Lab Funding
Stanford University's Lab Funding supports leading social science labs tackling urgent societal issues through ambitious, partnership-driven research with a focus on real-world impact.
Funder: Stanford University
Due Dates: December 13, 2026: Lab Funding application/LOI deadline — submit cover page and 3-page LOI via Stanford Seed Funding by 11:59pm PT
Funding Amounts: $1.25M–$2.5M total over 5 years (unrestricted, disbursed as $250K–$500K/year)
Summary: Major long-term funding for Stanford-led social science labs addressing urgent social issues through impactful, partnership-driven research.
Key Information: Only Stanford PI-eligible faculty may lead; award is highly competitive and requires evidence of large-scale impact and external partnerships.
Description
Stanford Impact Labs' Lab Funding is the university’s largest and most competitive internal social science research award, providing substantial, unrestricted support to Stanford-led labs with a proven track record of field-leading research and demonstrated impact at scale. The program is designed to empower teams to pursue ambitious, multi-year research agendas addressing pressing social issues, with a focus on actionable solutions, meaningful external partnerships, and clear pathways to real-world impact. Labs must demonstrate rigorous scientific approaches, strong stakeholder engagement, and the capacity to influence policy or practice beyond academia.
