Who can submit a FREP proposal?

To be eligible for the Faculty Research and Engagement Program (FREP), you must be a faculty member at an accredited university and not on sabbatical. Faculty Research and Engagements can also be with students. This requires the faculty advisor being listed on the proposal. Eligible applicants must be currently enrolled as full-time students at an accredited university.

What’s the submission process?

Our program is designed to be very simple and flexible to meet the needs of academics and Yahoo Research scientists. To be considered for the Faculty Research and Engagement Program, you must submit the program proposal. The proposal asks for information regarding the problem you will be solving, and your desired outcome. Completed proposals should not exceed three pages.

What are the important dates for FREP?

Proposals for Faculty Research and Engagement Program must be submitted in full by Thursday, June 13, 2019: Target notification date is in mid July 2019.

Proposals that have been selected will have funding available for the fall semester.

What are the selection criteria?

FREP proposals are chosen based on the eligibility of the applicant, the quality of the proposal, and its relevance to Yahoo Research’s areas of interest. The proposal should be a collaboration between the applicant and Yahoo Research scientists. It’s best to pair with a Yahoo Research scientist prior to submission. If you do not have a partner, we will find a match for you after submission, based on the mutual interest. It is a condition of the grant that the Yahoo Research partner should be involved throughout the duration of the project. This could take the form of research meetings, seminar talks, co-authorship, etc.

What information needs to be included in the proposal?

Please refer to the proposal document.

Is there a limit to the number of proposals that I or my university can submit?

No, there is not a limit to the number of proposals that can be submitted by an individual or a university.

Is FREP open to international academics?

Yes, the Faculty Research and Engagement Program is a global program.

What’s the duration of the engagement?

The engagement could take place over a few months or up to a few years. However, the funding is a one time distribution of an unrestricted gift and there are no guarantees for future funding.                                                    

What are the intellectual property implications of a research collaboration?

The intellectual property rules observed through FREP are industry standard. Verizon Media needs to protect its confidential information and other intellectual property rights.

When does the research collaboration begin?

It can begin immediately after the proposal has been selected for funding.

Does the collaboration have to be with a faculty member?

No, the collaboration can also be with a student. However the faculty advisor needs to be listed as the primary investigator on the proposal.                                         

When will academics be notified of their proposal status?

The target notification date is mid July 2019 for all academics who have submitted proposals.

Do I have to contact the scientist at Yahoo with whom I want to work before I submit a FREP proposal?

No, however, if you do know a Yahoo researcher it could be beneficial to involve them in defining the stated problem and completing the proposal.

I have a location preference. Can this be specified during the FREP application process?

Yes, when working with the Yahoo Research scientist, be sure to let he or she know your location preference.

Are there reporting requirements or other constraints/restrictions as part of this unrestricted research grant?

There are not any reporting requirements or restrictions with this unrestricted gift. We do not support overhead or indirect costs being taken from this unrestricted gift.

What is the maximum amount of the unrestricted gift?

The maximum research grant is $50,000.