The Research Development and Programs (RDP) unit fosters engagement in research for students and supports faculty in securing research resources within and beyond the University. RDP devises, administers, and evaluates research program initiatives, and cultivates the research, scholarship, and creative pursuits of CUNY scholars through the development and implementation of internal seed-grant programs for faculty and undergraduate research opportunities for students. RDP also supports and implements University-wide initiatives, such as the CUNY Climate Consortium (C3) and Public Interest Technology at CUNY (PIT@CUNY).
Research Development
CUNY Climate Consortium (C3)
The CUNY Climate Consortium (C3) mission is to co-produce innovative and just climate knowledge and solutions through integrated research, education, workforce development, and community engagement with an emphasis on coastal urban communities.
PIT @ CUNY
Public Interest Technology (PIT) refers to the study and application of technology expertise to advance the public interest, generate public benefits, and promote the public good. It involves technologists who want to use their technical knowledge and scholars from other disciplines who seek to adapt and respond to changes brought on by new technologies.
Undergraduate Programs
Participating in authentic research is an important part of academic life at CUNY. We are committed to broadening this participation through several programs and initiatives. We offer resources to help undergraduates find a mentored research experience at CUNY, and list opportunities for students to share their research findings with the CUNY community.
- CUNY Research Scholars Program (CRSP)
- CUNY Research Scholars Program – Climate Scholars (CRSP-CS)
- Velay Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (VSURF)
- Transfer to STEM Student Success (TS3)
- CUNY Undergraduate Research Celebration
- Borough of Queens Consortium of Undergraduate Research
- CUNY Immersive Research Experience (CIRE)
- Externally Funded Programs
Student Workshops
Workshops designed to support the academic and professional development of participants in our internally funded student programs, including CRSP, CRSP-CS, TS3, and VSURF.
Faculty Programs
CUNY, through the Office of Research provides a number of research-related, internal funding programs to its faculty. A number of funding programs are designed specifically to foster intra- and inter-college research collaborations among CUNY’s faculty. In addition, the Office of Research provides travel funds for faculty seeking external funding opportunities to visit with a Program Director at an appropriate agency.
Learn more about the internal funding programs available to CUNY faculty.
Post-Doctoral Programs
CUNY recognizes that the contributions of postdoctoral scientists (postdocs) are essential to the productivity of the scientific enterprise at CUNY. It also recognizes that along with increases in research dollars coming in to the University through grants and contracts, there have been proportionate increases in the number of postdocs at CUNY.
In line with the Research goals of CUNY and the recommendations advanced by the NSF, the postdoctoral program was formulated to provide limited but critical support for the professional development of CUNY postdocs through carefully designed programs, initiatives, coordination, facilitation, knowledge sharing and encouragement. The program bridges the inherent geographical barriers across campuses through collective events and activities, and will complement, rather than substitute or duplicate related efforts undertaken at each campus.
The CUNY Postdoctoral Development Program was initiated to meet the training and professional development needs of postdoctoral researchers at the University. The program is administered through the Office of Research.
Individual Development Plan (IDP)
An Individual Development Plan (IDP) is a tool to assist graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in planning and monitoring their career development. We encourage all CUNY graduate students in STEM and postdoctoral researchers to establish an IDP and discuss their plans with their mentors and advisor on a regular basis. The AAAS, along with their sponsors the Burroughs Welcome Trust, UCSF, Medical College of Wisconsin, and FASEB, have developed a Web-based career planning tool called on the Science Careers site. We recommend using this resource to identify career goals and create your IDP.
Advanced Science Research Center (ASRC)
Visit the
View the
- Please also see the CUNY Postdoctoral Association at: or email CUNYPA at postdoc@cuny.edu.
- Visit the
The National Postdoctoral Association is a professional association that provides a unique, national voice for postdoctoral scholars. The NPA was founded in 2003, with an ambitious agenda to enhance the quality of the postdoctoral experience. Since its founding, the NPA has assumed a leadership role in addressing the many issues confronting the postdoctoral community that are national in scope, requiring action beyond the local level.
A web portal on the minority postdoctoral experience featuring news, articles, resources, and events about jobs, career advice, professional development, funding, fellowships, mentoring, and diversity issues.
Science Writers in New York (SWINY) is composed of editors and writers who cover science and medicine in the print and electronic news media as well as public relations professionals who promote science. Anyone with an interest in science communication is welcome.
The NIH Office of intramural Training & Education (OITE) is a division of the Office of Intramural Research (OIR). Their mission is to enhance the training experience of students and fellows on all of the NIH campuses, as well as trainees and investigators outside the NIH (in the extramural community). OITE provides a wealth of online resources, including webcasts and downloadable presentations from their training and career development events. These can be found under “oite services” or “events”.
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Fellowships Office has conducted the NRC Research Associateship Programs in cooperation with sponsoring federal laboratories and other research organizations approved for participation since 1954. Through national competitions, the Fellowships Office recommends and makes NRC Research Associateship awards to outstanding postdoctoral and senior scientists and engineers for tenure as guest researchers at participating laboratories.
The Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC) is a non-profit consortium of colleges, universities, hospitals, research labs, government agencies, and related non- and for-profit organizations, committed to diversifying the pipeline of faculty, staff, and executives in academia. HERC supports our member institutions in recruiting and retaining outstanding and diverse employees.
NewYorkBIO supports the development and growth of New York State’s life science industry, and serves its members and the life science community by providing a network for public policy, industry advocacy, and community development.
The Versatile PhD is an online portal to help humanities and social science PhDs and graduate students identify and prepare for possible non-academic careers.
The Postdoc Academy is a comprehensive online and in-person program built on the National Postdoctoral Association core competencies to support skill development throughout postdoc training, from orientation to next career step.
Local Postdoctoral Communities
For additional information on other local Postdoctoral communities:
The Office of Research Integrity & Compliance has established training requirements that apply to postdoctoral scholars who conduct research, including Responsible Conduct of Research training applicable to all postdoctoral scholars and targeted training for postdoctoral scholars conducting research with human subjects or animals and conducting Public Health Service funded research.
View these research training requirements and instructions on completing on-line CITI training and attending live workshops for postdoctoral scholars.
Support Programs
CUNY is committed to supporting research and promoting research development across the university system. To facilitate faculty-led initiatives that foster scholarly exchange and collaboration, the Office of Research is excited to announce three new Research Support initiatives: the CUNY Research Events Support Program (RESP), the CUNY Faculty Research Travel Grant Program, and the CUNY Research Training Program (coming soon).
The CUNY Research Events Support Program (RESP) provides a mixture of administrative, logistical, and financial assistance for the organization and implementation of research-focused events, including symposiums, conferences, and workshops.
The CUNY Faculty Research Travel Grant Program supports full-time faculty participation in research, creative, and scholarly activities that advance the University’s academic and research mission.
To support your professional and career development, CUNY will sponsor interested undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs, and faculty for complimentary 1-year membership to the. For over 200 years, the Academy has helped scientists, engineers, and innovators pursue successful careers.
NYAS is committed to its mission in providing premier scientific content and career development resources. Academy members receive access to:
- Career Readiness Training: , including online courses and webinars to help you acquire the skills you’ll need to succeed in a STEM-related field.
- Cutting Edge Content: Unlimited digital access to our .
- Networking & Resume Building: opportunities to present your research, apply intensive leadership training, , and connect with other Members from our global membership network, using an .
- Upcoming Webinars & Programs. Discounted and free registration on all of our featuring the latest research presented at the Academy.
