From time to time, we invite academics to propose research in specific areas that align with our mission of building community and bringing the world closer together.
Invitations typically address specific research challenges that we have identified are important in our mission. These vary in nature and may solicit proposals from individual researchers addressing a well-defined problem or may require multiple university departments to collaborate with a diverse set of skills to solve a more complex multi-disciplinary challenge.
Calls for proposals align to specific areas of research. They offer insight to the academic community on topical research questions of interest to Facebook, where academic insight is key.
Specific details on timing and criteria will apply to each call.
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Research Awards
Mathematical modeling and optimization for large-scale distributed systems request for proposals
Facebook’s mission of bringing the world closer together requires supporting one of the world’s most complex backend systems. Operating infrastructure at scale with a high level of efficiency and stability raises new and interesting challenges, providing a natural laboratory for developing highly impactful solutions at the intersection of applied math, probability, computer science, and other quantitative disciplines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you typically limit the salary of the PI in the gift?
Most of the RFP awards are an unrestricted gift. Because of its nature, salary/headcount could be included as part of the budget presented for the RFP. Since the award/gift is paid to the university, they will be able to allocate the funds to that winning project and have the freedom to use as they need. All Facebook teams are different and have different expectations concerning deliverables, timing, etc. Long story short – yes, money for salary/headcount can be included. It’s up to the reviewing team to determine if the percentage spend is reasonable and how that relates to the decision if the project is a winner or not.
Should proposals be double- or single-spaced? Is there any required/expected font?
We are flexible, but ideally proposals submitted are single-spaced, Times New Roman, 12 pt font.
What is the award cycle or when does the funding year begin and end?
Research awards are given year-round and funding years/duration can vary by proposal.
Can award funds be used to cover a researcher's summer salary while conducting research?
Yes, award funds can be used to cover a researcher’s salary.
Can you please explain the budget breakdown in more detail?
Budgets can vary by institution and geography, but overall research funds ideally cover the following: graduate or post-graduate students’ employment/tuition; other research costs (e.g., equipment, laptops, incidental costs); travel associated with the research (conferences, workshops, summits, etc.); overhead for research gifts is limited to 5%
We are working as co-PIs and are at the same institution. Is it possible to list both of our names as PI for an RFP proposal?
One person will need to be the primary PI (i.e., the submitter that will receive all email notifications); however, you’ll be given the opportunity to list collaborators/co-PIs in the submission form. Please note in your budget breakdown how the funds should be dispersed amongst PIs.
Meet the Researchers Behind Our Mission
For us, research is a global concern. We know that tackling the world’s most complex technology challenges requires a diverse set of backgrounds and perspectives—and our teams of scientists and engineers reflect that.
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