The Futures Initiative is pleased to offer two separate research grant competitions. Please see the details below for the Paul C. Notari Research Grants in Environmental Studies (open to PhD students only) and the Equity and Social Justice Grant (open to MA, MS, and PhD students).
Projects will be evaluated on the quality and significance of their research, creativity, public value, potential usefulness, relevance, and contribution to equity and social justice. For the Notari grants, preference will be given to late-stage candidates of their PhD programs who are making satisfactory and timely progress towards completing their degrees, and who have not received an award in years past. Students from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in the academy are warmly encouraged to apply.
Eligibility: Applicants for the Notari grant must be PhD students in good standing, at any stage of their career, and in any field. The Equity & Social Justice Grant is open to MA and MS students, as well as PhD students. All applicants must be enrolled for the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters. Award recipients will be asked to participate in a presentation in Spring 2026. Please contact Adashima Oyo at aoyo@gc.cuny.edu with questions.
Deadline: December 1, 2025
Previous Winners
If you are interested in last year’s grant winners and their projects, click here to access the 2024-2025 Futures Initiative Digital Poster Showcase
Additional Details
Paul C. Notari Environmental Studies Grant
Grants in the amount of $500 will be awarded to doctoral students at the Graduate Center who are working in any area relevant to scientific, social, cultural, legal, or policy issues in relation to environmental studies, climate change, renewable energy, pollution control, and allied areas. This Paul C. Notari Environmental Studies Grant was created by the Futures Initiative’s Founder, Cathy N. Davidson, to honor her father, Paul Notari (1926-2023) on the occasion of his 95th birthday. This grant honors his lifelong advocacy of access to higher education, sustainable science for the benefit of humankind, and the protection of nature and natural resources. Mr. Notari was extremely proud to be honored by this grant. He passed peacefully on February 12, 2023. To learn more about Paul C. Notari, click here.
Equity & Social Justice Grant
Grants in the amount of $500 will be awarded to master’s and doctoral students at the Graduate Center to support interdisciplinary research related to equity, health, and learning for CUNY students. In particular, we are looking for research projects that explore the challenges and opportunities that students face outside of the classroom that impact their success inside of the classroom, including but not limited to access to transportation, health care (including mental health), housing, food, and internet/digital devices.
