ASCEND with HBCUs

ASCEND with HBCUs is sponsored by Yale University. This initiative encourages collaboration with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and offers grants, fellowships, and faculty collaboration opportunities in quantum technologies. Individuals with a keen interest in quantum technologies are encouraged to apply.

Faculty Collaboration Grants Faculty Collaboration Grants As part of the ASCEND Initiative , Faculty collaboration grants provide funding to Yale and HBCU faculty who - in collaboration - conduct research that transcends institutional boundaries, encourages interdisciplinary inquiry, and contributes collective expertise to global challenges.

These grants encourage faculty to combine their perspectives and scholarly strengths to create novel insights and outcomes. Project scale can vary: proposals are welcome for “seed” projects to be developed as prototypes for a larger-scale future projects, or for projects that would be fully complete within the two-year period, or they can be somewhere in between.

Project scope can vary: proposals can be for academic and applied research projects, community-based research projects, and public policy related projects, and projects can engage a broad range of materials and sources. Projects across all fields are welcome - arts, humanities, social sciences, sciences, professional disciplines, their intersections, and beyond. See a list of faculty collaboration grant awardees.

Proposals will be accepted beginning October 1, 2026. Proposals are due January 15, 2027. Awards will be announced on April 19, 2027.

Projects must be led by at least two faculty members: one from an HBCU partner institution and one from Yale. Proposals including student and postdoc participation are encouraged. The maximum award per project is $125,000 in total over 1-2 years.

Each proposal should be developed jointly by the HBCU and Yale faculty, and should include these components: A letter from the HBCU’s Office of Sponsored Research (or equivalent authorized grants administration office) indicating that the Office has reviewed and approved this proposal for submission.

The letter should include the proposal title and name of collaborators and name, title, contact information, and signature of the designated Program Director from the Office of Sponsored Research. Project title & summary statement: provide a short summary giving a unique, relevant, and intriguing description of your research plan. (250 words, maximum) Project abstract: summarize the project’s goals.

Describe the research plan, methods, and source materials that will be used to achieve the goals. (500 words, maximum) Abbreviated project abstract: If funded, this abstract will be featured in marketing materials. Please provide a two-sentence summation of the project significance, goals, and outcomes.

Project timeline: list the key project dates including the start and end dates as well as major milestones. Relevance statement: what benefits or outcomes will this project contribute to the academic field, the community, public policy, or other human interests? (500 words, maximum) Resources: what existing resources (to which access is already available) will participants in this project use?

What resources - not currently available - will be needed, and how will participants gain access? How will these resources be used? (500 words, maximum) Estimated budget: what is the total cost of this project, and how will the funds be used?

Provide a breakdown of estimated expenses, including: What is the total cost of this project, and how will the funds be used? Please provide a detailed breakdown of estimated expenses, including: A year-by-year breakdown of the total project budget A breakdown of expenses allocated to each institution (in part or in full) for each year The use of funds must conform to the Yale policy on the appropriate use of university research funds.

Allowable expenses include compensation for relevant personnel (e.g., postdocs, student workers), materials services, and course releases (with institutional approval from the HBCU partner. All expenditures must follow Yale’s policy on the appropriate use of university research funds. One-page summary CV statement for each faculty member involved.

Please click here to submit your proposal, or copy and paste the following link into your browser: apply. interfolio. com/188397.

Please email ASCEND@yale. edu with questions about these partnerships and programs. Additional Navigation Close