Predoctoral Interdisciplinary Research Training Grant Program in Postsecondary Education

Teachers College, Columbia University's new Postsecondary Education Applied Research (PEAR) training program will train doctoral students to conduct research on postsecondary, adult, and career and technical education (CTE) in collaborative partnerships with education agencies and postsecondary systems. The PEAR program is housed primarily within Teachers College's Community College Research Center (CCRC) and the Education Policy and Social Analysis (EPSA) department. Fellows will be drawn from EPSA participating departments and the departments of human development and organization and leadership.

Over the course of 3 cohorts, the program will recruit approximately 15 fellows for 4-year fellowships (to be cost-shared by IES and Teachers College). Fellowships include full tuition and benefits, a stipend, and a small research and travel fund. In addition, if needed, Teachers College will provide a 5th year of funding to fellows for completion of their doctorates.

PEAR fellows will participate in an interdisciplinary core curriculum consisting of coursework in quantitative methodology, research design, and education research relevant to postsecondary, CTE, or adult education. Fellows will also participate in ongoing research apprenticeships with faculty mentors and a year-long policy/practice apprenticeship with a higher education agency or university system or non-profit research organization. The training program also includes an ongoing interdisciplinary seminar on conducting education research and a speaker series, cost-benefit training, and mini-conferences.

The total projected costs of the training program are $5.3 million. In addition to the IES grant, Teachers College, Columbia University will cost-share approximately $1.8 million.