates with other Global Centers around the world as well as the robust higher education landscape and public, corporate and international organizations based in Brazil.

Position Summary
Columbia University is seeking a dynamic and visionary leader to serve as Director of its Columbia Global Center in Rio de Janeiro. The Director will provide strategic and academic leadership, guiding program development, operational management, and resource cultivation to advance Columbia’s global mission.

A central focus of the role is building a vibrant intellectual community that fosters scholarly exchange and deepens engagement between Columbia and partners in Brazil. The Director will collaborate closely with faculty, schools, and institutes across the University to initiate joint teaching, research, and training activities with local institutions. They will also partner with key Columbia Global strategy and operations teams to ensure alignment, strengthen impact, and contribute to the broader vision of the University's global engagement.

As head of a team of up to 10 staff members, the Director will work closely with Columbia Global’s headquarters while also working closely with a voluntary advisory board and faculty committees. Given that the Center operates as a self-financed entity, the Director will be responsible for designing and executing a bold fundraising and revenue strategy. This includes securing philanthropic contributions from the private and public sector, developing grant proposals with faculty partners, and exploring earned income opportunities through programming and events. Meeting or surpassing annual revenue targets is essential to sustaining and growing the Center’s impact.

The ideal candidate will bring at least ten years of relevant leadership experience, a track record of leadership in academic, public, or private sectors, and fluency in English and Portuguese. This is a full-time position based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Responsibilities:

•  Lead the development and execution of strategic and annual plans that identify alignments between local research and partnership opportunities and Columbia University’s global priorities
•  Accountable for program delivery, quality, and evaluation, ensuring effective use of resources
• Build strong partnerships within Columbia University and beyond to support the Center’s goals
• Engage advisory boards and faculty committees to help shape and strengthen the Center’s direction
• Ensure financial sustainability through fundraising, resource development, and sound budgeting
• Lead the full fundraising lifecycle, including strategic planning, donor research, cultivation, solicitation, gift processing, stewardship, and continuous evaluation to drive revenue growth and sustain long-term donor engagement.
• Manage grant acquisition and oversight to maintain a strong funding portfolio, in close coordination with Columbia Global’s New York-based teams and Columbia University’s Sponsored Projects Administration.
• Lead communications efforts that raise the Center’s visibility and align with Columbia Global’s brand
• Represent Columbia University among key institutions, partners, and influencers
• Recruit, develop, and manage a high-performing team, fostering a culture of collaboration and creativity
• Oversee financial, human, and operational resources, and monitor progress regularly
• Guide change and lead new initiatives to keep the Center responsive and forward-looking
• Safeguard assets through strong internal controls and adherence to policies
• Coordinate with Columbia Global headquarters to ensure strategic alignment
• Advise Columbia Global leadership on key programs, partnerships, and operations
• Serve as general manager for the non-profit organization operating the Center
• Take on special projects and additional responsibilities as needed

Minimum Qualifications:

• Advanced Academic Degree: Master’s degree or higher in a relevant field such as international relations, public policy, education, business administration, or a related discipline.  
• Extensive Leadership Experience:   Minimum of 10 years in progressively senior roles, ideally in academic, nonprofit, governmental, or international organizations. 
• Fluency in English and Portuguese: Strong written and verbal communication in both languages, with the ability to represent Columbia University to diverse audiences.
• Legal Work Authorization in Brazil: Must be a current legal resident of Brazil or a Brazilian citizen willing to relocate to Rio de Janeiro.
• Exceptional Communication and Public Engagement Skills: Comfortable speaking to media, government officials, academic leaders, and civil society stakeholders. Skilled in diplomacy, negotiation, and cross-cultural communication.
• Operational and Financial Acumen: Experience overseeing budgets, managing staff, and ensuring compliance with institutional policies and local regulations.
• Commitment to Columbia’s Global Mission: Deep understanding of global academic collaboration, public engagement, and the role of universities in addressing societal challenges.

Preferred Qualifications:

•  Deep familiarity with complex US university systems and academic governance structures 
• Proven executive leadership experience, including oversight of country-level operations
• Demonstrated success in business development, resource mobilization, and strategic partnership cultivation
• Strong track record in translating organizational vision into actionable strategies and measurable outcomes
• Ability to engage and collaborate effectively across academic, governmental, corporate, and nonprofit sectors
• Established professional network within Brazil’s academic, public, and private spheres
• Advanced leadership and team management skills, with experience overseeing organizational systems and processes
• Comfortable working in situations where roles, goals, or processes may be unclear or evolving, with the ability to make sound decisions and adapt quickly
• Collaborative and flexible, able to work effectively across different teams, departments, and reporting lines
• Experience leading multicultural and high-performing teams
• Experience supporting faculty and student cohorts 
• Comprehensive understanding of project lifecycle management, including proposal development, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation
•  Insightful grasp of global trends and local dynamics relevant to Brazil’s social, economic, and academic landscape
• High emotional intelligence, sound judgment, discretion, and strategic foresight in decision-making
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 25%, domestically and internationally

Salary: Competitive and commensurate with experience. The position is based in Brazil and will be hired under the Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT), with all benefits provided in accordance with Brazilian labor legislation.