Grand Challenges Graduate Communities: Call for Faculty Fellows

Dear University of Maryland Faculty:

As we prepare for the opening of Discovery House in August 2026, the University’s newest graduate housing complex, The Graduate School invites you to lead a transformative initiative that will revolutionize graduate research and mentorship at the University of Maryland.

We are excited to announce that we are seeking nominations and proposals for Faculty Fellows to direct three inaugural Grand Challenges Graduate Communities - (GC)². This is a unique opportunity for TTK and PTK faculty to step into a dynamic leadership role, shaping an interdisciplinary research ecosystem designed to break down disciplinary silos and address humanity’s most pressing issues.

The Vision: Grand Challenges Graduate Communities - (GC)²
(GC)² communities are small, curated cohorts of 15–20 Master's and PhD students from across multiple colleges and disciplines who live and engage intellectually in Discovery House. These communities are high-impact research environments where students collaborate with faculty and students beyond their home departments to co-author grant applications, publish interdisciplinary research, and develop innovative projects centered on a Grand Challenge Theme.

Your Role as a Faculty Fellow
As a Faculty Fellow, you will serve as the intellectual architect of your community for a renewable two-year term beginning in Fall 2026. Your leadership will:

• Define the research theme: Propose a "Grand Challenge Theme" (e.g., Sustainability, Ethics of AI, Threats to Democracy) that will serve as the organizing principle for diverse student cohorts.
• Shape the experience: Guide students through collaborative research approaches and help connect them with mentors across campus.
• Build research networks: Use a dedicated program budget to bring in noted experts and lead students in impactful research experiences (e.g., NASA/APL, Capitol Hill, or the Chesapeake Bay Foundation).

Compensation and Support
To support this vital work, Faculty Fellows will receive:

• A financial stipend of $15,000 provided as an overload to your current salary.
• A dedicated operational budget of $60,000 per (GC)² community to fund workshops, seminar series, guest speakers, and local research travel.
• Administrative support: A staff coordinator will assist with logistics, event planning, and student professionalization workshops.

How to Apply
We seek visionary faculty who are passionate about reimagining learning and building lasting research links across our campus. For detailed information, please review the nomination/proposal and submit it by March 9, 2026.

Your proposal should outline a multidisciplinary Grand Challenge Theme that can sustain multiple cohorts of graduate students over several years, along with a plan for engaging graduate students and faculty from multiple colleges.

We hope you will join us in creating the conditions for serendipitous discovery, deep collaboration, and lasting scholarly impact for our graduate scholars.

Sincerely,