Programs and FAQs

Clarence S. Stein Institute for Urban and Landscape Studies Grants (2023–2026)

The Clarence S. Stein Institute for Urban and Landscape Studies supports research, scholarship, and study on topics related to the legacy and ideas of Clarence Stein around the built environment as expressed in his book, Toward New Towns for America (Reinhold, 1957), broadly interpreted. This includes, but is not limited to, the fields of urbanism, historic preservation, landscape architecture, land use, urban design, regional planning, and residential development, domestically and internationally. The Institute makes awards in three different categories:

• Category A: Stein Recruitment Fellowship: Awards made under the category are intended for admitted students to Cornell's Masters in Regional Planning (M.R.P.) Program. There is no formal application process, but the Director of Graduate Studies, in consultation with the M.R.P. admissions committee, will base awards on the merits of the applicant's statement in terms of perceived fit and alignment with the ideas of Clarence Stein and the priorities of the Stein Institute.

• Category B: Student Research Grant: Student Research Grant: Grants made under this category are intended to support research by current undergraduate and Masters from the Department of City and Regional Planning whose scholarly interests broadly align with those of the Stein Institute. These grants can also be used to support individual student research and collaborative research between faculty, students, and outside experts in urban and landscape studies. The maximum award under category B is $1,000.

• Category C: Doctoral Research Grant: Ph.D. are eligible to apply for a Stein Research Grant to cover costs associated with research or to supplement external funding already raised for fieldwork.  The award will not pay for living expenses or tuition (students doing field work will be in absentia, so tuition is not required). The maximum award under category C is up to $5,000. Grants are given for a period of one year, but a no-cost extension of another year may be considered upon request.

Categories B and C applications are due by March 31 and applicants will be informed by May 1. Priority will be given to those who have not received previous funding. Application materials should be submitted through the online application portal and include the following:

1. Research proposal, not to exceed 1,000 words, describing the project and its relationship to Stein's ideas

2. 150-word abstract written for a lay audience and suitable for publication on the web and in press releases

3. Curriculum Vitae of the principal investigator(s) with an email address

4. Project timeline and budget noting any matching funds

5. Project bibliography (optional but helpful)

6. Category B and C proposals require a support letter from the student's Chair to be submitted separately by email to steininstitute@cornell.edu with "applicant last name, applicant first name: recommendation for Stein Fellowship" in the subject line

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  What kind of expenses are funded?

  • The Stein Institute supports expenses related to research such as travel to fieldwork sites, archives or conferences; employment of research assistants; acquisition of research materials (but not equipment) and other costs associated with research such as fees or printing costs.  The Stein Institute does not support indirect costs, general living expenses such as food and rent, administrative overhead, salary, tuition and fees, or purchasing of computers or similar equipment not directly related to the research.

  What are the obligations of grant recipients?

  • Grant recipients are required to submit a formal report after completion of the project. This report should include a 500-word summary and one to three relevant high-resolution images for the Stein Institute website, as well as copies of any materials produced under the grant. More specific requirements will be included in the award letter. 

  How is the funding disbursed?

  • For Category A, the funding will be applied directly to the tuition.  For categories B and C, Ph.D. students will have the option of either having the funds deposited in a research account or receiving the payment directly. Recipients should be aware that this option is taxable. All others under either Category B (undergraduates and master's students) will receive the funds directly. For projects requesting $10,000, funding is provided half in advance and half upon completion of research and submission of the required report.

  Can I submit the applications by mail?

  • No, applications sent through the mail will not be accepted. You must apply through the online application form on this website.