About the CPE Faculty Grants

CPE Faculty Grants are for one year, and are intended to support research and the generation of new knowledge and new networks. Awards are anticipated to range from $10,000 to $60,000.

Topics

This round of grants will support work that aligns with the Center’s four Idea Labs or the cross-cutting themes of International Political Economy and Political Economy and Democracy.

• 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. 
• 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.
• 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: Forests and Fossil Fuels explores how political and economic forces shape policy and societal responses to climate change. This year, the Lab particularly welcomes projects focused on the political economy of forests and how communities dependent on fossil fuel extraction adjust to shifts in demand.
• Political Economy and Democracy considers 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.
• International Political Economy considers of any of the above themes from an international perspective, as well as topics relevant to the theme of international macroeconomics and geopolitics.

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

Eligibility

Columbia University faculty from all disciplines are encouraged to apply. Principal Investigators must be full-time faculty members at Columbia University or its affiliates. Faculty may serve as Principal Investigator on only one proposal. Collaborators may include other faculty members, research scientists, and external partners such as organizations and individuals from the nonprofit, higher education, public, or private sector.

Allowable Grant Expenses

Grants will support research and convening activities. The funds will cover a wide range of expenses. For example, they might be utilized to: 

• Purchase data or computing resources
• Hire student research assistants and consultants
• Cover honoraria and logistical costs for workshops and conferences
• Cover domestic and/or international travel
• Purchase supplies and equipment

Key Dates

The deadline for proposal submissions is Monday, March 3rd at 5:00PM EST. Award announcements will be made in May 2025 and the award period will run from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026.

Proposal Requirements

A completed application includes the following: 

• Project proposal (see application for additional details);
• Budget narrative and budget template (i.e., a summary table with a clear description of how the grant funds would be spent on participant payment, fees, travel costs, etc.); and
• Contact information and curricula vitae for project team members.

Please contact politicaleconomy@columbia.edu with any questions. 

About Columbia World Projects

Columbia World Projects mobilizes the university’s researchers and scholars to work with governments, organizations, businesses and communities to tackle global challenges. Columbia World Projects is a major, university-wide initiative that aims to forge a closer and more useful connection between Columbia University’s vast research capabilities and the needs of the world. 

Columbia World Projects is part of Columbia Global, which brings together major global initiatives from across the university to advance knowledge and foster global engagement. In addition to World Projects, those initiatives include the Columbia Global Centers, the Committee on Global Thought, and the Institute for Ideas and Imagination.

Columbia Global’s mission is to address complex global challenges through groundbreaking scholarly pursuits, leadership development, cutting-edge research, and projects that aim for social impact.

Position Summary

Columbia World Projects is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Scholar (PRS) to join its Research and Engagement team beginning July 1, 2025. The PRS will play a significant role supporting one or more of CWP’s program areas, most notably on democracy or urbanism, while pursuing their own research and publication goals.

While the PRS’s research agenda can focus on a range of relevant issues, we are particularly interested in candidates whose research might support, amplify, and extend existing initiatives on and have practical applications for democratic institutions, political behavior and norms, or digital platform governance, with attention to public impact. Candidates may work in a variety of scholarly fields, including (but not limited to) the social sciences, including history and political philosophy, and legal or policy studies.

The PRS will have a strong research background on democracy questions and experience engaging practitioners and public audiences. Key activities are to conduct research, help convene and support an advisory committee of Columbia faculty for CWP’s programming, design convenings, draft concept notes on relevant topics and, as appropriate, produce public facing reports and scholarly publications. When relevant, the PRS will also participate in bridge-building efforts between the research community and the worlds of practice and policy.

As a member of the Columbia World Projects intellectual community, the PRS will likely engage with scholars and practitioners in academia, foundations, community organizations, and the private sector. They will join workshop discussions and make contributions across CWP’s range of research projects and activities. The PRS will be mentored and supervised by senior leadership in the Research and Engagement team, and work closely with a Project Officer.

Qualifications

PhD degree required.

Salary Range

The salary range for this position is $71,050 - $75,000 per year. This is a one-year appointment with the possibility of renewal. Only complete applications submitted via the process outlined below will be considered.

