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The John C. Mascaro Faculty Programs in Sustainability

Application Deadline: Monday, February 17, 2025 Extended Deadline: Friday, February 28, 2025
Awardees Announced: April 14, 2025
Funds Distributed: May-June 2025
Reports Due: May 2026

The John C. Mascaro Faculty Programs in Sustainability (PDF)

The Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation (MCSI) is pleased to announce our John C. Mascaro Faculty Programs in Sustainability. All Faculty on all campuses {both Oakland and regional} are eligible to apply for Faculty Fellowships, Scholarships and or Lectureships in Sustainability. The John C. Mascaro Faculty program is designed to enhance the university's mission of interdisciplinary excellence in sustainability research and education. Faculty members from ALL disciplines across ALL campuses of the University of Pittsburgh are encouraged to apply.

Each award will be one year in duration. John C. Mascaro Fellowships and Scholarships awardees are eligible to apply for additional support the following year. All Faculty in the John C. Mascaro programs are invited to think creatively about contributing to the Sustainability mission of the Mascaro Center.

John C. Mascaro Faculty Fellowships ($15,000)

John C. Mascaro Faculty Fellowships provide support for faculty seeking to incorporate sustainability at the University level (across schools and disciplines) and or in partnership with significant external stakeholders. Faculty interested in the fellowship should demonstrate how their proposal will support or expand university-wide sustainability education programs and or catalyze growth in the University's sustainability research portfolio.

John C. Mascaro Faculty Scholarships ($10,000)

John C. Mascaro Faculty Scholarships provide support for faculty seeking to incorporate sustainability education and or research at the Pitt college/school level or into their discipline. Faculty interested in the Scholarship level should demonstrate how their proposal will support interdisciplinary sustainability education programs in a Pitt school/college and or catalyze growth in sustainability research in their school and or field.

John C. Mascaro Faculty Lectureships (up to $5,000)

John C. Mascaro Faculty Lectureships provide support for Faculty looking to incorporate Sustainability into a Class or program or jumpstart a new initiative. Faculty interested in the Lectureship level should demonstrate how their proposal will engage students in sustainability.

IMPORTANT NOTE: For faculty interested in funding basic research we invite you to look at our RESEARCH SEED grants.

Examples of successful initiatives include, but are not limited to:

Partnerships and Initiatives that provide unique experiences for our faculty and students and build capacity and
community around MCSl's sustainability research themes (see below).

  • Creating a Sustainability Elective for a course or program that meets the Sustainability-focused or Sustainability-related Academic Attributes in our Sustainability Education programs (e.g. Sustainability certificate, M.S. Sustainable Engineering, Sustainability Distinction). Interdisciplinary, cross-school courses are a plus!
  • Building external partnerships with industry, gov't, NGOs related to addressing Sustainability Challenges
  • Creating opportunities for students to create Sustainable Innovations
  • Directing service learning activities (including leading community engagement projects and developing sustained partnerships with community organizations)
  • Convening interdisciplinary teams to expand sustainability research or educational opportunities
  • Developing sustainability focused community engagement or education workshops connected with our Research themes below.
  • Creating or transitioning a current class to be an on-line Sustainability-focused course
  • Bridging undergraduate research programs to incorporate sustainability

Research Themes

Grid showing 4 research themes and their research leads; text included in page below.

Regenerative Solutions Respecting Planetary Boundaries

Circular economy and sustainable materials
Water equity
Complex sustainable systems
Just energy transition

Lead: Goetz Veser, Engineering

Thriving Futures in the Face of Regional Change

Climate and health
Sustainable healthcare
Urban food
Community resilience and equitable built environments

Lead: Tina Ndoh, Public Health

Resilient Ecological Systems

Water
Ecosystems
Biodiversity
Ecological justice and natural resources

Leads: Justin Kitzes and Cori Zawacki, Biological Sciences

Environmental Discourse

De/Growth
Preserving our past to understand our future
Climate anxiety
Environmental justice, film studies, and media disinformation

Lead: Ruth Mostern, History

Application Requirements

Eligibility

All University of Pittsburgh faculty are eligible to apply. Faculty are highly encouraged to discuss their ideas with the MCSI leadership team.

Budgets

Awards will be announced in April and funds distributed in May/June Spring 2025. Funds can be used for salary, undergraduate and graduate student support, post-doctoral support, course release, equipment, supplies and travel.

Proposal Cover page

  • Pl's name, affiliation and contact information (campus address, phone number and email address)
  • Proposal Level to which you are applying (i.e. Fellowship, Scholarship, Lectureship)
  • 100 Word Abstract

Body of the Proposal

The body of the proposal should not exceed three single-spaced pages and should employ a 12-point font size and one-inch margins. The body of the proposal should describe your plan and address the following questions:

  1. How does Sustainability fit into your long-term professional goals as a faculty member?
  2. How will your work enhance sustainability research or education in your discipline and or across disciplines?
  3. How will your proposal accelerate MCSl's mission of Research, Education and Engagement?
    If applicable, How will your proposed activities enhance the student experience in university-wide sustainability programs?
    If applicable, How will your proposed activities catalyze growth in the university's sustainability research portfolio?
  4. How will initiative be sustained or grow after the project is complete?

Appendices

  • The Pl should include a CV (2 page maximum)
  • Attach Letter(s) of endorsement.
    • A one-page letter of endorsement from your department chair/supervisor is required. 
    • If appropriate, a letter of support from a community partner organization should also be included.

Important Submission instructions

Proposals are due February 17, 2025. Extended Deadline: Friday, February 28, 2025

In a single-PDF please include (Proposal Cover Page, Body of the Proposal, Budget, Chair/Supervisor Letter, and CV)

Your single PDF File should be named LastNameFacFellow2025.

Your single PDF File should be submitted via this Qualtrics link.

Proposals are reviewed by a committee of internal and external advisors.

Reporting Requirements

Recipients of an award from the JCM Faculty program must fulfill the following requirements:

  • Three to five PowerPoint slides summarizing the goals and outcome of the work due on May 1, 2026.
  • Acknowledgment of MCSI funding in any publications resulting from the work.

For Additional Information

Gena M. Kovalcik (gmk9@pitt.edu) or David Sanchez (david.sanchez@pitt.edu).