Faculty seed funds
The MITOR Project promotes the two ways circulation of researchers and ideas between MIT and POLITO in the fields of engineering, science, architecture, and urban studies. MITOR grants are meant to jump start new collaborations; after the exploratory phase, the PI's are expected to apply for outside funding. Funding will focus on projects that set the grounds for sustainable, long term collaborations through student involvement on both sides, the use of innovative technologies and promise of future funding.
Though the achievements of the PI's, researchers and students involved will be an important consideration, applicants will also be assessed in terms of their capacity to create lasting exchanges between the participating labs. Proposals must be submitted jointly by an MIT and a POLITO PI. Only tenure track faculty and research staff with PI privileges qualify as PI's. Awards are granted by members of the MIT Scientific Committee, after taking into consideration the assessment of their counterparts at POLITO.
The MITOR seed funds support:
- Travel funds for MIT and POLITO faculty to engage in exploratory meetings, deliver lectures and hold MIT-POLITO workshops on subjects of joint investigation
- Research stays at MIT for current POLITO Ph.D.s and recent post-docs
- Research stays at POLITO for current MIT Ph.D.s and recent post-docs
- Research stays at MIT for young POLITO faculty and vice-versa
Typical awards will range between a minimum of 5,000 — for faculty exploratory travel — to a maximum of $60,000, for projects that entail extensive research stays abroad for doctoral and postdoctoral students or young faculty. The average seed fund awards is expected to fall in the $10,000-20,000 range.
The application deadline for the MITOR seed funds is September 14, 2009. All applications must be filed electronically. To download an application please click here. To achieve maximum visibility, the MITOR Project has adopted the same deadline and application as other, similar, global seed funds. When applying please look for the MITOR box.
MITOR seed funds cover:
- faculty travel, lodging and food, for short term and exploratory faculty visits. Travelling faculty are asked to plan a seminar to inform their host institution of their own and related research activities
- fellowships for young researchers and faculty for longer stays (one month or more)
- research stays at the Politecnico di Torino for MIT graduate students and post- docs , and at MIT for Ph.D students and post-docs of the Politecnico di Torino
- small size meetings that bring together teams of researchers who are collaborating within the frame of the MITOR Project
Please note:
- MITOR grants cannot be used to purchase equipment and materials at POLITO
- in the events of workshops helpd outside of MIT, can only cover MIT faculty and students travel and living expenses
- only POLITO Ph.D and post-docs students who are coming to MIT for stays of one semester — Fall or Spring — or longer are eligible for visiting student status at MIT. For more info on the procedure, the documents and the funding, please go to Research Stays at MIT
