Human and Planetary Health Early-Career Research Awards (HPH-ECA)

The Center for Human and Planetary Health's Early Career Award program provides seed grants from $50,000 up to $200,000 over two years, to early-career faculty members with Academic Council or Medical Center Line standing, for interdisciplinary research projects that seek to identify solutions to pressing problems in human and planetary health.

2026 applications are closed. Applications are expected to reopen in November. 

Key Dates:

• May 1, 2026: Award letters are sent out
• October 1, 2026: Grants begin. Awards will be for 2 years or less, all grantees are eligible for one no-cost extension if necessary.

About the Program

The Stanford Center for Human and Planetary Health advances solutions that improve both health and sustainability. Submissions to the Human and Planetary Health Early Career Award (HPH-ECA) program should explore interactions between global environmental changes and human health, equity, and wellbeing – with an emphasis on developing novel solutions to pressing problems.

We seek projects that:

• Engage in one or more of the Stanford Center for Human and Planetary Health’s areas of focus:
  • Climate and Health
  • Pollution and Health
  • Disease Ecology in a Changing World
  • Food Systems, Health, and the Environment
• Address complex human and planetary health issues, are innovative in approach, advance equity, and have the potential to produce solutions to major challenges.
• Are intellectually and scientifically robust.
• Take a cross-cutting and multi-disciplinary approach to solving big problems.
• Provide career-building opportunities for junior faculty and instructors to lead on such research projects.
• Have potential for securing additional funding in the future.

Projects