The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) is pleased to announce its 2026 call for proposals to support research projects focused on energy and environmental issues, broadly defined, in China. Projects in energy, environment, ecology, environment and health, pollution, environmental engineering, policy, and related domains are encouraged.
Please submit your proposals for consideration by Tuesday, June 30 at 11:59 pm CT.
Application Details & Criteria
Grants will support research that provides a deeper understanding of energy and environmental policy challenges and opportunities in China. Grants can support a number of research activities, including the hiring of research staff, retention of consultants and contractors, purchase of data, and travel. This call will support projects ranging from pilot-scale to full research projects. Up to $150,000 in funding will be awarded under this call, with maximum project awards of $50,000 and PhD awards up to $7,500. The research must be completed by June 30, 2028.
Selection criteria include overall quality of the research plan, applicability of the research topic, and ability to produce policy-relevant research findings in a timely fashion.
Interested applicants should respond by 11:59 pm CT on Tuesday, June 30 2026 and are encouraged to apply through EPIC’s online application here. If you prefer, you may submit a three-page (maximum) application to epic@uchicago.edu that includes the following:
- A title and a clear, 150-word description of the project. We will display this on our website if your project is selected.
- One- to two-page description of the project. Proposals will be evaluated in part based on likelihood of the project’s success, so please include a description of the research strategy or other details needed to make this determination.
- Detailed explanation of your budget items.
- If you are submitting a related proposal to another research center at the University of Chicago, or if you have received research funding from any EPIC or Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth initiative in the past two years, please specify which one(s) and provide details.
Eligibility
All grant proposals must include a PI-eligible faculty member from the University of Chicago. PhD students at the University of Chicago may apply for grants for their own research, but in such cases their faculty adviser must provide a letter of support and indicate willingness to remain involved in a supervisory role throughout the lifetime of the project. Preference will be given to PhD students who have completed required coursework. Proposals of all kinds may include collaborators from outside the University of Chicago.
Terms and Conditions
- Grant funding will be awarded in Chicago.
- Selected researchers will be required to provide a brief two page progress report with expenditures on an annual basis.
- Requests for no-cost extensions must be submitted at least three months before the conclusion of the grant period and approval will be contingent on the progress of the project and the probability of concrete results within the extension period. No-cost extensions are expected to be no longer than 6 months, although longer requests may be considered in extenuating circumstances.
- EPIC expects to publicize all research results. EPIC policy and communications staff will work closely with researchers to disseminate research results.
- Grantees may be requested to participate in EPIC activities when possible. Activities may include public events, workshops, or media events.
- Any presentations and publications intended for the public domain, including academic papers, policy briefs, press releases, blogs, and newsletters that emerge from projects should credit EPIC with the following text: “This research is funded by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago.” Wherever possible, EPIC’s official logo should be included.
Questions
If you have questions or would like to discuss in more detail, please contact Sam Ori (sori@uchicago.edu) and Kristina Costa (kcosta@uchicago.edu).