About the URC

By supporting promising faculty research, the URC at Emory University seeks to contribute to the cultivation of intellectual resources for a better future. Read the welcome letter from URC Leadership.

History of the URC Funding Program

Founded in 1939, as Emory launched its first PhD programs, the University Research Committee (URC) is among the oldest faculty research funding programs of its kind in the nation. At the time, Emory was working to establish itself as a major research university, and university leaders created the URC to administer a dedicated fund to support faculty research.

Through establishment of the URC program, Emory emphasized that meaningful research activity was essential for its growth as a university that contributes new knowledge, rather than only transmitting existing ideas. Early URC grants were modest, sometimes amounting to less than ten dollars. One notable grant of $45 was awarded to physicist Robert Lagemann, who later contributed to the Manhattan Project and the development of the first nuclear weapons.

Over time, the program grew significantly. In 1944, the McCandless family designated a gift to support research at Emory University. Since its inception, the URC has functioned under the auspices of the Faculty Council as a standing committee. 

For additional historical context on the origins of the URC, see the Report of the Committee on Faculty Research.

Purpose

The URC promotes rigorous and innovative scholarship in all academic disciplines to benefit the Emory community and beyond.

The URC supports: 

  • Early career faculty on their path toward research independence 
  • More advanced faculty who wish to engage novel questions that enhance their expertise 
  • Teams of faculty who seek to transcend the boundaries of their respective disciplines and undertake transformative research 

Categories of Support

Proposals for the following six (6) URC categories are sought: 

  1. Arts: Visual and Performing 
  2. Biological and Health Sciences 
  3. Humanities 
  4. Interdisciplinary 
  5. Mathematics and Natural Sciences 
  6. Social Sciences 

Featured URC Co-Support

URC-Halle Institute Global Research Award

Applicants focused on international research will be considered for the URC-Halle Institute for Global Research Award via the standard URC categories.

Learn more about the URC-Halle Institute Award

Fox Center for Humanistic Inquiry Fellows

The Fox Center is partnering with the University Research Committee (URC) to support up to two eligible URC awardees to be designated Fox Center Fellows.  

Learn more about the Fox Center for Humanisitic Inquiry Fellows