Application

Interested applicants should submit the following materials via Submittable:

1. Cover Letter describing your research interests, relevant experience mobilizing networks of researchers and practitioners, and how the position would advance both intellectual and professional aspirations;

2. Curriculum Vitae; 

3. Documentation of PhD conferment, or timeline for obtaining degree;

4. Writing sample consisting of a single journal article, essay, or chapter (published or unpublished); applicants may also include op-eds, policy briefs, or similar written pieces;

5. Contact information for three references, including a doctoral supervisor.

Key Deadlines

All application materials must be received no later than January 31, 2025 at 5:00pm. The anticipated start date for this position is July 1, 2025.

 Who we are:
Columbia Global Centers | Athens is part of a network of 11 global centers of Columbia University in the City of New York, one of the world's leading academic institutions. The centers were created to drive transformative connections between the university and the world, fostering innovation, understanding, and engagement. Columbia University launched the Athens Center in November 2022 to in-country partners on issues related to Climate Change; Migration and International affairs; Business and Innovation; Classics & Ancient Studies; Arts & Culture; Global Health & Preparedness; and Medicine, among others. The Global Centers are part of the broader Columbia Global initiative, which leverages the remarkable scholarship, expertise, and resources of Columbia University to help address the world’s most complex challenges while fostering intellectual endeavors that inspire, surprise, and push the boundaries of our thinking.
 

Position Summary:
This is an exciting opportunity to join a new and growing team and shape the operations of one of Columbia University’s newest global centers. The Athens Global Center seeks an energetic and well-experienced Finance Manager (FM) who will work closely with the Director of the Center, to build and create bridges to the Hellenic Republic’s rich and vibrant academic, social, cultural and research resources. As this is a new Global Center, the incumbent will be a part of the small start-up team that will embrace the challenge of building the Center from the ground up and tap into their entrepreneurial spirit and professional experience to launch signature-defining events and programs. The Finance Manager will be expected to provide day-to-day management of the Center’s budget, human resources, space and technological functions.

Responsibilities:
 

Financial Management

• Develops and manages the Center’s operating budgets in collaboration with program teams.
• Manages all banking relationships of the Center.
• Performs monthly international bank reconciliation processes in accordance with the Columbia Global Centers   Standard Operating Procedures.
• Monitors and ensures accurate financial reporting, including monthly financial statements, budget vs. actual analysis, and forecasts.
• Ensures compliance with donor financial regulations and reporting requirements.
• Oversees financial transactions, including payments, reimbursements, and payroll.
• Maintains financial records and ensures they are organized and easily accessible for audits and reviews.
• Implements and enforces financial  policies, procedures, and controls.
• Identifies and mitigates financial, operational, and HR risks.
• Ensures compliance with local tax  laws, labor laws, and other regulatory requirements.
• Provides services in support of compliance with internal and external audits.
• Prepares and submits accurate and timely financial reports to donors and Columbia Global NY.
• Prepares regular reports for senior management on financial, operational, and HR matters.
• Assists in the development of proposals and budgets for new projects and grants.

Operations

• Manages all operating systems of the Center, including procurement, logistics, and contract negotiations.
• Coordinates with relevant government authorities to ensure compliance with local regulations.

Human Resources

• With support from the HR team in headquarters (New York, USA), manages HR functions, including recruitment,   on-boarding, performance management, and staff development.
• Assists the Center with payroll compliance in accordance with both local and international norms and   regulations.
• Supports the facilitation of HR   training and capacity building for staff.
• Manages and maintains personnel records and HR documentation.
• Supports timely and confidential resolution of HR-related inquiries and issues.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, or Accounting with at least 5 to 8 years of related finance experience.

Additional Position-specific Qualifications

• Relevant experience in areas of financial management
• Relevant experience managing office operations
• Strong communications, interpersonal and organizational skills
• Strong initiative, a problem solver, and ability to establish priorities
• Ability to work under pressure, autonomously and possess good independent judgment
• Confidentiality and discretion are required
• Ability to work as a team player in a fast-paced and start-up environment
• Excellent computer skills including advanced knowledge of Excel are crucial.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced finance degree (i.e., MBA, Masters in Economics, Accounting, etc.)
• Professional qualification as a Certified Financial Accountant/Certified Public Accountant is a plus
• Fluent in Greek and English.